Rhodhiss Lake Decor Map

Snuggled against the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a crystal blue clear lake with beautiful panoramic views. That lake is Rhodhiss Lake. Located about 1 hour away from Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina, making it just far enough to keep it peaceful, yet close enough for the urban amenities.

The lake is fairly small with a surface area of 3,060 acres and 90 miles of shoreline. Boating and fishing are the main recreational activities. Rhodhiss Lake is becoming known as a tournament lake by the increasing number of fishing tournaments being held. What makes this a special lake? Probably, the sandy bottom, which makes for some crystal clear water and the beautiful mountain views. The decor map above, is a custom map that I did for a customer who lives on Rhodhiss lake. I paint lake, river, and bay maps, both custom and personalized. See more at my website www.LeoLakes.com.

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

Father's Day Lake Lover Gift

I just completed this 20x40, custom map of Lake Washington located in Minnesota. It's a beautiful lake with lots of wildlife.

Not only are walleyes common, but large and small mouth bass, crappie, blue gill, and northern pike are too. You will find much wildlife/waterfowl around the lake such as eagles, osprey, cranes, otter, beaver and my favorite, loons. In fact, I added a couple of loons on the map along with fish, and Canadian Geese. Interesting, I always hide a tiny mermaid to the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for. 

Also, you can add a star to your favorite spot. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com.  We have Lake decor maps, and vintage style maps, that make great gifts for the lake house.

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

Lake Humor

My Friday's Lake humor cartoon. Well I thought it was funny!

Check out my vintage style lake, river and bay maps. Makes 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

I was lucky to take this photo in Florida of a young heron and its mother. After studying the photo, it almost seems as if they are communicating, so I added the caption.

Visit my website. I have hundreds of lake, river and bay maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalized lake, river or bay maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoMaps.com. 

"As I look over this lake, The most amazing scenes appears in it wake,

The sun arises just above the shore, Giving grace and beauty to this place that I adore." LKO

Fish Suit !

Little Bobby's dad will be surprised when he arrives home and sees his special waders. Little Bobby is quite the artist. He calls them a fish suit, but I would say they are designer waders!

If you are interested in a beautiful map of your favorite waterscape, check out my website, LeoLakes.com. Makes a great gift for the lake house, lake lover, or fisherman.

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

Beautiful Great Sacandaga Lake Map

Amazingly, I've been painting vintage style decor map of lakes for the last five years and I think I have become a map elf (see my studio picture below). Anyway, one of my favorite things about painting maps is the comments that I often receive from customers about how much they love the maps. Here's just one comment from a very recent customer. 

"Hi Larry, I received the map today of Great Sacandaga Lake. It's absolutely beautiful. I bought it as a gift for my cousins who have a place up there and I visit regularly during the summer. I'm sure they're going to love it as much as I do. Thank you again!" 

My 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 personalized lake, river or bay maps, too. I have maps of Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry, Lake Lanier, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay, Toledo Bend, Raystown, and many others. 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. 

Oh yeah, this is part of my studio! I think I have become a map elf!

Lake Music

What is lake music? Well, there is a lake near Music City (Nashville) that has a long history of lake music. There must be music in the waters because many, many country music stars and song writers live on or near the lake. Stars like Johnny Cash lived on the lake, Taylor Swift lived near the lake while going to high school and this is just to name a few.  The lake didn't create the stars, but it certainly seems to have helped. It must be those foggy mornings with a blue heron flying over and the sun just rising over the water that is a catalyst for great songs and music.  I just finished this beautiful art decor map of Old Hickory Lake the “Music Lake”. 

The lake is actually named after Andrew Jackson “Old Hickory” the 7^th president of the United States, but could have just as well been called the music lake. In fact, I hide a musical note in the waters to emphasis the lake’s music heritage. The lake is printed on canvas from a watercolor painting and the waterfowl is hand painted.

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. 
 

"Life is short, reduce screen time and increase stream time, get on a big stream."

Decor Maps

Believe it or not, It's been seven years since I started Old Field Studio. It began, Oct 2007 when I started painting wildlife and waterfowl. Along the way, it developed into painting waterfowl and vintage style maps together. Here's a great example of combining the two, Toledo Bend Lake in Texas with common waterfowl flying over. I sell the maps under the name "Leo Lakes" because Leo is my initials, Larry Engene Oldfield. I started off doing maps of only lakes, so that's the reason for "Lakes." Now, I'm doing maps of everything, rivers, bays, islands, farms, etc... I've collected several domain names, DecorMaps.com, OldFieldStudio.com, LeoMaps.com, TheArtOfMaps.com and LeoLakes.com. I am thinking of changing my website name from LeoLakes.com, to LeoMaps or TheArtOfMaps. It seems to me that these names better define my business.

