Friday, December 29, 2017

Dream-rageous.....

Dream-rageous......A few years ago, I got to follow my dream, a dream of having my own studio and creating the art that I love. After some wandering around on exactly what I wanted to produce, then putting all my creative and artistic ability in to it, I can now say that I have found it, "producing creative decor maps of places that folks love." I think this email below, from one of my customers pretty much sums it up, I have found my calling!" 



I received my custom, Hammock Lake decor map yesterday and was like a kid opening it on Christmas Day.  I could not wait to see it, and it definitely did not disappoint! It it stunning!!  Thank you so much for working with me to create this amazing focal point of my home. Your work is gorgeous and is just what I had been looking for!! I absolutely love the barn wood frame!! Thank you also for your promptness on answering your emails and for the super quick delivery.  Your business is more than 5 star and is so much appreciated!!! Thank you again and have a GREAT 2018!! LeoLakes.com


Have a very "Happy New Year" and remember "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Not a fish was stirring not even a carp!

A few years ago near Christmas time, I went to one of my favorite lakes to fish and kayak. This particular lake was stocked with "Rainbow Trout" the day before. My goal was to catch a few. Here's a poem that lets you know, just how well the fishing trip went.

Not a fish was stirring not even a carp!


T’was the night after the "rainbows" had been stocked in the lake, I went fishing to see what I might take,

The flys were hung in the tackle box with care, in hopes that a big rainbow would soon be near.

As I paddled out on the lake, there arose such a clatter, I sprang up in my kayak to see what was the matter.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, a just fallen tree near a old whitetail deer.

I found not a fish was stirring, not even a carp, so I paddled my Kayak back to the park.

When I arrived home, fun was had by all, as my wife had just arrived from the mall.
That pretty much sums up my fishing trip. Apparently the trout, being new to the lake had pissed off everyone and nothing was biting.

Visit my website to see more. I have over two hundred 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 LeoLakes.com



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

Remember, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Christmas gift for the lake lover....

Need a Christmas gift for the lake lover? Think about it, if someone you know have a lake house, what's better than having a beautiful vintage style lake map hanging in the great room! 

I just finished this beautiful 2'x4' vintage style lake map of Lake Bob Sandlin. The colors came out perfect and they work well with the mahogany frame. I'm sure it will look great hanging in the customers lake house.  


I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately six 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.


You will find no road names, county, or state lines on my maps. I have found that folks enjoy traveling the roads with their eyes, while trying to get their bearing. I call this the "Leo Lakes gaze." 
You can add a star or symbol with a few words to mark that special place, it maybe the location of the lake house, the spot where you caught that trophy fish or some grand view. This will make a very special gift for the lake lover. I hide a few fish and even a tiny mermaid in the waters of my lakes. Yep, but they're very shy and don't want to be found. Folks just love'm, especially the kids. You might even think they move around overtime.

Did you know that you can always tell if its morning or evening on a Leo Lakes map? Just look at the shadows cast by the wildlife, is the shadow on the east or west? If it's on the west, then it’s morning time. Oh yeah, I have had folks tell me that they change through the day, but don't believe them.
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 personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. I have maps, such as Lake Bob Sandlin Vintage Style map, Lake Logan Martin Vintage Style Map, Center Hill Lake vintage style map, Lake Texoma vintage style map, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay vintage style map, Toledo Bend Lake Vintage style map, Raystown Lake vintage style map. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

A Family Heirloom Map as a Christmas Gift

Creating a Family Heirloom Map! I just completed this custom map of a lake in Michigan. The customer wanted it framed in barn wood and a star added to locates his home. I think the frame really adds to the vintage style of the map. The customer also requested that the map be oriented in the vertical position, which is requested from time to time.  

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 pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Fishing Cartoons

BaitRageous, trying to make bobbers fun, again! Some of my oldies......

Hmmm......

Notice the worm?





