1965 Aristocrat Lo-Liner

1965 Aristocrat Lo-Linerorig. watercolor 8x10in (matted to fit 11x14in frame)
purchase info here

Today's camper is this red 1965 Aristocrat Lo-Liner. It's proud owner writes the following:

'This is "The Hen House" - my very first vintage trailer. I named her
after finding some cute curtain fabric & a vintage red leather
suitcase! My very first vintage trailer!'

Isn't it the best how many people start a renovation (camper or other) with a some inspiration piece? Here it was a cute curtain fabric and a vintage leather suitcase. My own kitchen reno and so many others behind me I know exactly how she feels. It takes just one inspiration piece to get a vision. I guess that the red leather suitcase was the model for the red color outside.

Side note about submitting photos:

Today I had to work some imaginary angles as the photo was cropped. I usually don't choose cropped photos as it just adds that extra level of stress to guess it right, but I am a sucker for red, so I let it slip. It was stressful, haha! The owner offered different photos but it was too late to contact her as my month is coming to an end very soon.

I believe more people have tried to send  photos in, but my 'super basic uploader' doesn't have a landing page stating if things went through. Many people were wondering (however the uploader shows if things don't go through). Most problems I saw was too large files. My computer screen is not showing the whole photo if files arrive at full size, often 5mb!

I had this a couple years ago and it drove me crazy to re-size almost every other photo. So I decided that photos have to be sent the right size for me to work from. Many people read and understood and I'm very thankful for the time I could spend painting rather than editing pics;-) Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Tomorrow, more camper before we call it done for this time and I want to thank each and every one again for sending in your pics! I had fun and hope you did have, too!

1969 Catalina from New Zealand- a Lesson in Perspective

1969 Catalina from New Zealand!
watercolor study 8x10in,  (not for sale)

Today's camper is one of the hardest campers I have ever painted. It's shape, color and a canvas tent that is longer than the trailer caused a huge challenge.

I call today's painting a fail, but a learning experience.

Still I am posting my laboured efforts, just to show you that not every painting works out. And I have to be honest, posting this is a bit humbling, too. And I hope this painting will be a good teaching-lesson for me. I want to get better at what I do, this is why I started painting to paint 30 paintings in 30 days a few years back under the umbrella of artist Leslie Saeta's call to join her.

Let's analyze...!

So what happened  today you might ask? I was trying so hard to capture the immaculate high gloss finish. The muted colors were almost white soft pastel tones. I was trying hard to capture the rounded front windows, the tent-addition and simplify the layout somewhat. There were extra canvas stipes on the awning poles, too that I wasn't sure would read right in the painting. I edited those out.

First, the area rug seemed to fall out from the painting. I didn't see this as I don't have good perspective from the get-go. Then I asked my dear husband and he told me. As I tried to see it and adjust the rug's shape, I saw the pole on the left ended up too long, and as a result the corner of the awning looked to be by that pole.

So I painted the white pole over to fit with the dark open door (you can still see where I patched that pole, haha). At this point, I knew there was no going back, nor going forward. So, here I am posting this camper in hopes to being able to try a second round... but I might take a couple of days with other campers to calm my nerves, haha.

Anyhow, thank you so much for following along and hope to see you tomorrow again!

Sorry my sentences might read jumbled. I'm just too tired and weary now. Time for bed, zzzz.

1963 Winnebago Cab Over

1963 Winnebago Cab Overorig. watercolor, 8x10in, matted to fit 11x14in frame
purchase info here

A 1963 Winnebago Cab Over is our camper of the day today. 

What a beauty! It was pure joy for me to paint it. You know how I love red, vintage red that is on those cute campers and this one here sports it! I kept the composition somewhat simplified as I didn't want to take away from the campers beauty. I think it has still lots of interest already with the striped awning and the accessories around it.

The fall has arrived here and it makes me tired. I see all the work that is waiting around the house to be done before winter and all I want to do is curl up and sleep! 

I'm still catching up from my last weekends away painting and on my courses. With three kids the chores just don't do themselves. Oh well, it'll get done. The chores AND the stuff around the house. 

On a positive note, I picked most of the apples from our tree in the back and they are nice and big this year! I hope to grab a longer ladder tomorrow to climb up and get the upper ones- they are even nicer looking! I can see apple crisp in our near future;-)

Thank you for stopping by and I'll be here with another campie, fresh off my easel;-)

thanks again and enjoy the beautiful fall if you can!

