In the last two weeks, I’ve shared stories with you about my first two Pittsburgh paintings. This week I’m going to skip ahead one and tell you a story about the fourth painting in my first Pittsburgh series, “Sharing the Season at Market Square.” When I began my preliminary sketches, I made the creative decision to remove an entire block between what was then the Jenny Lee Bakery and a group of older buildings, including the “1902 Landmark Tavern.” There was another nondescript building there at that time, but I felt it didn’t fit in with the composition and the…

While enjoying a little downtime after all the hustle and bustle of the Home and Garden Show, I came across an old photo that brought up a lot of happy memories… It was long ago, and I was the young mother of a precious little girl, Brittany. It was early 1990, but as you can see, I still had my big 80’s hair going strong, not to mention my very fashionable 80’s sweater coat! I had just had my first big commercial success with “Meet Me Under Kaufmann’s Clock,” and I was getting ready to paint the second pastel in…

As I write to you on this glorious sunny afternoon, I’m filling orders from the Home and Garden Show and getting ready to paint again. I’m also reflecting on the wonderful week I’ve had since we last talked. My latest painting, “Hills Is Where the Toys Are,” was featured on Pittsburgh Today Live with Pittsburgh Dad, and the great publicity brought it lot of attention. The prints are selling like hotcakes, and people are collecting the gift items as well. The small run of Hills ornaments I ordered sold out in just two days! (Don’t worry, I will order more!)…

All I did was say, in last week’s blog, that robins are overrated as a sign of spring and look what happened! I’m sorry! Talk about your Angry Birds… those robins can’t take a joke! I hope they’ll accept my apology and take back this winter weather! Regardless of the wind and snow outside, it’s warm and cozy and springlike here at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show. I’m having a tremendous week here since the show opened last Friday. Can I share a little of it with you? Weekday crowds at the Home and Garden Show can be a…

We Pittsburghers don’t need a robin to tell us that Spring is coming – we know that the real first day of Spring here in the Burgh is Opening Day of the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show! Wow! Can it really have been a year since the last “Final Countdown” to Opening Day? Once again, I’m honored and delighted to be here with some of the nicest and most talented artists in Pittsburgh. I feel very blessed to have their friendship. Though the Home and Garden Show is a highlight of my year, organizing, transporting, and setting up my booth…

Welcome to my busiest week of the entire year! Last week I announced the completion of my latest painting, “Hills Is Where The Toys Are,” and I even showed you a visual timeline of how I created it. The photo above shows the very first print as it rolled off the press a few days ago before it was trimmed and signed – very exciting! With just under two weeks until Opening Day of the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, I didn’t have a moment to spare! Once I had the finished prints in hand, I headed straight for Pittsburgh…

What a week this has been! I was submerged in The Painting Zone and didn’t surface until today. Last night – very, very late last night! – I finished my new painting, “Hills Is Where the Toys Are.” The painting got started with a seed that was planted last year at the Home and Garden Show (see what I did there?). When I found out that Pittsburgh Dad would also be appearing at the show, I knew I had to find a way to meet him! When I caught sight of Dad and his producer, Chris Preksta, in the Great…

This week I’m working on what I call the “excitement” in my new painting – filling in the tiny details of the Hills Christmas shoppers as they come and go. One by one, I’m working my way through the crowd, finishing each of the figures. Just three people are left to paint… including Pittsburgh Dad! The poor guy is overloaded with bags full of toys and struggling to carry them all. If all goes well, I’ll finish this weekend… wish me luck! I’ve also been working on new giftware that will debut at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show. I…

As my art business grows and evolves, sometimes older product lines are discontinued to make room for new ones. With a new line of Christmas ornaments in the works for 2017, I’ve decided to stop production on my ceramic ornaments. The last time they will be available is at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show in March. I am discontinuing the entire product line (don’t worry… I will still be offering my existing Wendell August Forge metal ornaments with new additions for the 2017 Holiday season). Therefore, all the ceramic ornaments must go. Selection is limited – some ornaments sold…

Despite the freezing temperatures and occasional snow, Spring is not that far away. Punxsutawney Phil tells us we have six more weeks of winter, but we Pittsburghers know that Spring officially arrives with the Home and Garden Show! This year, however, we were lucky enough to have another great show to tide us over until the Home and Garden Show (March 10-19) and help us Think Spring… Last weekend I exhibited at a brand new winter event, “Pittsburgh’s Travel Showcase,” at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. I was the only artist there, so of course some folks were curious…