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 quaint “Old Pittsburgh” vibe I was going for. So by removing it from the painting, I was able to bring the wonderful architecture of the older, more interesting buildings in closer for the viewer’s eye to enjoy.

Because I wanted this to be a holiday-themed painting, I decided to add a Salvation Army bell ringer. I also included a glimpse of diners through the windows of the Original Oyster House… perhaps taking a break from holiday shopping to enjoy a fish sandwich?

For the next step, I put in a very specific weather request. To get the photos to paint my Market Square winter scene, I needed a quiet morning with freshly fallen snow. Fortunately, Downtown Pittsburgh was pretty empty on Sunday mornings back in 1991, and it didn’t take long before my request was granted, and I had my perfect Sunday morning snowfall.

When I arrived at Market Square, I was delighted to find a woman sitting all alone on a park bench, feeding bread to the pigeons. There must have been a thousand of them flying all around her. I knew immediately I wanted to include that lady in my painting. I took plenty of photos so that I could paint the birds that were in flight as well as the ones feeding on the ground.

Then as I sat down with my sketch pad, a tune started playing in my head… it was “Feed the Birds” from the 1964 Disney film, Mary Poppins. The song tells of an old lady who sits on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral selling breadcrumbs to passers-by at “tuppence a bag” so they can feed the many pigeons that surround her.

To play her part, I asked a woman from our church to pose for me. I even gave her a new outfit in the painting to look more like the character in the movie. And of course, you know Tom had to be in there somewhere… I painted him (he’s the guy in the blue coat) talking with the Bird Lady’s husband.

Then to add a little more fun to the painting, I borrowed from this photo of my daughter Brittany feeding the swans at North Park. Obviously, this photo is one of my favorites, because later when I painted “Making Memories at Noah’s Ark,” I went back to this photo again to fill in a gap in the bottom right of the painting.

“Sharing the Season at Market Square.” was one of my best-selling holiday paintings, and it was the first Pittsburgh painting I created that contrasted “Old Pittsburgh” with the newer Steel City in the background.

The original edition of this painting has been sold, but you can get a print in a slightly smaller archival giclee edition. Click Here to start your shopping.

Do you have any Market Square memories to share? I’d love to hear from you. Drop me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 my Pittsburgh series. I had already made up my mind, and there was no doubt what my next piece was going to be – the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning.

When I visited Pittsburgh as a 17-year-old high-school junior in 1975, I was awestruck by that amazing building. It made quite an impression on me as my eyes followed it as it loomed upwards into the sky.

But the part I loved most was on the inside, visiting all the Nationality Rooms. At the end of the tour, I caught a glimpse of a roped-off room that was closed to the public. I couldn’t resist getting a closer look. My eyes were dazzled by this room that looked like something from the Arabian Nights, covered in gold.

I loved all the other beautifully painted rooms, but this one was the one that really got a hold on my imagination. I will always remember it as if it were yesterday.

So there I was, 15 years later (early spring 1990), standing outside the Student Union building, watching as the last rays of sunlight slowly dwindled. I waited patiently as the sodium gas lamps along the paths began to light up ever so slowly until they were fully aglow… and then as the Cathedral lights cast their reflections on the one side of the building, glowing orange against the stone. Waiting for all these elements was necessary to set the tone I wanted for the painting.

The subject of the painting was a rainy evening, so I had a young man from our church pose for me with an umbrella, and I painted him with a girl under one of the lights. I had also painted a poor unfortunate soul sitting on the bench in the rain and getting soaked. I ended up feeling so sorry for him that one day I actually took him out of the painting.

Later that night, my very observant husband pointed out that I had created a hole in my composition and needed to fix it. I immediately responded, “Okay, when we get home, put on your raincoat and hat, and I’ll paint YOU in there!” And that was how I began the tradition of painting Tom into all of my city scenes.

I worked hard to finish “Walking in the Light of the Cathedral” in time to have prints available for graduation season. My little daughter and I spent a lot of time there together… so much in fact, that one day as she was sitting in her car seat behind me as we drove onto Forbes Avenue, she pointed and yelled “Mommy! There is your building!” I think she thought I owned it, I laughed so hard and said, “Yes honey, there it is.” Because in my heart, it will always be “my building.”

P.S. Graduation time is here again! A print of “Walking in the Light of the Cathedral” would make a wonderful gift for your graduate or any Pitt alumnus.

The giclee edition is available online and through my studio. Limited edition prints are 17 ½“ x 13 ¾” at $175.00 (edition of 400). Artist proofs are $225.00 (edition of 40). There are also Artist-Enhanced prints, highlighted with pastels, 23″ x 18″ at $400.00 (edition of 150). CLICK HERE to learn more about this painting.

Also currently available in note cards and magnets.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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!)