Simone

1963 Arrow Duplex Cabover

1963 Arrow Duplex Caboverorig. watercolor, 8x10in (matted to fit 11.14in frame)more info and purchase, click here

Welcome to today's 1963 Arrow Duplex Cabover. The step-up tiny camping home for the person who needs a bit more space (or has more kids, haha).

This one here is a 1963, almost 55 years old! I'd love to look this good when I'm 55, just sayin'!

Here is what its proud owner shared with me: "This is my camper Flo. We have a lot of fun because I just 'go with the Flo.'" Some comments make my day, and this was one of those! Thank you very much for sending in your darling Flo for us all to smile with you!

I am posting this, yawning. So tired today. This weekend I was out and about painting at Kings Landing Historic Settlement at their annual plein air fundraiser. The other artists attending are fun to be around with and really, as creating art is kind of a solitary endeavor, it feels special to paint alongside likeminded. We stayed at the bunkhouse where they host the summer camp kids. You can guess how well I slept, haha! 

I will share some of the paintings created with you once the month and my camper project is over. If you are interested in looking at the exhibit and enjoy a wonderful fall excursion, you can head to Kings Landing until October 9th, 2017 before they close for the season.

1969 Okanagan Camper

1969 Okanagan Camperorig. watercolor 8x10in (matted to fit 11x14in frame)
purchase info here

Welcome to this 1969 Okanagan Camper! I love it when the owners put their creative touches on the outside. Here we have colorful flowers and vines growing on the middle strip. It makes it look friendly, welcoming and cosy. 

I tried to imagine where the camper was parked. The red sand could be in the Southern US or it could be on the Northern Eastcoast and Canada... In any case, I liked the contrast with the lush vegetation as a back drop.

Here is what it's proud owner shared with me: 'My trailer's name is Scruffy. She was built in Penticton, BC, Canada, but currently resides in Arlington, TX.' Okanagan is a very well known wine-growing region in British Columbia, Canada.

Ha, and this trailer is doing what it's supposed to do! Travelling the roads. Lucky little campie!

I wish you all a Happy Weekend with first of all some relaxation and laughter and sunshine! And probably it includes some outdoor-time, too?! Maybe even camping!

As you read this, I have been painting at Kings Landing Plein Air Event and should arrive home late this evening. Thank you for travelling alongside me and I hope we will see each other again tomorrow!

2009 Shasta Airflyte 12

2009 Shasta Airflyte 12orig. watercolor, 8x10in (matted size: 11x14in)
purchase info here

Today's feature camper is not a vintage as in 30 years or more, but, well, a 2009 vintage. It is a Shasta re-issue Retro Camper. I have never included one in my camper-a-day projects ever, but I don't think I have ever had one submitted either. So, as I liked the beautiful red color and the sun creating wonderful shadows on the siding, I was thrilled to get started with the painting!

The Retros are very popular, giving people all the modern comforts and safety standards including the cute vintage look. Certainly worth a consideration if budget is not the problem but rather the carpentry...

I am still looking for a few more camper submissions, so if you know of someone who might like to send in a pic, please send them to my submissions page here. The maximum file size is 1MB, that's the only thing to keep in mind. I think some folks might have had problems with re-sizing their photos. Easy way to downsize from a cell phone is to send the photo to ones own email. My Iphone offers four different sizes: small, medium, large, original size. I pick the size just below 1 mb and send it to my own email. There I can download it very easily to my photo stream again in the changed sized. 

I hope we will meet again tomorrow, same page with another campie.... thanks for stopping by and spreading the word!

Simone

1953 King Camper 'Queenie'

1953 King Camper 'Queenie'

orig. watercolor 8x10in, matted to fit 11x14in frame, 
more info and purchase: click here

Today's cute camper is a 1953 King Camper named Queenie. It doesn't have any paint color, but left its natural aluminum siding. I painted a King Camper last year and it reflected the desert setting, so it was great to see today's camper which looks so sweet all decked out in bunting and cowboy boots and vintage finds.

I don't have a lot of info on the camper manufacturer, except it was built in the 50's in Los Angeles, CA. The great guys at TinCan Tourists have a great wiki archive, where I find great info on all kinds of different trailers while I am painting. If you are renovating one or looking to get one, check out their website! There are not many around, so if you  know someone with one, or happen to own one, wohoo- lucky, lucky!!

