Hi, it’s Linda!

It was 29 years ago that I called John DeSantis of the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show to inquire about becoming a vendor for the upcoming year. To my surprise, he had actually heard of me, and from that moment on treated me as if I were one very special person!

The year before, Tom and I were taking in the show on the old Convention Center second floor, where we came across a friend whose gallery had carried my art. He told us that I should set up at the show and ask to be on the second floor and not the third floor where the other artists were located. He said it was hot up there, and people who made it up to the third floor were often hot and tired (if they made it up there at all).

So, as per his suggestion, the following year, I set up my booth on the second floor between Bathtubs and Windows. I had the best neighbors, too!

People seemed to enjoy having something different to look at besides garage doors and patio furniture, and it became my spring home for 28 years. I have loved being a part of it and have always considered it my favorite show!

But as they say, some chapters in life must end for new chapters to begin. This year, Tom and I will be vendors at two home shows: the Montour Home Show this weekend, and the South Hills Home Show next weekend.  Although these shows are only three days each, together they add up to six of the ten days we would otherwise be set up downtown.

What also sealed the deal for us is that parking and admission are FREE for all of my friends/collectors. It’s not as big a show, and we hope our folks will be able to see everything and swing back without getting exhausted!

This will be our first time exhibiting at these shows, and we’re looking forward to hearing your impressions. So, if you happen to be in the area, we would love to have you stop by!

I’ll be showcasing my new painting for the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, “Our Lady of Liberty,” with five prints available for the show. I’ll also have a few smaller mini-prints and the first sample of the new ornament of the piece (which is almost perfect). I’ll have the finished ornaments next weekend at the South Hills Home Show, but you can order them this weekend. Proceeds will go to the Bethel Park Community Foundations.

I hope my fully stocked booth will reveal the perfect gift of art for a special occasion in your life!

Happy Holidays!

Because we work right up to Christmas Eve, Tom and I celebrate the 12 days of Christmas each year by doing something special together each day. In years past, we’ve gone to places like the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio, and Steubenville Nutcracker Village, also in Ohio.

This year so far we haven’t strayed too far from home, but we have already had a movie night out with “Song Sung Blue.” We’ve also watched some of our favorite holiday movies at home like George C. Scott in “A Christmas Carol” and my personal favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. (The ending gets me every time!).

Our first night out was Dazzling Lights at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and it was stunning!

This year, however, is different from other years. We’re not quite finished with the Holiday Market yet!

On New Year’s Eve, Tom and I will be taking a small break from our yearly tradition to go back downtown to celebrate First Night, but as vendors, not visitors!  The Chalet will reopen from 7-11pm on New Year’s Eve. The Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership gave each of us the option to come back for one more night, as we’re located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.

Since the last 2 New Years Eves have been more like “set my alarm to right before midnight, wake up, kiss, and go back to sleep” (I know, I’m showing my age!), Tom and I thought this would be fun change of pace.

On this last day of the year, we’ll be ringing in the New Year with holiday specials at my Chalet! So if you’re in town to celebrate the New Year, stop by and enjoy a little holiday shopping with Tom and me!

I hope you’ll bundle up (since this winter has been rough so far!) and join in the festivities of First Night!

Happy New Year!

Only 7 days until Christmas! Hard to believe, isn’t it? It feels like just yesterday that we were setting up the Chalet!

Tom and I have gotten into a good routine. He drops me off at the Benedum lot and helps get all my windows open and set up our counter. Then he drives to 15th St., which is about a 20-minute walk from where we are, and walks back. Some days he endures the cold, and sometimes like yesterday, he enjoys the sun and warmth.

We have a wonderful little international community here in the Benedum lot. There is Ruthie, whose wares are from Kenya… Claus and Mick from Bali…  Allison with the most beautiful Slavic gifts… David, our jeweler… and Kelly from Cute as a Dumpling and her adorable felt characters. Ireland is right next door! Larry and Jay are selling candles and Polish merchandise right next door to Kathe Wohlfahrt’s German treasures.

Myself? Well, I’m all about memories. Pittsburgh scenes and Santa paintings are my specialty.

If you can’t make it to the market, visit my website at www.lindabarnicott.com, though it may be too late to receive your purchase before the holiday.

If you do make it to the market (and I hope you will!), I have many items there that are not on my website. One in particular is very popular – my puzzles! When people complain (kidding, of course!) about the 1000 pieces, I’ll often wink and say, “Well, I painted it. You can certainly piece it together!” I do have two completed, framed puzzles at the market so that folks can see the size and color. They are $35.00 each and are only sold at the market.

So, stop by over the next seven days and find that perfect, unique gift that will bring back fantastic warm memories!

Happy Holidays!

Yep, you heard me right!