On Friday night, Pittsburgh Dad and his producer Chris stopped by my booth, and we posed for a photo together with the original pastel painting. The pictures turned out great – as if I needed a reminder of how short I really am!

Under the category of “Six Degrees of Separation,” it turns out that Pittsburgh Dad’s neighbors (no, not the infamous “Tom!”) who appear in the painting on the far right are actually related to the president of my BNI business networking group. It really is a small world after all!

After a slow week because of the unseasonably cold weather, I was grateful for the big crowds who showed up for the weekend. But I was also more than a little grateful when Sunday evening came, and it was time to go home!

I know I talk a lot about how my husband is my biggest fan and world’s best assistant. But another person who is important to my success is my daughter Brittany. Brittany is a natural-born comedian (must be Tom’s genes?). Each year, she finds something “interesting” to wear while we tear down the booth. For example, this year we were working together on sealing woodwork to take back home, and she chose this new green hat. Brittany isn’t always front and center in these newsletters, but she’s always behind the scenes supporting me and keeping me organized. I love her immensely.

In fact, I want to take this opportunity to thank my entire team of friends who volunteer each year to help me with the Home and Garden Show and other events. You are an important part of helping make each show a success, and I couldn’t do it without your support. I consider myself very blessed.

P.S. – Speaking of blessings, I would love to hear about the blessings in your life. Drop me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com

P.P.S. – One of the things I really enjoy as I finish each original painting is getting it framed. I always take my time picking out the perfect frame, and The Courtney-Laughlin Gallery and Frame Studio has great instincts for choosing the right design for my original pastels. We all put our heads together to come up with the perfect frame. I’m especially proud of the gorgeous frame we created for the “Santa’s Joyride” original. It feels just right for the “personality” of this painting. What do you think? When I saw it framed for the first time right before the show started, I felt like I was opening a present on Christmas morning!

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 little sparse, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I truly enjoy the moments when I can take my time and visit with each of my customers. In those quieter times, I’m able to listen to their stories, their memories, and their dreams. I also have more opportunities to get to know new friends and catch up with familiar faces. In my 22 years exhibiting here, my booth helpers and I have met so many wonderful people.

One of those new friends is Pittsburgh Dad, who stopped by my booth and signed several prints of my new painting, “Hills Is Where the Toys Are,” in his own special way. He started by asking everyone what their favorite memory of Hills was…

“These here are Pittsburgh-inspired paintin’s. Yinz better get some of these prints, they’re rare! These are quality prints, people. Get ’em while they’re hot! Dahn at the Home and Garden Show, plenty of parkin’. Just take the bike lane. That’s what the mayor put ‘em in for.”

We had a lot of laughs! To see Dad at my booth, live on video – just CLICK HERE!

And then this morning, Pittsburgh Dad was a guest on Pittsburgh Today Live with my painting and candle! Check out the link: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/show/pittsburgh-today-live/video-3637084-meet-pittsburgh-dad-at-home-garden-show/

Seeing my painting on TV and watching Pittsburgh Dad tell Kristine and Jon all about who was in it gave me goosebumps!

The Hills painting wasn’t the only thing new at my booth this week. I brought plenty of other new paintings and gifts to the show, including new ornaments created by Wendell August Forge. There’s even a new “Hills Is Where The Toys Are” key chain!

I also have twelve different soy candles for sale, each one with its own distinct scent. This year, I’ve added a new candle to my line that features the Hills “Snack Bar Scent” and features my new painting on it. All of my newest candles are for sale on my website. CLICK HERE to order one of these clean-burning candle for your home today.

Even Santa stopped by my booth this week to say hello and see how his paintings are selling. I guess he got confused by this weather we’ve been having and forgot that spring is just around the corner, right? Next year, I’ll know to give credit to the robins and save us all a lot of grief.

So whether you’re an old friend or a friend we haven’t met yet, if you’re out and about this weekend, we’d love to see you here at the Home and Garden Show – Booth #3146-8. You may see something you like, and then you too can take home a memory of your own. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 every year is quite the challenge. It’s a lot of hard work that involves multiple people, a ton of inventory, much heavy lifting, and even renting and driving a truck.

Tuesday was our big move-in day. Although there were only three of us unloading and setting up, we finished in record time. By 4:30, we were ready to go home. Then yesterday, my friend Ruth joined me to finish up setting up all the smaller gift items and finally dusting to make sure all my work looks its best.

So after 20+ years, I think I may have gotten the hang of it… somehow my helpers and I got it all together, set up, and ready to rock and roll 24 hours ahead of time!

Yes, this is a first! I actually have enough time to relax a little today, getting myself ready for that adrenaline rush that will get me through a week and a half of 18-hour days. I was even able to squeeze in a little time to get my nails done this afternoon. So this year, when the doors open Friday morning for that big first weekend of the Home and Garden Show, I will be rested and ready, and my nails will be fabulous!

