It’s that time of year again! My busiest season is about to begin, with orders flowing in, events and shows to exhibit, etc., I’m done painting until January, but what most people don’t realize is that my work doesn’t end after I add my signature to a piece. There’s still much more to be done long after the paint has dried! For example, I’ve been spending a lot of time at the printers recreating “Holiday Greetings from My Hometown” in ink for the print. I’m also developing the ornament, which is a time-consuming two-week process (if I’m lucky!). Then I…

One question that I’m asked a lot at my speaking engagements is, “Which painting is your favorite?” That’s not an easy question for me to answer, because I love all my paintings for different reasons. Of course, I do have a few special favorites, and “My Hometown” is definitely one of them because of the wonderful memories I associate with it. Back in our younger days, Tom and I lived on the North Side of Pittsburgh when he was just starting his ministry, and we spent 11 happy years there together. When I painted “My Hometown,” I wanted to make…

Though things start getting very busy in October, the real push starts in November when I seem to have one show after another through the end of the year. In fact, I have a saying about my creative process that holds true each and every year: “If I don’t have a painting finished by November 1st, it will not get finished until January.”. It’s sad, but true… And I have a theory about why that happens. It’s because, like everyone else, my brain has two sides – one side is the creative side that imagines the paintings and creates them.…

Sometimes we forget that about 20 years before the American Revolution, another war was fought right here in Western Pennsylvania. England and France fought the French and Indian War (where a young George Washington got his first military experience) for control of the land west of the Alleghenies. So of course, Fort Duquesne at the Three Rivers was a prime target. Because Fort Ligonier was the closest British supply post, the French attacked it on October 12, 1758. The British victory on that day is now commemorated every year with Fort Ligonier Days. This is my fifth year exhibiting at…

As I finished my most recent Pittsburgh painting, “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street,” I was reminded that I would not be the artist I am today if it weren’t for my husband, Tom. I have been very blessed over the years to have his total support, but more than that, he has turned into a perceptive and brutally honest art critic. You may wonder why this is something I’d be happy about… so I’ll share with you a little glimpse into my life! I tend to be quite stubborn (of course, you never would have guessed, right?), and sometimes painting…

Over the years I have painted over 75 paintings of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. What you may not know is that before I started painting Pittsburgh, my first love was painting portraits. There’s so much to love about being a portraitist. I love the challenge of bringing the subject’s personality to life in the painting… the connection with the family… and furry friends are also a lot of fun to paint! I enjoy every step of the process, from the pencil sketches and charcoal to painting with rich, vibrant pastels. This year, I made the decision to begin accepting…

The New Pittsburgh Collection “The Grand View of Pittsburgh” “Ice Ball Treats with Gus and YiaYia” “Sharing the Season at Market Square” The New Kennywood Collection “Laughing through Kennywood’s Le Cachot” “Riding Kennywood’s Auto Race and Train” “The Phantom of Lost Kennywood” There’s a chill in the air this week, and you know what that means… the holidays are coming! This year’s new pewter Christmas ornaments are in from Wendell August Forge, and they look fantastic! It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I partnered with the Forge to create handmade, uniquely crafted ornaments of my Pittsburgh and…

I was surprised and pleased to see how many of my readers had guesses about the last-minute changes I made on my latest painting, “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street,”. The answers may not be what you expected! The first change I made is that I “turned off the lights” on the second floor of the City-County Building. I felt that the lights drew the viewer’s eye away from the Courthouse, and because the painting is really all about the 125th anniversary of this remarkable building, I decided to exercise a little “artistic license!” Number Two: The streetcars. The painting is…

It really took a lot of concentration and hard work, but I have good news for you today! I just put down my last pastel stick and signed my new painting with a charcoal pencil, and tomorrow “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street” goes off to the printer. For the last several days, I’ve spent just about every waking minute in my studio putting the finishing touches on this painting, the latest in my Pittsburgh collection. And one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most in the creative process is having you with me throughout its evolution. If you’re a true…