A map for the fireplace!

I painted this map for a very nice lady who has a cabin on the lake and plans on hanging the map over the fireplace. I received an email from her after the map was delivered and here is what she said. 

"Hi Larry,

We got the map and it is absolutely stunning. I can't wait to hang it over the fireplace!

Thanks again, we are so pleased. It's truly a work of art."

Can you see the dragon? 

I can! I did this custom map of Lake Nacimiento, also referred to as the Dragon Lake because it is shaped like a dragon. It's located in California near Paso Robies. Interestingly, Nacimiento means "beginning or source" in Spanish, which makes sense.  
leolakes.com

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

I think that's enough said, check- out my maps...LeoLakes.com

Get On A Big Stream!

It's amazing of the beauty that you see near a big stream! I was on the water last weekend and was lucky to photograph a great blue heron. Check out this majestic bird relaxing on a branch over the water. He was obviously comfortable with folks coming near, however just a second later he decided to take flight and this is when I clicked four photos.



At home, using software, I trimmed the heron out of the background of each of the four photos. These photos kind of show how a 5 pound bird takes flight. The result of these photos is what I call, "Four steps to flight, steady, jump, flap, and soar." 

Four Steps To Flight

I think that it came out cool, so I decided to share the result. Remember, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Leo Lakes Treasured Maps - Check-out my maps! 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 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 LeoMaps.com. 

Great Maps for the lake house owner

Here's an interesting story about a map that I did for a customer in California. The question is: Why did I add a PARROT to the map below? The customer answers the question in his own words.

"I absolutely love it. It’s even better than I anticipated. The parrot is perfect! It symbolizes my parents favorite song “One particular harbor” by Jimmy Buffet. It gets played as soon as we have the car unloaded and make our first drink every time we go to the lake house. I appreciate your flexibility to make it personalized to meet my vision. It will mean a lot to my father who wants that house to be his legacy to our family."

As you can see, 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 personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. I have decor maps of Old Hickory, Table Rock Lake, Lake Wallenpaupack, Lake Lanier, Toledo Bend, Kentucky Lake, 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 LeoMaps.com. 

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

A California Lake Map

Just completed this map of Camanche Lake for a customer in California. This is a beautiful lake that is located in San Joaquin Valley. The lake is know for Bass and trout fishing. Interestingly, Camanche Lake is located in what is known as a Mediterranean Climate. The annual rain fall is relatively low, summers are relatively hot with low humidity and winters are mild.

Before I add waterfowl to the map, I research to determine what waterfowl lives on or near the lake. Camanche Lake has canadian geese, bald eagles, and great blue herons that frequent the area. The area has been in a drought, but water levels in the lake have been increasing during the 2015 and 2016 winter months. "Get away from the big screen and get on a big stream, Camanche Lake"

Vintage Style Lake Maps: LeoLakes.com

Lake House Maps

I just shipped this 2ft X 4ft map of Old Hickory Lake for a customers lake house. Here's a recent comment from one of my customers!

"Hi Larry, Just wanted you to know we gave him the map for Father's Day and it was a HUGE hit! He is an avid OHL fisherman and he loved this gift! Thanks for the quick turnaround time. From the time I placed the order it arrived on my porch within a few days. Thanks so much!"

The map turned out very nice with the golden color. I try to make my maps as much "a piece of art" as they are a map. In fact, my large maps (16x32 and over) are numbered and come with a Certificate of Authenticity, which also includes a letter that details some other neat things about the map, such as the tiny hidden mermaid. Interestingly, I have sold over one thousand maps ranging in size from 10in x 20in  to 4ft x 8ft. Believe it or not, I have kept the purchase information (Who, When, Map, etc..) for all those purchases. 

Anyway, I do have one wish and I think that it will come true some day, and that is, to stubble upon one of my maps hanging in a restaurant, business or home. 

I call my maps treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. These decor 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 vintage style maps, too. If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.com. 
 

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

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.

Leo Lakes News

My daughter, Sarah was lucky to be selected for an undergraduate research program at the University of Wisconsin, La Cross. She will be researching "White-nose Syndrome" that affects bats. It's a ten week research program and she gets paid, room board, and a food stipend. Hopefully it will be published in a scientific journal. Sarah is a junior at Sewanee majoring in Mathematics. We are going to miss you during the summer!

BE GOOD TO SARAH, WISCONSIN!

Leo Lakes Treasured Maps - Check-out my maps! 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 personalizes 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 LeoMaps.com.