Map of Beautiful Tellico Lake

I'm working on a map of  Telllico Lake located in Tennessee. I have never been to this lake. I did some research and the lake is 16,000 acres. It is a very clean lake and has over 350 miles of shore line, that would take you a while to walk...  Interestingly, I add fish jumping around in most of my painted lake maps. Normally, I will add a large mouth bass or two, or three. I try to add interest and make it more than a map. I like to say they are treasured map. 

Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great gift for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. LeoLakes.com

Panama City Beach Decor Map

A beutiful decor map of Panama City Beach....Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in her best frame and ready to meet her new beach house.....two feet by 4 feet and stunning.

Lots of detail, but no road names. You will find folks using their eyes to follow the roads. It's not a road map, it's a decor map....

I always add the local waterfowl flying over and a few fish jumping in the water. If you look chosely, you may find a tiny hidden mermaid swimming around. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

 

Most folks add a star to a special place on the lake such as a lake house or where they caught that big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for over ten years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. Paddle over to my website for more information: LeoLakes.com

Kentucky Lake Decor Map

A beautiful Kentucky Lake map will make a great gift for the lake lover. It is unique because you can add a star to the location of your lake house and add a few words like " Johnson's Lake House". LeoLakes.com

Interestingly, I often get comments about the tiny mermaid hidden in the waters of all my maps. Folks love to tell me about the search for the mermaid. They say the children really enjoy hunting for her and are thrilled when they spot her in the waters. Oh yeah, some folks tell me that she moves, but I'm not sure that I believe that. LeoLakes.com

I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately nine years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps. LeoLakes.com

Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map. 

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

The tiny little mermaid story.......

Why did I start adding a tiny mermaid to LeoLakes Treasured Map? It all started with a canoe trip down a beautiful river in Florida named the Weeki Wachee. The waters are so, so crystal clear, you could see the bottom down 15 feet deep or more, which makes it very easy to spot manatees. The water temperature averages in the mid seventies year round and the canoe trip is approximately seven miles long and takes about 3 hours. Also, you go with the flow. I like going with the flow.  

                                                              

I began by paddling down the Weeki Wachee with the family. One thing that I did learn, my wife can barely paddle and my two daughters don't have a clue, which actually made the trip very fun. Two canoes and only one person that can paddle properly, now that’s an adventure! 

My immediate thought was, paddle faster. But it took awhile because I had to help the other canoe. "Miss Can’t Paddle At All" and "Mrs. Can Hardly Paddle", spent most of their time too close to the shoreline. It seemed to me that they were cleaning and inspecting every tree limp and collecting spiders on their clothing as most beginning paddlers do. Finally, after much struggle we made it to where the manatees hang-out.  It was so cool, two adults and one manatee calf. They are just chilling under the water and every once in a while they come up for air. This was nearly as good as seeing "Mermaids", which gave me an idea. I decided that it would be cool to add a tiny mermaid to my lake, river and bay maps. So, that's what I have done! In 2011, i started adding a tiny, little, happy mermaid to all my maps and the idea came on a canoe trip down the Weeki Wachee.

I have recieved much feedback since I started adding the tiny mermaid, and it has been a grand-slam. Folks just love to search for her in the waters of the map. What a great Outdoor Adventure back in 2011!  Remember "What’s in your woods, lake, river, or bay?" Get out and find out! LEO.

Check-out my website, www.Leolakes.com to see if we have your map. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee, Great Sacandaga Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Sinclair, Table Rock Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. Leo Lakes Treasured maps, makes a great Christmas Gift the lake house, boater, fisherman, and lake lover.

LeoLakes Ten year Anniversary

Ten years ago, I started OldField Studio. That was October 2007. In the beginning, OldField Studio was focused only on wildlife art. I painted in acrylics on Masonite Art Board. My art had a blurred background, which was done with an airbrush. This gave the picture a 3-D look.

Folks enjoyed my wildlife art, but I discovered that the market was oversaturated with wildlife art, even though I did okay with it. During this time, I wanted a decor map of a river that I grew up on as a kid. After some research, I found that nice decor maps of waterways didn’t exist. There were navigation, road, and topography maps, but not a really nice, vintage style lake, river or bay map that would look great hanging in a home or office.

Luckily, with my artistic talent and creativity, I decided to paint my own map of that treasured river. I experimented with different colors and styles to finally settle on a vintage style that gave the painting a golden look. I added a few symbols such as the ruby meridian, wildlife and vintage plane.  

Once completed, I found that others liked the map so much that they asked for copies. This gave me the idea to paint additional rivers, lakes and bays for others to treasure their favorite waters. After a year and a half of experimenting, Leo Lakes Treasured Maps was born, which is part of Old Field Studio. It's hard to believe that its been ten years and I'm still in business. That's pretty much the story of Old Field Studio and LeoLakes in a nutshell.

