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.

A bad Fish!

When the boat starts filling with water, most fishermen think that they forgot to put the plug in before they left the dock. Well that may not be the real story when fish go bad!

I hope you enjoyed my little cartoon, but remember, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Decor map of Apalachicola bay

I’ve painted a new map for my collection of decor maps, St George Island and Apalachicola Bay. This beautiful area is located on the panhandle of Florida. Apalachicola Bay is known for its oysters and its name comes from the Indians that once lived in the area. St George Island is a small peaceful and relaxing island with many beautiful beach homes. Click on the map to enlarge.

I like to hide a few things in the waters of my maps. If you look very closely you may find a mermaid, fish, dolphins and maybe a shark swimming around.
Here’s a great bay poem for Apalachicola Bay.

“As I wake each day and look through the sun’s rays, the most amazing scenes appear in this bay, as the sun arises just above the shore, I feel the grace and beauty of this place that I adore.” LKO 2011

If you like my Decor Maps, see more at www.leolakes.com.

"Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."

Lemon Bay Fishing

Over spring break I was able to get away from the big screen and get out on a big stream! Here's a picture of beautiful Lemon Bay Florida. Interestingly while fishing, we were checked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Enforcement personnel. Earlier, I had purchased my 3 day saltwater fishing licenses which came in handy during this check. All went well, and I got to ask the game warden a few questions. I asked, how many folks that you check, don't have their fishing licenses? I was surprised by the answer! The warden said 50% do not have licenses. Now that seems very high to me, but I suppose there's a lot of out of state folks that just start fishing in hopes they don't get caught. Anyway the warden said the fine for not having them was over a 100 bucks.

During the boat ride we came across five dolphins in the bay. It appeared they were chasing bait fish. This was a good sign because the red tide had been present a few weeks earlier and killed a lot of fish.

We fished around bridge piers and boat docks in hopes of catching sleep head. Our bait was live shrimp which we had purchased earlier, 3 dozen for $12.00.

Here's the result of about four hours of fishing. We actual caught 8-10 fish, but only 4 were keepers.

Yum, sleep head is a great tasting fish.

Pop has an audience while cleaning fish. The neighborhood Pelicans, Herons, and Egrets are always ready for a handout.

Not a bad day fishing! Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

 

Fishing in the gulf!

Just got back from spring break to Florida. While walking on the beach near Lemon Bay Florida, I took a photo of this fisherman catching a fish in the Gulf of Mexico.

On the gulf side of the bay lots of folks swim and a few fish. What kind of fish is on the other end of the line?

Hmmm...A black tip shark. I looked up the black tip to see what I could learn. They grow to about 9ft long and are common in the gulf. Interestingly, 16% of all shark bites are by the black tip, but there has been only one death. Still, I'm glad I wasn't swimming in the gulf today.

Looks like the shark is about two & half feet long.

If you look carefully, I think the black tip is smiling! Later I will post the fish that we caught while on spring break.

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

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