Yesterday, my husband (the world’s best “assistant” and nicest guy) took what little time he had between meetings and drove to Beaver to pick up my two originals from the Courtney-Laughlin Gallery. They really outdid themselves with their fantastic framing work on “Santa’s Joyride” and Hills Is Where The Toys Are.” Tomorrow we’ll bring these new paintings to the show and hang them in public for the very first time. I can’t wait to show them to you!

Though the forecast is for colder weather this weekend, here at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Spring has already arrived. There won’t be any robins… but you can enjoy beautiful Spring flowers and dream of summer right now.

I hope you’ll come on down to the Home and Garden Show this weekend to celebrate the arrival of “Pittsburgh Spring!” Be sure to stop by Booth #3146-8 and check out my newest paintings and giftware! CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

Think Spring… and come to the show and let me help you with all your art decorating needs!

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 Dad’s house, where Dad personally signed the first 30 prints of the series to make them extra special!

Speaking of Pittsburgh Dad, he was kind enough to Tweet to his followers about the painting on Sunday… which means that nearly 200,000 people could have seen it! Orders immediately began popping up on my website, which is why I sent out an early heads-up to my readers. If you would like one of the prints signed by Pittsburgh Dad, you definitely should pre-order now!

As always, the week before the Home and Garden Show, or as we call it, “Crunch Week,” will be “all hands on deck!” Not only am I preparing for the big debut of my new Hills painting, but I’m also still creating some exciting new art gifts that you’ll see for the first time at the show.

Also, two galleries are working overtime to make sure my booth is well stocked with beautiful framed pieces. Unframed prints are being mounted on boards for the bin. Booth cookies are being baked (very important!). And my staff has their marching orders.

But Monday is when the REAL fun begins! That night, Tom and I will pick up the truck. Then on Tuesday morning, we start moving everything – booth fixtures, paintings, bins, ornaments, candles, and more! – to Booth #3146 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. We really have to hustle, because everything must be in place by 10 a.m. Friday morning.

Then… it’s showtime! So if you are planning a trip to the show, here are some tips:

~ For best selection, come earlier in the week while I’m fully stocked. The first Friday is always a slow day at the Home and Garden Show, so visit that day and get my full attention.

~ Visit my website, www.lindabarnicott.com, and do a little pre-shopping research before you come to the show. When you get to my booth, you’ll already know what you’re looking for. Can’t make it to the show? No problem! You can order from my website.

~ Remember, there will also be unique pieces at the show that are not on the website and will only be available during the show. So come to the show!

I can’t wait to greet you at Booth #3146 or see you online!

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 Hall, I rushed over to greet them. The first thing I noticed that he was wearing a T-shirt with the Hills logo on it. I have to tell you, I felt a sharp pang of nostalgia when I saw that T-shirt.

Then as I talked with Pittsburgh Dad, he broke character (in real life, he’s actually actor Curt Wootton) to tell me how his wife’s parents’ house is full of my paintings, especially my Kennywood series. Both Curt and Chris were delightful, though it seemed a little weird that Curt doesn’t actually speak in Pittsburghese!

We kicked around the idea of a Pittsburgh Dad portrait for a bit, then the subject turned to how Curt and Chris had so many happy memories of the late lamented Hills stores. It reminded me of how people of my generation get nostalgic and sentimental when they talk about their own memories from younger days of downtown shopping at Kaufmann’s, Horne’s, and Gimbels.

And that was how the idea was born…

When I got home that day, the first thing I did was look up the Pittsburgh Dad YouTube episode where Dad goes “Back to the Future.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PiOM3EdKKg) Dad’s first stop on his time travels was Hills Department Store, circa 1989. Then I thought… “Wouldn’t it be fun to do a painting featuring Dad doing his Christmas shopping at Hills?”

After that, it was just a matter of a few phone calls, and then in January we were gathering our entire cast in a parking lot for the photo shoot. It was a perfect early morning for a location shoot just after sunrise with our models dressed for the holidays and ready to pose.

As I painted the piece, I was constantly sending pix of its progress to my models so they could see their images and the painting overall evolve. See it for yourself!

It started with a concept sketch… Then I added Pittsburgh Dad.

I painted pastels over a watercolor wash… Then I painted all the elements in the painting.

Finally, I added the “magic”

This last week was all about the adding the “magic,” as I created the final special touches of the sparkle of a winter’s night.

I’ll let you know when the prints are available on my website, and of course they’ll be available at the Home and Garden Show in March. But in the meantime, if you want to pre-order this limited edition print, just send me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com or give me a call at 1-888-PITT-ART (1-888-748-8278), and I’ll add you to the list.

