Today I want to share with you a special story about one of my paintings, a story that I’ve never told publicly before. One that’s been pretty much a secret until now.

I feel compelled to tell this story because this week we lost my father-in-law, and he is one of the central characters in it.

In 1992, I had finally finished my “Pittsburgh Remembered” series.  For years, I had been getting calls to purchase prints of my first painting in the series, “Meet Me Under Kaufmann’s Clock,” though it had long been sold out. I remember going to see Jesse Hager, a master of the art of watercolor and a well-known Pittsburgh artist, to ask him what I should do. “Linda,” he said, “you can paint the same scene at least 6 different ways, all from different angles.”

That was exactly the inspiration I needed. I went downtown for a new photo shoot around Kaufmann’s Clock, looking for a new angle on one of Downtown’s most recognizable and beloved landmarks. Soon it became clear to me how I should compose the painting: I wanted to showcase the Smithfield United Church (now Smithfield United Church of Christ) in the background.

Now comes the part of the story that I haven’t shared with many people, as it isn’t a happy one. In fact, it was a real tragedy for our family.

One morning back in 1991, I was in the kitchen feeding my daughter, Alyssa, when the phone rang. “Hello!” My mother-in-law’s cheery voice always had a way of making me smile. “I know what you can get me for my Christmas present this year. You can pick the color matting for your paintings because you’re really good at that!”  Mum had been collecting my prints as note cards, and she wanted to frame them.  She had always been my biggest fan.

Later that day, Tom was paying a pastoral visit at Divine Providence Hospital, and as he was leaving the building, he noticed the Life Flight helicopter taking off.  He said to himself, as he often did, “Someone’s having a bad day.” He had no idea, of course, that the helicopter was on its way to the scene of a terrible automobile accident involving his parents.

In the end, my father-in-law survived, but unfortunately, Mum did not. Tom’s dad spent a total of 90 days in the hospital, and from his window in the AGH Continuing Care Center, he could see that church, the Smithfield United Church, and it gave him the hope and inspiration he needed to recover.

As I began planning out and painting this piece, I created a mist in the space between what used to be the Mellon Bank building and the church so as to make the church stand out more.  I incorporated into the painting a train-themed window display from Kaufmann’s Department Store, created from photos I had taken earlier that year. Then, looking in at the display window, I placed a woman in a scarf … a familiar figure to our family.  Of course, it was my mother-in-law, Jean. Next to her in the composition, I placed a little boy (my husband, Tom), and a little girl (his sister, Terri).  I placed Dad nearby as if he were standing behind the light post (Dad never wanted to be the center of attention!).  “Meet Me Under Kaufmann’s Clock, Too” was my way of honoring the memory of a great lady.

I’m grateful that I’m able to share this very personal story with you.  There are many other stories about this painting (like, for example, how I managed to paint the streetcar going the wrong way!), but for today, this is enough.

Best to you always… and stay healthy!

Life certainly is full of surprises, isn’t it?

The Friday before last, we were told the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show would be shutting down two days ahead of schedule.  Just a couple days earlier, there were no plans to close early, but no one anticipated how quickly things would change as the COVID-19 virus spread and social distancing became our new reality.

As we now are taking care to limit our time outside our homes, going out only for necessities, it’s more important than ever to use other ways to connect with each other.

With no shows or events coming up, my weekly blog is even more valuable to me now as a way to keep our connection going.  Since I don’t have so many new and exciting shows, travels, or adventures to report on these days, I thought you might enjoy hearing some of the stories behind my paintings.

I’m going to start with one that has been one of my most popular paintings, year after year…

At the beginning of my career as a young Pittsburgh Artist, I never would have dreamed it would last so long or be so fruitful. “My Hometown” was going to be my final painting in the “Pittsburgh Remembered” series and was considered my masterwork at the time.  It was my biggest painting ever, and it took six months to paint.

I wanted to squeeze in as many Pittsburgh landmarks as I could… including the red Duquesne Incline, Three Rivers Stadium, the Point, the Majestic riverboat, as well as the sunset and the moon to light the way.  I’ll admit I took a few liberties, tweaking, nipping and tucking as I sketched so I could bring the bridges and the cityscape a little bit closer to the viewer.