Here I want to share with you what it's proud owner sent to me. 'She is called "Queenie". And I often say: "I wonder if she thinks about me as much as I think about her."

Today will mark the back-to-school for us again. The kids are so excited to see their friends again, pack their lunches and start a new year of adventures and discoveries. I am excited for them and with them. I look forward to some more me-time for uninterrupted painting and maybe even a lunch date with my hubby. Life is good at the Ritter household...

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you will continue the journey with me as I will paint another vintage camper tomorrow! Have a wonderful day!

Camper a Day 2017 begins today!

Wohoo! Today marks the first day of my 2017 painting a vintage camper trailer or camper van for each day of September. I am always looking forward to it, as it requires discipline to make it happen. The time to paint, to photograph, edit, blog, list on my website, cross post to my social feeds and so on will take a good chunk out of every day this month.

Also, September marks 'back to school' for my gang and with last loose ends to tie and myself finishing up taking a colour mixing and theory course that was this week, I am glad that soon life will settle into its new routine. What nicer way to celebrate this with daily painting!?

As every year, my month-long painting endeavour is not a one-woman-event. Many generous vintage camper enthusiasts that share photos of their little loves with me and give me permission to paint from their photos make my project possible. Thank you, each and everyone from the bottom of my heart!

If you read this and would like to submit a photo that you have taken, please use my submissions form by clicking here or go to my website directly. You might even know a friend who might like to join the fun! Please do invite them as I need... well... 30 campers to being able to paint a camper a day 2017!

Our first camper-a-day model!

1987 Cadet Camper watercolour 8x10in, sold

Today's feature camper is from Canada's East Coast. It is a 1987 Cadet. Now, most vintage North American campers have some kind of horizontally ribbed siding. In Europe most campers have plain, untextured siding, often fiberglass. This Cadet has that, too. This summer I went to my very first vintage camper meet on Prince Edward Island, Canada. I learned that the Cadets were originally built in Poland and some 200+ empty shells got exported to Canada. There they were finished to Canadian standards and sold. (TinCan Tourist Wiki tells me 500 Cadets made it to the US).

European camper trailer caravans often have little tents that can be added for extra space. They look quite cute, sort of like little houses. This one has one of those, too and my heart always jumps a beat when I see one. It does remind me of my youth back in Germany;-). So, what better camper to get my camper-a-day 2017 started than this one here who started its life in Europe- just as me!

If you want to journey along, please subscribe to my newsletter or facebook page or instagram feed.

Feature on Girl Camper Podcast

This week your truly has been featured on the Girl Camper Podcast with my camper calendar!

Wow, what a great honour and surprise when Blogger and Podcaster and Girl Camper Advocate Janine Pettit dropped me a line, if she could feature me on her show! I was floored!

I have been following Janine on social for a while and enjoy her sharing of vintage camper photos, camping ideas, her travels in her camper- and every Sunday a beautiful photo of a country church.

Here is some info from Janine's website, www.girlcamper.com :

'Janine Pettit is a lifelong lover of camping who took a 25 year sabbatical when she married a non-camper!

She discovered that camping was still in the cards for her when she stumbled onto an article about a women’s outdoor adventure group that travels around the country in RVs, meeting new friends, checking off bucket list adventures and doing things she had only dreamed of.

Janine has become an Ambassador for the Girl Camping movement. She encourages women to go places and do things on her Girl Camper podcast, on her blog for Go RVing, and through her frequent public speaking engagements.'

On her podcasts, she shares news, trends and personal stories of her camping life. She meets people, goes to trade shows, and interviews specialists and camping enthusiasts. All, to provide important information to the girl campers out there. I learn a lot, and this week's episode is where she shares her insight from the great RV shows and her top 5 new trailer releases for 2017. I have to look up some toy-hauler trailers now, haha!

My Calendar makes a great gift for your glamping lover or a fun Secret Santa Surprise! Direct Shipping available, too- just leave a note at checkout!

On my end here, I have been busy packing and shipping Camper Christmas Gifts. I also was 'helper' to a 'Secret Santa' (see pic below). Also, I can only tell you this much, that there are some very thoughtful husbands out there- cannot say more...