Paddle over to my website and take a look at my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of decor maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. Lake maps will add beauty to your Fish Camp, Lake House or Cabin. The Best lake lover gift of he year.  Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com



Tuesday, November 7, 2017

A gift for the fishermen

Just finished this 2ft x 4ft canvas map of Table Rock Lake and it will be hanging in the customers lake house soon. 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 and fish jumping. 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 "Trophy Fish". I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately seven 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

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

The best Christmas gift for the fisherman

What's the best Christmas gift for the fisherman, lake lover, or lake house? A beautiful LeoLakes Treasured Decor Map. If you have a lake house, lake cottage, lake cabin, boat, fishing pole or know someone that does, then a nice, vintage style map of your beloved lake will look spectacular hanging on the wall. Leo Lakes have many sizes and most lakes can be ordered right from the website with only a few days to deliver. We even paint custom lake maps for that small lake.
On our canvas prints, the waterfowl and other areas of the map are hand painted (touched-up). Also, Leo hides a tiny mermaid in the waters of every lake which makes an ideal conversational piece. See other interesting facts about our maps at www.LeoLakes.com
You can add a star to the location of your Lake House to give that personal touch and even add a label such as "The Jones's House Est. 2016" or where you caught the big fish!

Here's one of our customer comments:



"Larry, the Lake Tahoe Lake print arrived yesterday and it’s beautiful,  found the fish and the mermaid, great conversation piece!  I’ll definitely will recommend your website! Thanks again"
If it's a gift for the lake house owner, just wait until you see there face when they open a LeoLakes Treasured Decor Map! See more at www.LeoLakes.com Here's a photo of my studio!

Thursday, October 12, 2017

I wrestled an alligator......

Last weekend, I was in Hilton Head S.C. for a few days. The weather was absolutely perfect for October. This is what I've learned while walking on the beach....
I can wrestled an alligator and not get hurt. Here's how I did it! 
I wrestled an alligator at Hilton Head, sort of....Well, my shadow did.....Boy was I brave!


You find amazing things on the beach. One interesting thing that I was not expecting while at Hilton Head, was discovering a 13,000 lbs. buoy in the middle of Coligny Beach.  I did a little research and found it was the after affects of Hurricane Irma. The buoy, No 8 was washed from the mouth of Port Royal Sound about eight miles away. The Coast Guard is planning on removing the buoy at some point in the future by ship or helicopter, yes a heavy lifting helicopter.


Incredible pictures can be found at the beach, old buoy no. 8 makes a great back drop for a beach picture. Yep, that's me....

Humans and dogs love the waves! I met these "Beach Dogs" while strolling down the beach. There's no doubt that these dogs like the beach as much as I do! 


I've learned .....  "When Oysters Riot, you don't see it on CNN."

I've learned that the plume coming from a shrimp boat is often flying seagulls....


Here's the most important thing that I have learned while walking on the beach, "Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream."

Checkout, my Hilton Head Treasured map:
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 gift for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 
As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Orders pick-up during the holiday's, so order soon. Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more informati

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

How to identify older fishermen, Bobber Positions, Bobber Vacation, Cuss Worms.....


BaitRageous, trying to make bobbers fun, again! Wow, Fall is here and I need some new cartoon ideas. Anyway,  I've just added a few more cartoons for your enjoyment. I named them "How to identify older fishermen", "Bobber Yoga", and "Bobber Vacation".



Leo Lakes Studio 
Check-out my maps, they make the best fishermen's gift! 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 fish 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



Wednesday, September 27, 2017

This is what happens when you do what you love.......

Back in October 2007, I started OldField Studio, I can't believe that I have been in business for ten years. 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. 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.

This is what happens when you do what you love....... 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.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Lake house lake maps

A beautiful decor map of your favorite lake, such as Great Sacandaga Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, Lake Tahoe, Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, or Pickwick Lake, will look great hanging in your home, lake house or office. Makes the best Gift!
Unlike most maps, There’s a tiny mermaid hidden in the waters which folks love to search for and some say she moves around! You'll love the waterfowl which are hand painted (touched up) on the canvas prints to give that original look and each map is hand signed by Leo. For a personal touch, you can even add a small star to the location of your lake house or special place and add a few words such as "Evan's Lake House, Est. 2014" or be creative. The signatured Ruby Meridian, waterfowl and vintage plane have a story that’s included in the signed Certificate of Authenticity.  Leo Lakes treasured maps will make a cherished gift for that special someone. 


Visit my website to see more. I have over two hundred 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 you can see, my maps make a great gift. To see more of my work, click here www.LeoLakes.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