A Boat and A Snake....

This water snake munching on a fish near the waters edge, brings back a fond memory of being on the water. When I was a child, my father and I would float down the Duck River fishing from a flat bottom aluminum boat that he purchased from Sears Department Store. As we floated along, he would keep his eye open for a water snake coiled around a low hanging branch above the waters edge. If he spotted one, he would slowly paddle over without me knowing what was about to happen. When we were near, he would carefully raise his paddle and tap the branch. I was always oblivious to what was about to happen, until the snake came crashing down near were I was sitting, in a huge splash. It would scare the crap out of me, but my dad would laugh and laugh and laugh!

This is one of those treasured memories of the beloved river that I grew up on. I decided to paint a map of this river in a vintage style and it turned out so well, I ended up creating Leo Lake Treasured Maps. Paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com, no snakes allowed.  Folks are discovering that my vintage style 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 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.

I think I was a lighthouse keeper, sort of!

I ate at a Red Lobster the other day with my wife and teenager. After we finished our meal, I started looking at the decor. If you have ever been to Red Lobster, the decor is all about the sea, lobster and seascapes.

One particular photo stuck out in my mind, it was like deja vu. I felt myself drawn to this photo of a lighthouse for some reason. I thought, maybe in a past life, I was the lighthouse keeper of this lighthouse. Then I remembered.....

Oh dang, I've been to that lighthouse and it wasn't long ago while on a trip to Maine. It's the Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland, Maine. Here's the proof, a photo that I took. Oh well, I don't guess that in a past life I was a lighthouse keeper, but I almost worked at a Red Lobster when I was in high school!

Check-out my custom and personalized river, lake and bay maps. 

Custom Maps

A lot of folks love the lake that they live on or near. In fact, some folks love their lake, river, or bay as much as a family pet. Here's a great little poem that my wife came up with that I use with some of my vintage style maps.  

I often do custom maps of lakes that are small and that only a few folks live on. One such lake is Glen Lake which is located in New York. I added the above poem around the perimeter for a nice touch.

Some customers frame their print in a barnwood style frame which works well with my vintage style maps. I normally have a few different types of frames in the studio. I show only one style on the website, but most of the time, I have barnwood and a premium mahogany frames. Checkout my website if you are interested in a lake, river, and bay vintage style map of your favorite body of water. If we don't have your lake, we can do a custom map of your treasured paradise. Also, I can do other maps for folks too, such as decor maps of land, farms, ranches and genealogy.  Tour my website:  Leolakes.com

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

Fishstration

A few of my cartoons to brighten this winter weather. Enjoy!

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

Custom vintage style Lake, River and Bay maps

Below is a personalized, vintage style map of beautiful Greers Ferry Lake that I completed for a customer a few weeks ago. I used my watercolor  painting of Greers Ferry and added the customers memories (photos) to the map. This map was a gift for someone special that had fond memories of Greers Ferry Lake. The photos added a nice touch that turned a beautiful vintage style map into a wonderful family heirloom and a treasured map.

The customer emailed me color photos, in which I converted to black and white to give them that vintage look. I carefully positioned the photos around the map for the best view. Also, I hide a tiny mermaid in the waters.

Here's a letter from one of my customers:

"I was finally able to give my husband the map I bought for his birthday last night. I want you to know how beautiful it was and how touched he was by it. He loves this Lake. His family has a home there and when we are lucky we get away for a few days, it’s the only place we want to be. He actually had tears in his eyes. Thank you for the beautiful art work."

As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work click here www.LeoLakes.com. Remember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream.

 

Norfork Lake Map Painting

Just finished a large print of beautiful Norfork Lake, which is located in Arkansas on the North Fork River. I always add waterfowl flying over with shadows, which makes it appear 3-D. Also, on canvas printed maps, I touch up the waterfowl and others areas with paint to bring out the image.

Normally, I add a vintage plane flying over and if you look close you may see a mermaid or fish in the waters.

Here's the end result. This is the traditional style map and I also do a more creative style. It's difficult to show the detail and color on the internet. I try to have the golden colors come through like a crackling fire. Can you feel the warmth?

I hid a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters and folks love to search for her. I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure, like Norfork Lake. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. 

Barred Owl

The other evening my wife came in from shopping and said an owl was up the street perched on a line. I can't pass up a picture of wildlife so, I grabbed the camera and off we went. The big question is if I will make it before he flies off. Luckily, he was still there. I was hoping it was a great horned owl because I only have a few photo's of these owls. When we arrived, I could see it was a barred owl, which are very common in this area.

Darkness was settling in, but I was able to use a flash. The picture turned out nice and I like the color of the sky. This barred owl was perched ready to pounce on any rodent that rustled by.

This photo is kind of eerie because of the red eyes from the camera flash. As you can see, Mr. Owl is looking straight at me. I wondered what he is thinking? Probably, "Will you leave me alone, I'm working here." Anyway, Mr. Owl did fly off just after this picture was taken. Not a bad meeting with the wise old owl, but I don't think he liked me.

Lake Custom Maps

I just completed a new custom lake, Cheat Lake. This paintings is printed on canvas and is 16x32. On this size canvas print, I actually hand paint/touch-up the waterfowl and other areas after printing. This really makes the print pop when hanging on the wall. Oh Yeah, there's something in the waters, but more that later. The print shown here is before touch-up.

Cheat Lake is located on the states line between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The lake is 13 miles long and 1,730 acre. The major tributary is the Cheat River. A good bass and walleye lake.

I hide a tiny mermaid/fish in the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for. I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. These maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoMaps.com. 

Lake Lovers Poem

"I Love this lake, The most amazing scenes appear in its wake, The sun arises just above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place I adore." LKO

As you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work click 

See more at www.LeoLakes.com