Last week’s free shipping promotion was such a success, I decided to extend my FREE SHIPPING offer on all orders over $50.00 for another weekend. My goal is to make your life as easy as possible this Holiday Season! So step up and take advantage of another weekend of free shipping – the offer ends at midnight Sunday, December 8th.

I know not all of you can make it down to our beautiful, quaint Holiday Market. I hope this offer will give you a chance to shop with me without even venturing from your cozy sofa!

It looks like Mr. Winter has stepped all over Fall this week and given us a real taste of Holiday “cheer!” So if you’re coming to visit, make sure to dress warm, get out those hand warmers, and stop by the Holiday Market. I promise you, it won’t disappoint!

If you happen to show up when my husband Tom is there, then you’re in for a real treat. Despite 45 years of marriage, he is still somehow very funny! I guarantee you’ll get a smile… if not a full-blown laugh! And everyone knows that Art and Laughter are great for your health!

I still have a good selection of art prints and gifts at my Chalet. Remember, the earlier you shop, the better chance I can fulfill your holiday list! We open every day at 11 am, and we’ll be here every day until December 24th, when we close our doors at 3 pm!

Have a great week, and I hope to see or hear from you!

It’s time to light the lights, ring the bells, deck the halls, and get into the Holiday spirit!

For 14 years, Tom and I have enjoyed celebrating the Holiday Season downtown at the People’s Gas Holiday Market. Due to Market Square renovations, we will be located (just for this year) in the Benedum Lot, right across from the theater. Tom and I have been downtown working hard for a week now to get everything in place for the season.

I hope you can join us this season. My chalet will be well stocked with new pieces and new gift items, not to mention all the favorites from my regular inventory.

On Sunday, Tom and I attended Bethel’s Bounty, a fundraiser for the Bethel Park community. The other artists taking part in the USA 250th anniversary celebration were all honored and introduced to the crowd.

Pictured with me in the first photo are JP Diroll and Maria and Johno Prascak, and in the other photo I’m with Andy Amrhein from Evey True Value Hardware in Bethel Park – one of the kindest men you will ever meet, and a brilliant MC!

My painting, “Our Lady of Liberty,” was showcased and will be available through the Bethel Park Fantastic 4 Foundation on or after December 1st. More details to come!

In other (less exciting) news, I also updated the payment system on my website. I believe it will be a much better experience for everyone.

Don’t hesitate to reach out anytime with any questions about the website or about my art.

I hope to see you at the Market!

With Halloween so close at hand, it’s getting pretty spooky out there. So I thought, “Why not scare up some savings for my online customers this weekend?” Check out my website, get into the “spirit,” and take 15% off almost everything*  www.lindabarnicott.com

The checkout code is Halloween (I know, very original!) The sale is good from now until midnight Sunday, so you can shop for art while digesting your Halloween candy!

In the meantime, I’m still working on “Our Lady of Liberty,” and my deadline is November 1st!  As a matter of fact, I was so wrapped up in painting last week that I completely forgot to write you! My apologies!

In keeping with Spooky Season this weekend, the scariest part of this painting – the addition of the fireworks – is yet to come. Why is it so scary?

Back in 2011, I was commissioned to paint ”The Golden Glow of Pittsburgh’s Light-up Night” five weeks before it was due to appear on WTAE’s 50th Anniversary of Pittsburgh’s Light-up Night TV special and be unveiled downtown in front of tons of TV/newspaper/radio stations, celebrities, and the public. I was hard at work creating the darkest sky I had ever painted.  The buildings were lit up bright, and the fireworks were the finishing touch to the painting.

And not only is it Fall, but it’s just 90 days until Christmas!

In the stores, Halloween props and costumes are already being pushed out by Holiday decorations. And Thanksgiving is only 62 days away, with football and feasting on the menu!

Speaking of football…I am thrilled to announce the release of my brand new “Pittsburgh Loves the Black and Gold!” T-Shirts! We picked them up today, and  as you can see above, Tom was kind enough to model one for me! They will be available this weekend at the Mount Lebanon Artist Market (Saturday & Sunday 10AM-5PM)! 

After weeks of preparation, I’ve finally finished the sketch for my 2026 project, “Our Lady of Liberty.” I’m releasing a limited edition of 250 prints celebrating our country’s 250th birthday next year. The prints themselves will be sold directly through Bethel Park Fantastic Four charities. (The group includes the Bethel Park Community Foundation, Bethel Park Education Foundation, Bethel Park Public Library, and Bethel Park Historical Society.)

Andy Amrhein founded the Fantastic Four Charities group to combine the resources of the individual charities to help make Bethel Park a great place to live. They now have a very dynamic group of residents who love their community and enjoy working to make it even better. Their goal is to help the Bethel Park community and our state of Pennsylvania celebrate the rich history of our country.