At that time, Tom was a young minister at a church on the North Side at the corner of Madison and Tripoli Streets.  Immanuel United Methodist Church was Tom’s first appointment as a minister following his internship (also on the North Side) at Allegheny United Methodist Church on North Avenue.  So naturally, I wanted to give special attention to the North Side in my painting and include every building I possibly could, but especially Immanuel Church.

Looking back on the process of setting up the painting, one of my fondest memories was Tom driving me up to the observation deck at the Duquesne Incline to do a photo shoot. There is a high black iron fence around the deck, and being of short stature, my only chance of getting the shots I wanted was to climb up onto the fence. I remember balancing precariously with my arms wrapped around the fence, while also trying to hold the camera in position, waiting for that perfect moment to capture the Incline as it passed by.  And then… it started to rain. You’d think now that I was a real Pittsburgher I would have been prepared, right? Lucky for me, a nice gentleman who couldn’t help but notice my problem came over with his umbrella and held it over my head long enough for me to take all the photos I needed.

“My Hometown” would be the final painting in the series, so of course, I wanted to make sure to include Tom somewhere in there.  (As you know, sneaking my family into my paintings is one of my trademarks!)  You can find him as the guy wearing a hat, a silhouette in the side window of the Incline car, two windows back.

Talk to you all soon. Stay safe and healthy!

A couple weeks ago I was shopping at Aldi, and I saw the cutest little vase with a little bulb, white roots stretching down through the clear water and a few fresh green leaves popping out of it. It was a hyacinth, my favorite springtime flower. So of course, I had to give this precious little bulb a good home, and I placed in on my kitchen windowsill.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been giving it fresh water and turning it each day so that it would grow straight as the sun – growing stronger every day – showered its gentle rays upon it. Just a few days ago it bloomed! And the best part is that it’s purple, which happens to be my favorite color. The fragrance is so sweet. I love the way that little flower has brought spring into our home.

I have exciting news! After many long hours in the studio, my new painting, “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision,” is finished!  With the Big Unveiling coming up in just one week, there was no time to sit back and relax.  The very next morning after finishing the painting, I headed off to my printer’s studio to make the prints.  Alex and I worked together all through the day, making sure we got the night sky and all of the reflective colors just right.  But that wasn’t all that had to be done on a tight schedule.  There were so many moving parts that had to come together before next weekend – including certificates of authenticity, brass plates for the frames, sending the image files to different printers, and then shipping the prints off to the framer.

After all was said and done, our hard work paid off, and “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision” is all set for its big debut at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show next Friday (March 6) at 10 a.m.  As usual, you can find me at Booth #3146-8.  If you’re thinking of attending the show, make sure to stop by and say hello!

If you’ve been reading each week, you’ll remember I promised a special deal for my faithful readers…  so while I was working with my printer and occupied with all those things I mentioned above, I had my IT team working on one last detail.  I had them create a special offer page on my website – if you order a print of “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision” between now and March 5th, you’ll receive $25.00 off each print… and did I mention FREE SHIPPING?  Visit https://lindabarnicott.com/product/pittsburghs-tunnel-vision/ and simply add the code PRESALE at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.

In my description of the painting on the presale page, I called it the “Grand Entrance into the city.” I chose those words very carefully – now that my Jolly Old Elf Series is finished, I feel like “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision” is my own grand (re-) entrance as I return my focus to painting my hometown. Judging from the positive feedback I’ve already received, I couldn’t have chosen a better place to start than painting this iconic scene. I hope you all enjoy the view!

It’s never a dull moment for me, as I now turn my attention to Home and Garden Show set-up week.

See you at the Home Show!

Today is one of those rare winter days in Pittsburgh, beautiful and sunny.  Too bad I’m “In The Zone” – holed up here in my studio and obsessed with my new painting.  Since I last wrote to you, eating, sleeping and everyday life in general have been on hold. I’ve hardly looked up from my painting to notice the weather or anything else. For all I know, we could be in the middle of a blizzard!

I call it Being In The Zone because when I’m painting, I inhabit a creative dimension where time doesn’t exist, at least until I’m reminded that many hours have passed since the last time I ate or slept or took a bathroom break… and I also forgot to make dinner, pay the bills, and order supplies for the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show. As you can tell from my photo, I have my nose to the grindstone – and I love it!

So here’s the latest on my progress on “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision.” As you can see, it’s really coming along.  Painting the bridge has been especially intense – not only is it the focal point of the painting, but trying to get all the “hide-and-seek” spots between the different parts of the structure has been challenging.  What do you think so far?

There’s already been a lot of excitement around the painting, and it’s not even finished yet! Believe it or not, the original painting has already been sold.  A Pittsburgh expat (former South Hills resident) who has always loved that magnificent view from the Fort Pitt tunnel asked to purchase it after seeing only the sketch, the underpainting and a few buildings. I’m truly honored and will do my very best to justify his faith in me!  I pray that when it’s finished it will be a piece he’ll be proud to own.

I’m hoping you will also be happy to own a print of “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision.”  I’ve already heard from quite a few of you who would like to pre-order the print once the painting is completed.  Details should be available by this time next week.

For those of you who want to claim your print now, look for a special pre-order offer before the unveiling at the Home Show on March 6th.

And while we’re talking about saving money, watch this space!

People often ask me what an artist’s life is like… questions like where do I get my ideas?  And what does an artist do all day anyway (other than hanging out in Parisian cafes while wearing a beret)? Do I paint every day? And if so, how much?

As an independent professional artist, how I spend my days depends entirely on the season.  I’m likely to spend the most time in my studio in the Spring, which is when I create a lot of my new paintings.  Summertime is my big season for outdoor events and art fairs, then September kicks off my busiest time of the year with fall festivals and holiday shows (sometimes multiple shows each week), which of course lead up to my big event of the year – the Holiday Market in downtown Pittsburgh. So once Labor Day hits, not much painting gets done. In fact, I always say, if a painting’s not finished by November 1st, it may never get done… the holiday season is so crazy with shows, events and keeping up with orders, I rarely get any studio time.

Then once January rolls around, all I want is some downtime. However, this year that just wasn’t in the cards.  I got a few days to recharge, and it was off to the races again.  There was the usual inventory, paperwork and all the year-end stuff… but then it was time to get back to my favorite part of being an artist, dreaming again of painting – and of course, focusing on the build to the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show!

That’s right!  In Pittsburgh, who needs a groundhog to tell us Spring is on its way when we can just look around and see the Home & Garden Show billboards? I’m already counting down to the big move-in at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, just a couple weeks away. The dates of this year’s show are March 6th through the 15th, and as always, you can find me at Booth 3146-8.

Believe it or not, this will be my 26th year as an exhibitor!  I still remember those early years when I was the only artist on the second floor amongst the windows and hot tubs and Amish sheds. Now there’s a whole section just for artists, and I have a double corner booth, front and center at the beginning of the artists’ aisle.  Since I’ve been there since the beginning, you might say I myself am a Home and Garden Show “original!”

Speaking of originals… I’ve been working all week with my soft pastels on my latest painting of the view from right above the Fort Pitt Tunnels.

As promised, here’s an update on my progress.  I’m happy to say it will be ready for unveiling in time for the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show!

So what do you think of the title, “Pittsburgh’s Tunnel Vision”?  As you know, I’ve wanted to paint this scene for many years, and I’ve always referred to it in my mind as “Tunnel Vision.”  Then, last week Tom and I were playing with different title ideas, and lo and behold, a dear friend also referred to it as Tunnel Vision…  so it looks like it was meant to be.

The Home Show is going to be here in no time, so I’d better get off the computer and back to the studio!

Have a great week!

Sorry I’ve been off the radar for the last couple weeks – I’ve been very busy doing Artist Things!  Also, Tom and I took a much-needed four-day weekend break to recharge.  We visited Pennsylvania Dutch Country and stayed in the lovely old town of Strasburg at the historic Limestone Inn, built in 1786.  It’s almost like having a time machine!

