Christmas may be half a year away, but I’m celebrating today anyway! Because this was the day that I put the finishing touches on “Making Magic in Santa’s Workshop,” and here is my process. As the painting evolved, I took pictures along the way so I could share the creative process with you: Ever since I was a little girl, my art has always focused on the faces of my subjects – the emotions are mesmerizing! In this painting, he’s contemplative, thinking of the little girl who will open this gift on Christmas morning. I also tried to express his…

Every year when June rolls around and Father’s Day is coming up, my dad is on my mind. He was always my biggest fan and was always there for me throughout my career. In fact, my dad was even one of my most devoted collectors. He especially loved my Kennywood Carousel Animals paintings, and I created a special framed piece for him that included all four of them. He was a special guy, and I miss him terribly. Yet there was one thing in particular that my dad did for me many years ago that makes me think of him…

In a few short weeks, it will be Father’s Day, when we celebrate the beloved dads, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, or other father figures who taught us, inspired us, and helped mold us into the people we are. It’s the day that reminds us to say “I love you” to those special men in our lives. His love of Pittsburgh sports is something that my husband Tom has shared with our daughters since they were just small. I know our girls treasure those memories of cheering for the home team over the years with their dad. The other night, I had…

Over the last three weeks, it seems like I’ve been all over the map, going everywhere and doing everything. And though I’ve been working on my latest Santa and the Forbes Hospital mural project, what’s keeping me so busy isn’t just painting… I have a whole lot of other stuff going on! Lately it seems I’m constantly on the go – learning, fundraising, exhibiting at my museum show… and even tearing out walls! I’ve also been working on my garden between the spring showers. Recently, I had the privilege to be the featured artist for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh’s…

One sure way to keep life interesting is to do something you’ve never done before. So I’m having a particularly busy and exciting week as I prepare for my very first museum show! The show will feature my original pastels, and some prints and gift items will also be available. Earlier this week, Tom and I packed up 28 of my original pastel paintings and delivered them to the John A. Hermann, Jr. Memorial Art Museum in Bellevue, Pennsylvania. The Mayor of Bellevue himself was there to greet us and to help us unload. Mayor Paul Cusick has a beautiful…

It seems like I’m writing a lot of Mother’s Day themed blogs lately. Maybe it’s because this year I’m a very happy Grandma-to-Be! This week we had 25 friends over on Saturday for the Big Reveal – my daughter Alyssa announced that she and Jon are having a baby girl whose name will be Aria Grace. The reveal was done in a really cute way – Alyssa handed out both pink and blue balloons, and everyone was asked to blow them up at the same time. It soon became obvious that only the pink ones were blowing up, meaning that…

This week one of my clients asked me “Have you noticed how much younger grandparents are becoming these days?” I had a good laugh, as I just celebrated my 58th birthday – and I definitely agree that we’re getting younger all the time! As you probably know, my daughter Alyssa and her husband Jon are having a baby in September. And with Alyssa as a mother-to-be and me about to become a grandmother for the very first time, Mother’s Day is especially meaningful to me this year. One of my favorite Mother’s Day memories is from Kennywood Park, the subject…

Like the parrots in this picture, I’ve taken flight to Florida to enjoy some much-needed R&R. Disney World, as always, was a magical experience. The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, and we really enjoyed a “best of” experience at each of the parks. With so many picturesque views and dramatic scenes to take in, I’m filled with inspiration… now to just take that inspiration home with me and put it into some of my paintings this year! It looks like even Daisy Duck herself was inspired – here she is with her paint brush at the…

In the first quarter of every year, the Barnicott household is a very busy place. It’s pretty much nonstop action for us, as preparing for the Home and Garden Show occupies most of our time in January and February… followed, of course, by the long, long work days during the show itself. And then we have to fill all those orders we received during the show. Yet somehow we survived it all (we always do!) and made it to April. All the paintings, prints, and giftware that were ordered have gone to their new homes, so now the Barnicotts are…

Spring has definitely sprung at my home and studio. All the beautiful perennials I planted last year are returning again this year. My only problem is that being fairly new to gardening, I don’t really know exactly which ones are flowers and which ones are weeds! So if any of you who are experienced gardeners would like to stop by and offer some advice, I would be happy to listen. But in a way, it would also be fun to just sit back and be surprised at what pops up. I do love a good surprise, and that’s what has…