More details will follow, but for the next few weeks, I would love to share my painting process with you. I look forward to any comments you can offer along this journey.

Have a great week and I hope to see you in Mt. Lebanon if you are in the area.

Best always,

Linda

PS – Some items are only available in person at one of my shows or over the phone, but there are plenty of ideas on my recently updated website. Check it out for gift-giving ideas this upcoming holiday season!

www.lindabarnicott.com

Guess where I’m writing from this week? I’m on a train, coming home from visiting with my dearest and oldest friends, Kathy and Ron, in New Jersey.

When I was a child, my family spent just about every weekend from April until September on our boats on Barnegat Bay. On our first outing on our boat, “The Gibson Girl,” we had engine trouble. My mom was very concerned while my dad was trying to fix the engine and asked him if she should call for help. My dad said no and that he had this. She immediately walked over to the port (left) side of the cabin cruiser and started yelling “HELP!” as loud as she could.

And that was when I met Ron and his family. I was 9. Fast forward through ten years of friendship, when after three tries, I was able to introduce him to my friend Kathy while Tom (at the time, my fiancé!) was visiting from Pittsburgh. Now 45 years later, they have the great blessing of being able to live on their sailboat full time… and I got a chance to go sailing this weekend!

When I was a kid, I would return home from a weekend at the shore ready and rested for the week ahead. Mornings and evenings on the boat were always my favorite. Calm and beautifully lit nature pumped life into my creative soul. I’m glad to say nothing has changed!

Tom is keeping the home fires burning just a few hours away, and I can’t wait to see him. This time of year is so busy, with our weekends devoted to vending shows. At least we get to spend a lot of time together!

Though I know we’re not at the shore together, and though it’s a lot of work, it’s work we both enjoy, and it’s the place we want to be. Our time is spent creating together, building our booth so that it looks just right. It’s always a challenge, as we adapt it a bit differently for each show’s personality.  We love sharing my work with others and hearing many stories. We love this shared experience. And sunrise before the shows and sunsets in the evening hours are truly “Pittsburgh Beautiful.”

So… what’s up for the rest of September? 

First, we’ll be at the Washington and Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival on Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st.  It’s a beautiful show in a beautiful setting. We’ll be located at Ebenezer Bridge in Mingo Park with our set-up under a huge tree just past the bridge on the left side. This festival is a cash-only show because we’re down in a gully and can’t get a proper signal.

Then the following weekend (September 27th and 28th) we’ll be at the Mount Lebanon Artist Market, a true art show, featuring both 2D and 3D art pieces. This show is located on Academy Lane in Mt. Lebanon behind Rollier’s Hardware.

In other news, while I was gone, my new puzzles came! Poor Tom had to carry all the cases of puzzles by himself to storage for the season. The great news is they will be available at both shows!

The upcoming weeks will be super busy from here on out, especially because I’ll be painting as well as exhibiting at art shows. It’s a very fun time of year!

I’m really glad I had this chance to return to my childhood home for five glorious days. Now I’m back in the studio, energized and ready to get back to painting. I’ve lived a Pittsburgh life for almost 45 years now, and though the Monongahela River isn’t exactly the Jersey Shore, Pittsburgh is still the most wonderful place on earth.

Thank you, Pittsburgh, for giving me so many reasons to paint you. And thank you, Tom, for stealing me away.

Have a great week, and stop and see me if you visit the Ebenezer Bridge this weekend!

I’m exhibiting at a brand new show this Saturday! It’s a celebration of Pittsburgh called “412 Fest” (referring to our Pittsburgh 412 area code).

The festival will be held at Bakery Square in East Liberty on Saturday, April 12 (4/12 – get it?). If you live nearby or happen to be in the East End that day, I would love to have you stop by and say hi. We’ll be there from noon until 4 pm, with lots of ideas for birthday or anniversary gifts (or maybe just to treat yourself!). We can’t wait to participate in what looks like a really fun event!

As I come close to finishing my new painting of Dublin, Ireland, I’ve shared some of the process with you, with even more on my Facebook page. I had so many wonderful comments in the last week, but Shawna’s comment stood out from the rest because it was so unique. It also captured the essence of why I’m painting this new International Series.

Shawna has agreed to let me share her comment about the unfinished painting with you:

“This is beautiful, and honestly I love it just like this. Unfinished, it reminds me of planning a vacation in my mind (the sketch) and then the actual experience (the full color completion).”

Creating this painting has been a joyful experience. As it comes together, I’m enjoying the interplay of colors, energy, and light.  I hope you’re enjoying a peek into the process!

Will I see you on Saturday? I sure hope so!

P.S. – Here’s the 412 Fest schedule!