Leo Lakes Studio Tour

I've been doing maps for almost eleven years.  Interestingly,  my studio has grown as my map business has grown. I've been lucky, I have a 24'x24' space that has been dedicated to doing maps. What I find important in  my studio is "it must give me a good felling". To achieve this, I fill it with things I like and relates to my art, such as my maps, old things that I have had for years, like outboard motors, shells, lake rocks, bobbers, tackle boxes, anything that relates to my art. It is kind of like walking through a museum.  

If you toured my studio, you would find it interesting. I have wood chips from a tree a beaver was downing, sharks teeth, crinoids (Indian money), any interesting thing that I pick up at the shore. On my back wall, I display my maps, along with paddles, lures etc....

In this 24'x24' space, I paint the map in watercolors, scan it, print it, frame it, box it and lastly, ship it. I love doing lake house maps.

This gives you an idea of where I frame the canvas lake maps. 

More frame space. I try to keep barn wood, hardwood in inventory so I can quickly ship maps.

I do a lot of work on this table. I inspect the printed maps,  sign and number them and high light areas with a brush and paint.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Believe it or not I do try to keep my sales down because I like to go to the lake or river or bay sometimes. Paddle over to my website and check-out some beautiful maps: LeoLakes.com

LeoLakes.com

Neely Henry Lake Map

Just finished this map of Neely Henry Lake Map. Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in her best frame and ready tyo meet her new lake house.....two feet by 4 feet and stunning.

I always add the local waterfowl flying over and a few fish jumping in the water. If you look chosely, you may find a tiny hidden mermaid swimming around. 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 big fish. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for over ten 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. Paddle over to my website for more information: LeoLakes.com

My Girls

My two girls just graduated from college and I must give them some accolades.

Dr. Callie Oldfield has recently graduated from UGA with a Phd in Biology. She is the Director of Research at the Phinizy Swamp and Nature Park, located in Augusta, GA.

Sarah recently graduated from University of Arkansas with a Master's Degree in Mathematics. She works for the Department of Defense as an Operation Analyst at Ft Rucker, AL. Callie and Sarah, you girls are amazing!!!

Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay maps. We have lake maps from California to Texas to Georgia. 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 gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

The Ten Acxe Woods

Our home is located on ten acres. Both of our kids grew up here from the time that they were born to the time that they went off to college. Most of the land is wooded, so we called it the "Ten Acre Woods". 

I've been working on a project to map the Ten Acre Woods and turn it into a nice framed plot that can be framed. I'm hopeing that it will become a family heirloom. I have started the above sketch to get an idea of how it may look. I may do a few more sketches before I start the final drawing. Stay tured as I up-date, I will up-date the post.

Check-out my maps. They look great hanging in your home, lake house or office. Makes the best Gift! I have beautiful lake decor map of your favorite lake, which will look perfect above the fireplace. I even do custom maps of your favorite lake, river, or bay. LeoLakes.com

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. 2020" 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. 

Old Fishing Stuff

Old fishing stuff......When I was a child, I often fished with my dad. We had an alumium boat with a small outboard motor on the back. It was a 1946 Western Auto Wizard. The model number is WD-3 and is a neck snapping 3.2 hp. Before the war, the outboard motor wasn't too successful, however after the war the motor became a hot item!

I still have this motor. I have it in my studio and am trying to figure out how to display the motor. I keep a lot of old stuff like, paddles, floats, lures, etc... and thought that it would look good next to the maps. I have it on its side for now. 

I'm working on a stand that can show it off better. Stay tuned, I will blog about the new display when it's finished. Paddle over to map website to see some beautiful Lake decor maps. 

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. 

Interesting Lake Decor Map

Folks love a beautiful lake map hanging in the lake house, but not a standard old map. Most folks are looking for a special map that is very interesting.Here's one Leo Lakes Treasured Maps!

There's a lot that goes in to a Leo Lakes Treasured Map. LeoLakes.com 

Take for instant all of these items in the chest, most are standard map and framing items, but if you look closely, you will see some interesting items.

Take a look at this close up, I bet there's other interesting things that go into a Leo Lakes Tresured Map.

Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com to find out more. We have lake maps from California to Texas to Georgia. 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 gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Lake Map Collage

 I've been working on a collage of maps for a customer. These are all 10"x20" in black frames. It will be a special gift for someone who has been involed at each one of these lake. 

I actually think that they look pretty good. I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for over ten 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, like a tiny hidden mermaid. 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 or office Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoLakes.com. 

Choctawhatchee Bay

 ...all dressed up in her beautiful new frame and ready to meet her new beach house.... two feet by four feet and stunning. A beautiful map of Choctawhatchee Bay..

Choctawhatchee Bay is located in the panhandle of Florida. My dad was stationed at Eglin Air Base during World War Two. I remember traveling to Destin in the 60s and tour all the places that he and my mom visited back in the 40s. A great fishing area with many fishermen going to Destin Florida for some great deep sea fishing. I've been fishing there many times going out on a boat called the Florida Girl and catching red snapper, sea bass and grouper. It's a beautiful area with the beaches being so white and fine it looks like sugar. The bird life is amazing and bird watching is a must. If you ever have a chance to vacation here, have dinner at Captain Anderson. You will love it! 

Hey, paddle over to my website, LeoLakes.com for a beautiful lake, river, or bay maps. We have lake maps from California to Texas to Georgia. 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 gifts for the fisherman, lake lover, or Lake house. 

As you can see, my maps make a great gift.  Click here www.LeoLakes.com for more information.

Custom Lake Map

I did this custom lake map a few months ago. As you can see, it tured out beautiful. It is a very simple map with few landmarks or landmarks, but I added as much interest as I could to the map.

First, I added the waterfowl flying over with the shadows. The waterfowl and shadows give the map depth. Next, I added fish jumping and ripples in the water to make you wonder what happen near the ripples. I also added a few sailboats because there is a yacht club near. Lastly, I titled everything that I know about the area. I try not to allow the map to become too busy. Interestingly, I add a tiny mermaid to the waters for folks to search for. Her name is Lois. LeoLakes.com

For years and years, folks have been christening boats as an invitation for the water gods to bless their vessel. Hanging a LeoLakes Map in a lake house, is kind of like chisining a boat. So, hanging that map is a call to the water gods to bless the lake house. Lake House Christening!

Paddle over to website to see my Lake, River, and Bay Maps. I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes  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. 

   

Logan Martin Lake Decor Map

 Ain't she pretty! She's all dressed up in a barnwood frame and ready to go to the lake house warming party. You will be so proud when you walk in with the prettiest gift at the party! Beautiful Logan Martin Lake.

Interestingly, on Logan Martin Lake there’s a tiny unique island named Pirate's Island. It's only 30 feet by 30 feet, but it is very popular in the summer time. It has a pirate flag, tiki, palm tree, a hammock and a treasure chest. The chest has all sorts of beads and jewels.

One fun thing to do is to leave a treasure, such as Mardi Gras beads and take a treasure. Kids love this!

A true Treasured Place!

I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased  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 paddling over to LeoLakes.com

Oh Yeah, 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. LeoLakes.com

A Lake Memory

I was working on a map of the Tennessee River the other day for a customer. It included the section of the river that shows Danville TN. As I was working on the map, I felt something different about this map. However, I just couldn't pin point why this map was special. I didn't finish the map that day and put it aside. 

The next day, when I started back on the map, It Hit Me, I've been here before! It was with my dad and a fishing buddy. I was twevle years old. It was early spring and we were in a bass boat fishing along the railroad tussel that extendes across the water near the Danville Ferry. We were fishing for catfish and using chicken livers, yes chicken livers. A very funny thing happened that day! 

As I was casting out, my juicy chicken liver flew off my hook and splat on the side of my dad's head, right above his ear. I watched the liver slowly slide down, stop and curl around his ear with juice running down. It was so funny, but I wasn't sure if I should laugh. However, my dad and his fishing buddy busted out laughing. It was so funny when he reached up and flung the bait into the water. It was a cool memory and it all strated with a "Treasured Map".  Remember: "Get away from the big screen and get on a be stream..." Paddle over to my website site, LeoLakes.com to see some beautiful Lake, River and Bay maps.