We had a nice first snowstorm of the season here in the Maritimes. Kids were off school, too. So, I grabbed my oil painting stuff, got them in snow gear and we headed out. They had a snowball fight and I painted a picture of my neighbour's gift shop, the Crocker Hill Store (a treat for garden and dog lovers). Happy Advent to you all, thank you for stopping by!

1956 Kencraft Christmas Camper

1956 Kencraft Christmas Camper

orig. watercolor 11x14in (mounted to 16x20 archival matting and backing)

more info and purchase: click here

The month of October just seems to fly by in lightning speed- already half the month is over!!! Where has the time gone? Here I am, getting ready for the Christmas Season!

Well, I know, this might seem a bit early, doesn't it? But I have started to order so many things in and they are specialty print items which take time. I want to have my gift-giving shop ready to go by November as many people order online and have their gifts shipped. 

So, in the spirit I just finished my first Christmas Camper Painting! I hope a few more will come!

The owner of this 1956 Kencraft submitted the photo as part of my September Camper-a-Day Project. Somehow I couldn't make out it's Christmas Decor in the small thumbnail pic that opened in the email, so I dismissed it! Lucky for me, she sent me a note about her campie after reading my call-out for Holiday Glampers. And I'm so glad she did!

I was still looking for a feature holiday camper to include in my 2017 Calendar to fill the December slot- and was so glad to have received this photo! 

As I am talking about it again, I want to give a great, big 'thank you' to all of you who so generously shared your campie photos with me! I enjoy each and every one so much and would love paint them all if I would have the time! Thank you again!

If you are interested in gifts for the glamper in your life, I invite you to check out my shop again beginning of November. I will be adding many more gift ideas starting at $15 and up.

Red VW Camper

Red VW Camper

orig. watercolor, 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20 archival mat and backing board)

more info and purchase: please click here

Today's post is about this darling red VW Camper. It was parked at our campground this summer and the owners are local people! This old VW is not road worthy anymore. The owners have her towed each year to the campground for an annual VW meet! How cool is this?! The rest of the year, she resides in their backyard as a special guest. The owners have lived in her for months at a time  and travelled the continent living full-time in this tiny camper! Yeah, the good ol' times!

I couldn't resist painting it, but didn't have time this summer. But now with the camper-a-day just over, I had to get going and include her in the voting for my 2017 Vintage Camper Calendar.

Oh, yes,the voting: Please stop on over to the Voting Page and 'like' your favorite paintings from the September Camper Painting project! Voting is open to all and I'd like to know from you which paintings you'd like to see in the calendar! There will be a give-away as well:

Each camper-owner who wins, will receive a free calendar! Plus 3 of my newsletter subscribers will win a calendar as well! So, please spread the word to make this a fun voting- selecting your favorites!

Now, more exciting news: 

As a special 'Thank You' I will be offering 20 Greeting cards FREE with each painting sold $400 or more! My print-house has made it possible for me to order smaller quantities and direct-ship, so I am finally able to offer this great special to you!

Why not treat yourself to an early Christmas gift, a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art, artist direct and made with love?! And enjoy 20 FREE Greeting cards to keep or give-away?

See many paintings in my Shop.

Special Commissions welcome- please drop me a line (allow 4-8 weeks for completion before Christmas).

Airstream Camper and 1963 Red Shasta Compact

Airstream Front View at Dusk

orig. watercolor 11x14in (matted to 16x20in, ready for a frame)

more info and purchase: click here

Today marks the last day for my 'Camper-a-Day' Project.

Wow, it has been intense. It was a lot of painting, photographing, editing, blogging, writing, posting, sharing. I am tired now, haha!

But it was so much fun! I met so many new, wonderful people that share the same enthusiasm for their hobby and dreams as I do! Thank you for journeying with me!

As I didn't get to really have a good representation of Airstreams, here is one as my feature camper today. It was a cropped photo taken at dusk, so there was not so much light to play with or color reflecting on the panels but warm glow from the string-lights. I enjoyed painting this one, but I have to say it was a challenge, too!

1963 Red Shasta Compact

orig. watercolor 11x14 in (matted to 16x20 matboard)

more info and purchase: please click here

The second camper today, a 1963 Red Shasta Compact, is of a dear Canadian Lady Camper who also has a vintage shop biz out of her darling campers and home. You can check her FB page out by clicking here: Cellar Relics. She is also a treasure trove for any questions vintage camper related for sourcing or what to look for... I almost had forgotten to paint her campie!!! I really wanted to!