P.S. – The Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show begins just two weeks from tomorrow! Can’t wait to see you there. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 hope you can make it there to see what’s new this year. Can you believe it’s just three weeks away? Despite what the calendar and the groundhog tell us, Pittsburghers know that spring arrives with the Home and Garden Show! Opening day is Friday, March 10th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

As I mentioned last week, I’m closing out my entire inventory of ceramic ornaments. Two more ornaments are now completely sold out just in the last week, so if you have your eye on a particular ornament, don’t waste another minute! CLICK HERE right now and make your purchase.

Remember, all ceramic ornaments must go, and the selection is becoming very limited. Some are already completely sold out, and some have only one or two remaining. I have more of some designs because they were re-stocked just before December 25th.

The ornaments are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If the ornament of your choice has already sold out before your order reaches me, I will call you personally for your second choice. By the time the Home and Garden Show opens, many of the ornaments will no longer be available, so act now!

P.S. – Look who is sitting up these days… Already?

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 out over the holidays and are already out of stock. For some of the designs, I have only a handful left, while others that I restocked just before Christmas may have many available.

So if there’s a ceramic ornament you’ve had your eye on, CLICK HERE right now and make your purchase.

By the time the Home and Garden Show arrives, there might not be many left, so order now if there is a particular ornament you’ve been wanting. This is your chance to get one of the last run of these collectible handmade bisque ornaments. All sales are on a first-come-first-served basis, so don’t delay! If the particular ornament you want is sold out before your order reaches me, I will call you personally for your second choice.

Speaking of Old vs New…

As you can see I have been hard at work on my new painting of the late, great Hills Department Store! This week I worked on refining the details of the building, and then I started adding the little details that make it magical.

I’ve been “toying” around with the title (Ha ha, see what I did there?). I decided to call it “Hills Is Where the Toys Are” because I can’t get that jingle out of my head! Do you remember the little cartoon elf mascot they had in their holiday commercials? He danced around and told us all about the wonderful toys waiting for us at Hills… then the commercial would end with the jingle. Because I’m sure I’m not the only one who associates that tune with the store, I thought it would be a perfect title for the painting.

The official unveiling will be at the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show, opening Friday, March 10th at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Of course, you’re the first to see it as it evolved digitally through my blog from sketch to finished art!

Speaking of the Home and Garden Show… last night I attended the annual meeting for vendors at the Convention Center – Opening Day is just 4 weeks away! I do know that I will once again be front and center in Booth 3146 on the end nearest to the escalators on the second floor. Plan on coming to see me. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

P.S. – Here’s my little granddaughter, Aria, supervising Christmas activities!

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.

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 about what art had to do with a travel expo.

I explained to them that, like remembrances of trips and vacations, it’s all about the memories. By painting Pittsburgh locations, I express my passion for connecting with people and reminding them of warm, fuzzy memories through my art. Pittsburgh landmarks figure into so many of our “Porchville” vacations, places where we’ve found fun, rest, and escape from our everyday lives. So even though I wasn’t selling travel exactly, I was offering something similar – a visual reminder of precious times in our own beautiful city.

As you can see in the photo at the top of the page, I also had a chance to catch up with KDKA’s Larry Richert. He actually gave me my first sale before I even opened up on Friday!

The minute the show was over, however, I couldn’t wait to pack up my booth and get back to what I do best – painting! This week I’ve been working on placing the people in my new Hills painting and using watercolor as an underpainting. Adding that color helps establish the mood of the painting and gets my brain synapses going so I can put what I’ve been visualizing on canvas. After a short break to give a talk at the Bethel Park Art Guild this week, I got right back to work at my easel with my soft pastel chalks.

Here’s a recap of the creation of the Hills painting so far. Of course, it’s a work in progress, so there will be more to it than what you see below!

Do you have your own fond memories of shopping at Hills Department Store back in the day? If you’d like to own a print of this painting, just let me know, and I’ll add you to the list.

As I mentioned earlier, the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show is just a few weeks away, and I’m already getting my ducks in a row. Here’s a teaser (you’re the first to know!) – I’m going to be closing out a certain item at this year’s show with a huge sale for show attendees, but also a presale for the subscribers of my weekly email newsletter. I’ll announce it as we get closer, and I can reserve one for you before the sale is available to the public in March. If you want to be notified about this special sale but are currently not a subscriber, CLICK HERE to sign up.

So in the meantime, stay warm and dream of the Home and Garden Show… that groundhog is overrated!

CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this year’s Home and Garden Show and other upcoming events.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my news, appearances and any “special deals” I am offering to my subscribers, by taking the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. CLICK HERE to sign up. You will also receive a FREE slideshow showing the step-by-step development of my painting, “Celebrating Time and Tradition at Macy’s”.