Yet as much as we appreciated the time away, I still couldn’t wait to come home and get started on my new painting.  As you may remember, I recently asked my readers for suggestions for a subject for my next project.  I loved hearing your thoughts, and I got some excellent ideas for new Pittsburgh paintings.  In fact, some of you touched on an idea that has been percolating in my mind for some time now… a scene that I’ve wanted to paint ever since I first started painting Pittsburgh.

So here’s how I came up with the idea for my new project:

As you may know, Tom and I started out in a long-distance relationship. On my first visit to Pittsburgh in 1977 (our first Pittsburgh “date!”), Tom picked me up at the airport.  We drove along the Parkway toward Downtown past green rolling hills and farms, and I had no idea what was on the other side of that tunnel.  Tom (probably intentionally) never gave me a hint that I was about to experience that first-time visitor “wow” moment.

I’m sure you know what I’m talking about…

As we emerged from the dimness of the Fort Pitt Tunnel, instead of more trees and hills, I found myself immersed in an incredible panorama exploding in front of me – a cityscape of steel and bridges and rivers shimmering in the sunlight.

Sometime later, after I had become a “real” Pittsburgher, the tunnels were under construction.  It was a perfect opportunity to go out there and take a few photos, but for some reason I didn’t take advantage of it.  I always regretted it, and I’ve been thinking about painting that scene ever since.

Flash forward to 2019… just a few months ago, a photographer friend of mine, Emmanuel, was showing me some photos on his phone, and he happened to have one with the exact view that I’d been imagining painting for all those years.  I have to tell you, I got goosebumps! I’m not sure I’ve ever hugged anyone that hard.

From that moment, I knew what my next painting would be.  Emmanuel sent me several photos from his shoot from the top of the tunnels, and I’ve been able to combine different elements from his work with my own twist in the final composition.

So suffice to say, I’m hard at work on this project, and I’m hoping to be able to share the finished painting at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show next month. (Yes – more reliable than the groundhog, the Home and Garden Show – March 6 through 15 at the David L Lawrence Convention Center – is the true sign that Spring is coming to Pittsburgh!)

I’m starting a list for pre-orders, so if you’re interested, please email me at info@lindabarnicott.com

Welcome to Makeover Week at the Barnicott household!

With original paintings departing for their new homes and the need to create some order in my chaotic studio and store room, my focus has been on redecorating and reorganization for the new year.

Two big holes in my home gallery opened up this week – my original pastel painting of Heinz Field is vacating its space above my mantel and leaving for its new home in Florida, and the original “All Aboard with Santa” is also on its way to its new owner.  So now a big decision had to be made – choosing from my other existing originals to fill those empty spaces.  For one of them, we decided the honor would go to “Pickle Fun in Pittsburgh” (painted in July 2019), my tribute to Picklesburgh.

Over the weekend, Tom and I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and tackled the project of organizing the terrible mess I left behind in my storage area over the holiday season.  Candles, prints, and ornaments (and a lot of other things) were literally piled up everywhere, and empty boxes were literally stacked to the ceiling.  Walking through my studio and stock room was a really claustrophobic experience – it felt like the walls were closing in (because they literally were).

Tom is always understanding – he realizes that I need to go through a “nesting period” before I can paint again.  It took a lot of hard work and the better part of the weekend, but now my studio, stock room and storage areas are all nice and organized, which means I’ll be back to work in the studio again very soon.  Of course, that means I have to decide on a subject for my next painting.

Here’s the problem…  for the last five years, my primary focus has been on my (now complete) Jolly Old Elf Series, which has been a highlight of my career and one of my most successful projects.  So after Santa, what’s next?  I want to turn my attention back to painting Pittsburgh in 2020, and with so many potential subjects and themes, I can’t decide where to begin.  There’s so much to paint and so little time!

So my question for you, dear readers, is this – what would you like to see in my next Pittsburgh-themed painting?  Is there a particular place in our town that has special meaning for you or simply brings you joy?

Send me your ideas for my next Pittsburgh painting – I would love to hear your suggestions!

With just a few days to go until the New Year begins, I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season!