Even though this month is over and we will have to vote now for our favorite camper paintings, I am still looking for a Christmas Camper photo for my 'December' Slot in the calendar! I got so many submissions, but no Christmas Season campie! If you an help me out, or know of someone, please send them to my website to send in a pic! Thank you!

I am still finalizing how to best do the voting, so it might take me til Monday for the voting to be set up, but it will start soon! Keep your eyes on my fb feeds or here on my blog/website!!!

Thank you again for your interest and stopping by to walk with me! I feel so blessed! THank YOU!

Simone

ps: great, big thank you to Leslie Saeta for hosting again this month's painting challenge! It was a lot of fun, thank you!

Teardrop Camper 'Mary Beth'

Teardrop Camper 'Mary Beth'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20 archival matboard)

more info and purchase: please click here

As this month's Camper-a-Day project comes to a close, I thought I'd spice it up with one of those cute, beloved teardrop campers. Here we have 'Mary Beth'. I do not know a whole lot about her, but that her proud owner built her by herself!!! Now, that is awesome! Girl power!

My to-do-camper rebuild:

Reminds me, that I might have to dig in myself if I ever want my darling disassembled Glenette Camper re-built. At the moment it resides in our back-storage of our inn- lovingly are all individual parts stored inside waiting patiently for now about two years! Yikes! If I don't get to it someday soon, I might forget how it got together! I took photos, but who knows how many questions will surface once the re-build starts. I assume my darling husband still has the hope that I will let him off the hook by acclaiming one day that we should just scrap the camper project.

And the story that goes with it:

What he doesn't know is that I still dream of this little trailer where I camped my very first time in Canada. I was invited to go hunting Moose in the wilderness without electricity and a dug-out toilet-hole in the bush! And a group of old men- all retired- that wanted to show me how rough the huntin' is in this country! Haha! One day I saw a bear running down the lane where the camper was parked- that freaked me right out as I had just used the outdoor 'toilet'! Makes for fun stories for sure! I got this camper, my Glenette now, as a gift once the old gentlemen retired it!

As you can see, I come from the highly tamed Germany where nature's inhabitants consists of small foxes and the odd dear and maybe a hedgehog. We never got that moose by the way...

Now, what does this have to do with this teardrop camper? I don't know, just somehow felt like sharing this little anecdote.

In any case, this month soon will come to a close. I will be wrapping up my camper project soon and hope you will help me cast your vote which paintings to choose for the 2017 Camper Calendar!

Hope to see you again tomorrow, with another Camper of the Day!                       Simone

1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'

1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'

orig. watercolor 11x14in (matted to 16x20 matboard, ready for framing)

more info and purchase: please click here

Today we have this fun country themed 1964 Shasta 'Fit to be Tied'.

Well, it looks like working farm girl to me, so Monday seems a good day to make it my feature camper!

As this is not my mother tongue, I had to look up if this name means something that needs censorship on this blog (haha). So, here are my findings- of course you probably know and are laughing out loud now!- 'the idiom fit to be tied according to thefreedictionary.com means angry and agitated. (As if needing to be restrained.)'

See, every day I learn something with painting your campies! Just love it! I don't know what is angry about today's camper. Maybe the owner hitches up her Shasta and goes for a weekend camp trip to cool down and chill out when she feels angry and agitated which would make PERFECT sense to me! I have my 'Little Wings' which I just love to visit once in a while. Just to 'hang out' and chill if I need my quiet, kind of a she-shed on wheels. Yeehaw!

So now, with this campie I am wishing you a good start into this week and don't get too upset about small stuff (except you have a camper where you can run to for relaxation, haha).

We shall see you again tomorrow with another camper! If you like what you see, please feel free to share my blog or photos with friends, pinterest boards or on your social feeds!                 Simone

1961 Metzendorf 'Downton Abbey'

1961 Metzendorf 'Downton Abbey'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20in archival matting)

for more info and purchase: click here

Today's camper is very British and sports the Union Jack and other Brit-themed decor and colours. The reason, of course is the beloved PBS series 'Downton Abbey' which aired it final season this year. My husband and I enjoyed watching it, too, so I do understand the motive for this camper decor.