Here's a photo of my studio.......

Hey, my maps make great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house owner. 

Orders are picking up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Great Blue Heron Photo eating a........

Check-out my photo of this Great Blue Heron. At first, I thought that the heron was eating a baby raccoon. If you look closely, it surely does, but it's actually brim. 

I took this photo from my kayak while fishing on a lake near my home. The heron was having trouble eating the fish and kept dipping it in water and then trying to swallow it. Time after time he attempted to swallow the fish, but it was just too big. After flinging, flopping, and pounding it on the ground he finally got it small enough. It was fun to watch.....eating fish is hard.

Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Just remember: "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream".

Leo Lakes Studio

I've taken a few days to work on the entrance of my studio. It looks like a "lake decor bomb" went off in the room, but this is the way that I like it. I painted the painting/maps and added the Great Blue Heron to the door panels. I made the fishing pole lamp and added the old tackle boxes, which were my dad's.  I was born and raised to honor all things lake, rivers and bays. I have been lucky to turn what I love into a nice little business. This area gives me inspiration as I walk though the doors on my way to the studio. 

Now, check-out the photo. See anything interesting? In the lower, middle of the photo, I had a canadian goose photo bomb this picture. Yes, he stuck his head up just as I snapped the picture.

Also, check-out my maps, they make the best lake house gift! I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I do custom and personalizes lake, river, or bay maps, too. Oh yeah, I hide a tiny mermaid in the waters of all my maps that folks love to search for. Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

My beloved Childhood Dog!

In the studio, I have a stuffed dog that I call Lucy that is in honor of my beloved childhood dog. Lucy was a mix breed and loved the water. Whenever we traveled to a river, lake or bay, you could bet that Lucy would be in the water. "Long gone, but never for gotten"

Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com. I paint beautiful lake, river and bay decor maps. Folks are discovering that these decor maps are wonderfully unique gifts that become family heirlooms. Oh yeah, I hide things in the lake waters, such as a tiny mermaid/fish. Folks love to search for them. I call my maps, treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. My treasured maps make a great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders are picking up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Remember, "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."

I went on a Safari...

I went on a safari! Well, probably not a safari that you are thinking about with elephants and tigers. I went on a low country "photo safari" in South Carolina, near Hilton Head. It's where a Professional Wildlife Photographer is the guide and tours you around a waterfowl rich area in a boat. I've never done this before, but found it well worth the cost. Not only do you see and take photos of some great wildlife, the guide talks about the waterfowl and assists you with your camera setup to help take the best photos. I added these photos to give you an idea and of course, I had to add a little creativity with the pelican print!   

I hope you enjoyed. If anyone is near Hilton Head and is interested in a photo safari, the photographer I used was Eric Horan. I highly recommend a photo safari and Eric Horan!  Oh yeah, here is one of my vintage style maps of Hilton Head that I have on my website, LeoLakes.com, check it out.

Custom Map

I've been working on a custom map of Reindeer Lake in Saskatchewan Canada for Arctic Lodges. Before I paint a lake map, I do a little research to become familiar with the area. 

Boy, did I find some interesting stuff about this area. I found this to be a really cool and captivating place. First off, Arctic Lodge has been around for a long time, in fact since 1950. It has some of the top fishing in Canada and has first class accommodations.  Did you know that a monster lives in the lake, Santa travels over it during Christmas, and a meteorite created a huge bay in this lake? More about this later.

Reindeer Lake is located in the northeast of Saskatchewan and is a big lake, 140 miles long and 37 miles wide. The lake has over 5,000 islands of all sizes to explore. Amazingly, in Deep Bay Crater where a meteorite hit 140 million years ago, the water depth is 720 feet deep. Oh yeah, local legend has it that a monster lives in the bay and pulls animals through the ice during winter. No ice fishing for me! 

Did you know that NORAD use to track Santa's trip across North America and Reindeer Lake was a featured location on Christmas Night as Santa flew over. Learn more about Reindeer Lake at arcticlodges.com.  

Hey, my maps make a great Christmas gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house owner. 

Orders are picking up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

LeoLakes Treasured Maps is now doing the Kayak Bass Fishing awards for the KBF Tournament Champions! KBF has tournaments on many lakes such as Santee Cooper, Kentucky Lake, Toledo Bend etc... Check-out their website at kayakbassfishing.com to learn more. 

Remember! Life is short, getaway from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Paddle on over to my website to see more beautiful maps of your favorite Lake, River or Bay. Makes a great gift for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman.