Looking back

I went back to see when I started blogging. It's amazing that my first blog entry was January 7th, 2008, over eight years ago. The subject was about starting a website where folks could purchase my paintings online. The site started out being dedicated to my waterfowl painting. My lake maps were not even conceived, however 5-6 years ago I started painting lake, river and bay maps. It is interesting how things change over time and how flexible one needs to be to discover new success.

First Blog Entry: January 7th,2008
Finally, I have almost completed my web site. I have a few more items to add. The site was not as difficult to build as I thought, however I have had no experience with web building. I did 100% of the work. After about 1 week of playing around with the web program, "Expressions Web", I had the site up and running. Painting has been very limited due to the time spent on the web site. I have other paintings that I have completed and will add to the site. Currently, I am working on a Great Blue Heron fishing in a lake with cattails. The painting is almost 90% finished. Well, got to run. http://www.oldfieldstudio.com/

Check-out my maps at www.Leolakes.com. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee, Great Sacandaga Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Sinclair, Table Rock Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. 

Crackling Fire on a Boat!

For a lake lover, the glow of a boat cabin on a spring night is the same as a crackling fire in a log cabin on a cold winter night! Holy Moly is that deep. Well maybe, but you have to admit that the glow of light from any cabin does give you a warm feeling.....read on!     

If you look closely, you may find the objective of this photo. One of my customers send me this photo and it is to show a clever way to display a lake map on a boat. The photo is actually showing a LeoLakes Maps on the table in the boat galley. What a great place to display a map of the lake that you cruise. As you know, boats have a minimal amount of space to display wall maps, but the table top is ideal. 

The map has been epoxied to the table with other interesting items such as, a compass, calipers, coin and small anchor.  I think it is adds a personal touch and conversational piece to the cabin. 

You know, the map is like adding a crackling fire to the boat cabin. How's that? Because everyone will sit around and gaze into the map as if it were a fire, sort of. Anyway, beautiful work Brendan and thanks for the photos.

Hey, if you want to add a fireplace to your boat. Check-out my vintage style lake maps. They make a great gift. Click here, Leolakes.com to see if we have your map. We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee, Great Sacandaga Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Pickwick Lake, Greer's Ferry Lake, Lake Sidney Lanier, Lake Sinclair, Table Rock Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized maps for that special someone. 

Can you see the dragon?

Can you see the dragon? I can! I did this custom map of Lake Nacimiento, also referred to as the dragon lake. It's located in California near Paso Robies. Interestingly, Nacimiento means "beginning or source" in Spanish, which makes sense.  

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."

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

Fishing in Florida

Last year at this time I was in Florida visiting my mother and father-in-law. This year I was not able to make it to Florida because my mother-in-law is having some health issues. So, I thought I would bring back a blast from a past Florida trip. 

As you can see, Pop (my father-in-law) has an audience while cleaning fish. These birds act like they are waiting to enter a five star restaurant, called "Pop's Filet," right before it opens. Anyway, Pop has been fishing down in Florida on Lemon Bay. Lucky for him, he has missed the cold hard winter and has been enjoying the 70's while we suffered in the teens. 

What was the catch of the day, Sheephead, six to be exact. Okay, they don't look like a sheep's head, but if you look at their teeth, then you would think they have sheep teeth. That's why they are called sheep's head. They are great tasting fish, however even with the size of these shown, the meat will only be the size of  two chicken strips after they are filleted.  
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Check-out that knife that's in Pop's hand. I'm not sure if he is ready to clean fish or have a knife fight with a Great Blue Heron over his catch. Here's the good news, next week I will be "fishing on Lemon Bay, drinking lemonade" and hopefully catching a few fish. Wish me luck and I will post a few pictures during the trip on the blog. Oh yeah, here's one of my vintage styled maps of Lemon Bay that I personalized and gave to Pop as a gift. That's him in the photos. See more of my maps at LeoMaps.com

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

A little Bait Humor...

Here I go again, making bait fun.  

Need a great gift for the Lake Lover. 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. 

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

Old Field Studio News

Growing up near lakes, rivers and bays have paid-off. I took daughter, Callie to the airport today on her way to LSU. She has been selected as a candidate for their PHD Program in Biology/Ecology. She has already visited The University of Georgia and there are two other universities interested, The University of North Carolina and The University of Pittsburg. We will wait to see how far we have to travel to visit her in the future!

Congratulations Callie

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

Old lures have a story.

"Old lures have a story!" 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, write it down and keep it for future fishermen.  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 LeoMaps.com. 

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

Great Valentine's Day gift for the lake lover!

I love to receive comments back from customers. Here's one that made my day! Makes a great Valentine's Day gift for the lake lover.

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