Anyway, I continue developing the art of maps. I added a poem to this map, which when you read it, you actually get a feeling of being at the 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 Christmas 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.

How to preserve Lake, river, and bay memories

 I have been lucky to have a couple of lures that my grandfather fished with in the 20s & 30s. Now, my grandfather was not much of a fisherman, but did fish on rare occasion. When I was a kid, the family cleaned out his home after he passed. My father and I found these old Heddon lures in his shop. My father said he remembered these when he was a kid and fished with them on the Duck River. Just think these lures were used during the depression, & WWII.

As you can see, they have seen better days. In fact, someone tried to modify the top lure for some reason. I do wonder what's the story behind this bait, where was it purchased, and what fish were caught. I'm sure if this bait could talk, it would be fascinating.

They are made of wood. The shellac has deteriorated with age and the paint is starting to crack and flake off. The quality of the craftsmanship is excellent. The diving spoon is thick and made from high quality metal, no rust after 80-85 years.

I bet my father or his brother modified this lure when they were young and decided a spinner would be better added to the front. Oh well, I am glad to have these old relics.They are not worth much to anyone else but me. I do want to preserve the story and place them in a better container. So, I decided to print and build an old fashion lure box made of paper.

You just can't tell the story of an old lure unless you know it. That's why I've been working on an old fashion lure box. I think it would be neat to have the story about the lure on the outside of the box. Folks in the future will know a little more about these old lures and the story behind the bait. I've been working on this project for a while, but I'm taking my time in order to make it right. Think how great it would be to get an old prized lure from your grandfather and on the outside of the box, a story about the lure. It would become a prized possession, a family heirloom that would be handed down.  Remember:  "Old fishermen may pass, but their bait lives on!"

I do custom and personalized lake, river, island or bay decor maps. They make a great gift for the lake lover. If you would like to see if we have your body of water, go to LeoLakes.com. 

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

Fish Cartoons

I don't only paint lakes, rivers, and bays, sometimes I goof around with cartoons. I've been at it again with a few more fishing cartoons. This time I focused on the fish with human qualities. Enjoy!

Polarized fishing glasses

Fish Pee

Fish Beds

Hey, if you want the perfect gift for the lake lover, lake house owner or fisherman, then check-out my lake maps at LeoLakes.com. The maps can be customized and personalized with pictures etc... and I even hide a mermaid and a few fish in the lake!

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

Do fish have high Cholesterol?

I don't do lake maps all of the time. I sometimes draw cartoons to drain-off some creativity. Here's a few more, however I do have a question... do fish have high cholestrol? Enjoy!

Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, or at least put one on the wall!

Frame your favorite lake, river, or bay!

www.leolakes.com

Lake House Gift

What's the best lake house gift? A beautiful canvas map of the lake that the lake house is located on, of course. This makes the perfect gift for the  lake house owner, or lake lover. A great Christmas gift, check-out these comments  from our customers.

The map arrived right on time and it was a sensational hit.  Thanks so much, this was exactly what I was looking for and was even better than anticipated. Nate

I just received the map, it looks beautiful! Thank you for helping me put together such a spectacular gift and I will definitely keep you in mind for future gift ideas. Have a wonderful Sunday!

It arrived safely and looks great. Thank you so much for everything! Thanks again!

Arrived safe and sound this afternoon and looks great!  I can't wait to give it to my parents for xmas for their new lake house.  Thank you!

Go to www.Leolakes.com to see if we have your map. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee map, Great Sacandaga Lake map, Lewis Smith Lake map, Pickwick Lake map, Greer's Ferry Lake map, Lake Sidney Lanier map, Lake Sinclair map, Table Rock Lake map, and Lake Wallenpaupack map. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. 

Personalized Maps

Have you ever wished that you had a decor map of that little lake you live or grew up on. Well maybe not, but there are a few people that really treasure those small lake gems. Here's one such lake, Lake Winnibigoshish. Makes a great gift...

Most folks personalize these lakes by adding photos, poems, cherished locations and special notes, which is the plan for this map. The best part of painting these lakes is personalizing their treasured map. You can feel the love for the lake as they discuss those golden memories and how to display them on the map.

I to have a special lake (actually a river), in fact, that is how I started painting rivers, lakes and bays. If you are a lake lover or need a gift for a lake lover, and want to create a family heirloom, then checkout my website at www.LeoLakes.com