What I love about this camper is that Metzendorf is a German name, so I had to look up with my friends at TinCanTourists.com for info. Here is what they have- just a bit of info on its original owner and an obituary from the owner who bought the plant and built the campers for 18 after that!

Founder of Metzendorf Camper Trailers:

(Provided by great nephew Brin Metzendorf)

The campers were produced in the 50's and early 60's by Martin Metzendorf of West Farmington, Ohio, approximately 10 miles northwest of Warren, Ohio. Martin (my great-uncle) and his wife had the trailers built with Amish laborers, she picked out the interior patterns and colors. They delivered most of the trailers themselves until a delivery accident deprived my great-aunt of her arm. Martin sold the business in the early 60's and the trailer was produced for a few more years under the Metzendorf name, I believe they closed the doors in '63 but I'm not 100% on that. If their is a real interest out there I might be able to piece together some facts from my relatives, but admittedly they're all a touch fuzzy on events from forty years ago. 

Here's an excerpt from the Obituary of the German Karl H. Gerlt, who bought the plant from Metzendorf:

Karl H. Gerlt 1919-2007 Western Reserve #507 was born Aug. 22, 1919, in Bremerhaven, Germany, the son of Emil and Charlotte Gerlt.

He came to the United States, with his parents and two bothers Emil and Helmut. They settled in New Jersey, where he graduated from Bagota High School.

He enlisted in the Army at the start of World War II. He received the Commission of 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps and was later promoted to Captain.

Karl was transferred to the Military Intelligence Corp., serving with Supreme Head Quarters Allied Expeditionary Forces. He also served in the occupation force of Berlin, Germany, commanding the office of Communications.

Upon discharge from the Army, he married Velma Coster. They settled in West Farmington. He worked as an electrician for Ohio Lamp of Warren for 16 years, before purchasing Metzendorf Trailer Plant, in West Farmington, where he built travel trailers for 18 years. He then worked for the Village of West Farmington Water Treatment Plant, until he retired at age 71.

I know this is lengthy, but I thought it worth sharing. So, here you have it, the behind the scenes of the Metzendorf Camper! More info is on the TinCan Tourist website

We'll see you tomorrow again with another campie!                        Simone

1963 Mobil Scout "Mabel'

1963 Mobil Scout "Mabel'

orig. watercolor 11x14in approx. (archivally matted to 16x20in mat board)

more info and purchase: click here

Today's camper is a diamant in the rough still. But so many vintage campers are when they first get discovered and eventually will be lovingly restored. This is the case here with this 1963 Mobil Scout 'Mabel' as well. 

Its proud owner wrote those lines to introduce her:

'Here is Mabel our our vintage camper. She is being restored (and) will have new paint in same colors and design. Glass in triangle door window and no orange tape. We rescued (her) from the woods in Texas.'

Wow, if she is from 1963, we don't know how long she has been forgotten sitting in the woods! Since I have been bitten by the camper-bug, wherever I travel my eyes wander to the woods, too, to any field, behind houses, yards and so on to scout for that vintage camper gem. My friends make fun of me now, but really, after a while I hear them comment on any vintage camper they see! In our neck of the woods, there are still so many around, just waiting to be picked up!

If you are looking for a project this winter and live in our area, just check the Kijiji or Craigslist listings or keep your eyes peeled when you travel. (Of course, if you are the driver, keep your eyes peeled on the street, haha).

I want to thank all of you who have submitted photos this month and keep journeying with me, it has been a blast and I learned a lot! There is only one more week 'til end of the month, so I might not be able to paint every camper submitted. Or I might have to keep painting into October... what is your take on this? Enough campers? Time to move on? Or keep glamping away? Please let me know! I'd like to hear from you!

In any case, w'll see you again tomorrow with another camper!                            Simone

Yellow Buttercup Vintage Camper

Yellow Buttercup Vintage Camper

orig. watercolor painting 11x14in approx. (matted to 16x20 archival mat)

purchase info: click here

If I'd have a winner for 'most work to send in a submission photo', this owner would be it hands down! Not only did she re-submit her photos in a re-sized format for me to be able to paint, but then, she set out and did a photo shoot to have a greater variety of shots to choose from!!!

Honestly, I felt humbled when I received all the emails. Thank you for all your work!

This campie is a fun example, that in the glamper world there is no holding back. You can see the 'Shasta wing' at the back attached, however, it is not original to the camper, as this make is not a Shasta, but the wing was just what was missing to finish the look! And hey, I think this is fully OK!

Here is the story behind this camper, which is just so tender and sweet:

'(I am) not sure of year or make. She's just a cute canned ham that I love.
My son (now 35 yrs old) used to say when he was around 3 yrs old
"Mommy, you're my little Buttercup". So, I had to name her Buttercup!
Then with the name, came the color. Buttercup yellow, inside and out.'

I hope you enjoy today's feature campie, as I very much enjoyed painting it, actually JUST finished it (still a tad wet;-)

1972 VW Camper Van 'Magnolia'

1972 VW Camper Van 'Magnolia'

orig. watercolor 5x7in approx, painted plein air (on location)

purchase info: click here

Here we have a local camper,  this yellow 1972 VW Camper Van 'Magnolia'. She is proudly owned by a young woman who works in town for the summer and takes her on lots of fun trips and adventures. You can see some of her pics at #magnoliaadventure

Magnolia has those fun 'eye lids' on her front lights and her owner shared with me that they stopped making them at later models. It's the little details that make something special! I hope to do a larger painting of Magnolia down the road, but feel super lucky to have been able to paint her on location while I was out on a stroll with the kids (we were coming from the ice cream store actually, haha). So, the kids went for a beach comb and I took my travel-size painting gear out (which comes with me often). Thanks Magnolia, you made my day!

I'm trying to get a new routine down again, now that school is up and running again. Surely we had a fun summer with lots going on, but it feels good to get back into the swing of things and with our inn slowing down soon, there will be more family time with daddy, too! All in all, good things! I love painting cute campies in the meantime!

See you tomorrow again with another vintage camper to share! Hm, what might it be?

1959 Winnebago and 1967 Scotsman- 2 Campers Today!

Today we have a darling 1959 Winnebago called 'Miss Kitty' set up under trees and below a 1967 Scotsman Cab-Over called 'Molly Mae' travelling through 48 US states last summer- wow, what a vacation that would be!!!!

1959 Winnebago 'Miss Kitty'

orig. watercolour, 5x7

more info and purchase: click here

As I was busy painting yesterday's featured airstream over two days, I painted two campie portraits today. My time painting a-camper-a-day for January is coming to a close, so I try and stick to my goal. What a fun month it was!

I have been thinking about travelling for longer periods, kind of exploring our beautiful world for some time- and what better way to do it than bringing a little house-on-wheels along? The trend of 'tiny home' comes to mind. I'd so love to pack up and go! My dear husband would have a hard time as our inn is a big, 100 year old house that cannot be left alone for long periods (especially in the winter, where it is so cold here and pipes freeze up and burst and in the summer we are so busy with the rooms and restaurant)... maybe later... something to put in the bucket list I guess!

1967 Scotsman 'Molly Mae'

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx.

Now, can you see where the travelling Scotsman impression was taken? If you look closely you can see the huge rock formation with the Mount Rushmore iconic chisseled bust of George Washington peeking out. What a great memory! I so much like this shot, but had such a hard time with the perspective, especially of the car. I might re-visit this tomorrow, we'll see. Sometimes the eyes see better after sleeping over it for night.

Thank you for stopping by, we'll see you tomorrow again with another vintage camper, have a blessed day everyone (or in my case: a good night).                    Simone

Honeybee - Little Canadian Camper

Honeybee - Little Canadian Camper

orig. watercolour, 5x7in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

Today's camper is this little Fiberglass cutie called Honeybee. When I go through all the submission photos, I do see clearly that Canadians have more fiberglass campers such as Bolers, Trilliums or Biggars. This camper setting is in a serene garden, so I opted not to crop out the surroundings, but rather left them for you to see.

We had wonderful sunshine here today, but bitterly cold. My little one had bright red cheeks when he came home from ice skating at the rink and then walking in. No matter, when I ask if they have put vaseline on their faces before going out, they never seem to care, lucky being a kid I guess. They do just love going out and playing in the snow. Someone tried to cheer me up leaving a facebook comment yesterday: only 61 more days 'til spring- wohoo, that sounded so great, ha ha!

I'm off to tackling some laundry now as it kept patiently waiting the last days where I painted so late! Thank goodness laundry is patient!

See you tomorrow again with another camper!                    Until then, my best wishes to you,                 Simone