The Barnicotts have had an especially delightful Christmas this year… especially compared to last year, when Christmas was still a work day for Tom, and poor Autumn spent the night at the hospital. But the best part this year was when we were gifted with a visit from Santa Claus himself on Christmas Eve.  Santa was kind enough to make an unscheduled stop (in the daytime!) on his busiest day of the year, and Aria was beyond excited that Santa actually came to Grandma’s and Bop-Bop’s house.  Naturally, we all had to pose for a picture with him to prove it!

If you look in the background, you’ll see one of Santa’s portraits over our mantel as well.  In January, that original painting will be going to a new home with one of my collectors. I’ll be sad to see it go… guess I’ll just have to paint something to take its place! (Fortunately, I’m an artist, so I can do that, right?)

But before I go back to the studio again – and for the first time in the history of the Holiday Market in Market Square – we will be opening our Chalet doors one more time tomorrow through New Year’s Eve. From Saturday, December 28th through Tuesday, December 31st, we will be open for business from 11 am to 6 pm each day under the banner of Handmade Arcade!

Not only are there four more days to enjoy the festive Holiday Market, but for me personally there was an added bonus – this was the first year I didn’t have to break down the Chalet on Christmas Eve… so I was actually awake for the holiday!  Maybe that’s another reason this year felt like the perfect Christmas?

It means a lot to me that so many of you stopped by during the holiday season to purchase artwork or just to say hi. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.  May 2020 be your best year yet!

Happy Holidays!

Linda

Here we are already on December 13, with Christmas just 12 days away.  It has been a real pleasure to visit with so many people at my Chalet in Market Square, from my loyal readers who have been with me through many holiday seasons to new friends and fans… some of whom were just wandering through Market Square, and one of my paintings caught their eye, triggering memories of times gone by.  One of my favorite things about this season is hearing stories about how my paintings remind you and your loved ones of heartwarming memories.

Can you guess which one of my paintings (and its associated giftware) was my biggest seller in 2019? You’re probably thinking it’s one of my paintings of The Point, or maybe a Kennywood scene, or maybe a sports-themed piece… but you would be wrong!

In 2019, my best-selling image was “Hills is Where the Toys Are,” starring Pittsburgh Dad!

That’s right!  I painted a big box store, and people love it! The Hills print and candle get a great reaction from folks as they browse at the Chalet … one sniff of the candle, one glimpse of that iconic Hills sign, and they say it takes them right back to the old days with popcorn and Icees and picking up the Christmas layaway.

The runner-up, however, will not surprise you at all!  Prints and gifts of “Santa’s Woodland Christmas,” the final painting in my Jolly Old Elf series, have been flying off the shelves (and walls).  Visitors to the Chalet have commented on the lovely shades of blue (a departure from the usual Christmas red and green), but especially how they love the happy little critters in the scene.  (Check out the cardinal sitting on the reindeer’s antler!)  In fact, Santa himself stopped by to see me at my Chalet this week to say hello and to admire his latest painting!

I still have two of the “Santa’s Woodland Christmas” 12 x 16″ metal pieces available, as well as prints of all sizes, candles, ornaments and magnets.

Speaking of Santa, I’ve had so many compliments on my 2019 limited-edition Shhhh! Santa throw blankets, especially when people see it in person.  Only a few are left, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.  So if you or someone special would love this warm and snuggly art blanket, don’t wait!

And of course, the Chalet is well stocked with my ornaments, magnets, 8 x 10″ prints and more.  I’ve been selling a lot of the Heinz Field prints and gifts this year, still a fan favorite, and one of mine as well – in fact, I have the original in my home gallery.

Finally, if you’re in need of corporate gifts, teacher gifts, grab bags, or what have you, I’ll be here in Market Square until Christmas Eve!  As always, I’m happy to sign my prints and gifts on request and personalize them for you or the recipient.

So I hope you’ll consider one of these best sellers as you finish up this year’s holiday gift shopping!

PS – If you’re thinking of ordering online, my Postal Elves have informed me that 9:30 pm tonight (12/13) is the deadline for guaranteed Christmas delivery through the USPS.

PPS – Though you can still order them, artist-enhanced giclee prints require an extra step in preparation and therefore aren’t available for Christmas delivery.