Ho Ho Ho! And a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

I’m sure it comes as no surprise, but this is my favorite time of year. One of the things I love most about the holidays is how we come together and celebrate with family, friends, and colleagues. Here at my chalet downtown in Market Square, I’m meeting not only my faithful customers and readers, but amazing people from around the world as well. It’s rich and uplifting, and I’m loving it!

In the midst of all this good cheer, festive decor, and lovely music, I realized something interesting this week. As I’m meeting and talking with so many people lately, I can’t help but notice what seems like – even in adults – a downright giddy love for Santa Claus! Of course, you expect children to be excited in the presence of the big guy, but I’m talking about grown men and women beaming with childlike joy when they meet Santa.

Here in my Holiday Market Chalet, I have a wall devoted to my Jolly Old Elf Series. This year, I added a rich green background to the wall that really displays my holiday paintings beautifully. And now in the second year of the five-year series, customers are taking notice!

I don’t mean to brag (OK, just a little!), but Santa and I are really tight. We get to hang out sometimes during the Holiday Market while he’s here in his very own Santa House. He’s been so gracious to my customers, offering to sign their paintings and ornaments. Several times just this week, I’ve walked a client over to the Santa House with their just-purchased large print or painting, and Santa always takes the time to personally sign their piece. For a smaller painting or ornament, I will offer to lend them my pen to have him sign it and ask them to return the pen to my booth afterwards.

Again, this year I’ve particularly noticed the sheer delight in the faces of my adult customers when they meet Santa “in person” – many of them even request a Santa Selfie!

Sometimes they purchase the paintings as a surprise gift for a spouse or a parent or an old friend, but often they are buying the painting for themselves. Many times, my customers have shared with me their wonderful childhood memories and how Santa has meant so much to them and to their children.

If you’re looking for a unique gift for someone special (that includes yourself!), you can relive the joys of Christmas Past with a Linda Barnicott print… a gift that will be treasured for a lifetime. CLICK HERE to begin your shopping!

One more week until Christmas! I hope you’ll come visit me in Market Square – I’ll be there until December 23rd.

P.S. – I will be discontinuing my ceramic ornaments after this holiday season. The remaining stock will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. So if you’re collecting them, order now!

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”.

Can you believe it is December already? Where has this year gone to? They say time seems to pass more quickly when life is busy, and that has certainly been the case for the Barnicotts this year!

The biggest event for us, of course, was the birth of little Aria Grace, our first grandchild – already 3 months old. Talk about time passing quickly! She’s just a perfect little person, and her smiles will melt your heart. It seems like she grows and changes every day (it’s really fun to watch how she’s begun to imitate everyone she sees). I’m afraid if I blink, I’ll miss something, so despite my usual hectic holiday season, somehow I manage to sneak in a visit whenever I can!

With my crazy schedule at this time of year, another activity I have to sneak in when I can is decorating. Believe it or not, my Christmas decorating begins the day after Halloween because I know my time for such things will be limited because of the Holiday Market. Yet slowly but surely, little by little, our home is becoming increasingly festive!

At least Tom and I have gotten the tree up (minus the ornaments so far, but that’s next on the list). Still, it’s so delightful to come home to our work-in-progress tree after a long day at the Chalet and just enjoy the beauty of the lights and the quiet of the evening.

The weather this year has been cooperative, so the Holiday Market has been extra busy. I’ve already seen many of my readers there this year, and I’m looking forward to visiting with more of you in the next couple of weeks as we count down to Christmas.

With shopping time growing short, I’d love to help you with your holiday gift-giving. Pittsburgh memories are golden… precious moments spent with family and friends that you can relive by just a glance of a painting. And of course, I’m always happy to personalize your gifts to make them extra special for your loved ones.

Don’t forget, I have more than just paintings! For example, my ornaments, note cards, and candles are the perfect solution when you need an office gift… or if you’re participating in an ornament exchange or grab bag gift with family, friends, or co-workers. I have more options than ever this year to help you get your holiday shopping done – even when time is running out.

Enjoy the season!

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”.

I hope you’re having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, happy and blessed, visiting, entertaining, feasting, or just relaxing with family and friends. But don’t forget to rest up for the big shopping weekend to come – Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all close at hand!

Today I’m enjoying my only day off between Light-Up Night and Christmas Eve, and I’ll be back at the Chalet in Market Square, braving the cold tomorrow and every day for the next month. But I’m not complaining… I love being part of the festivities and excitement at the Holiday Market, and I get the VERY BEST visitors!

In fact, Santa took time out on Wednesday from his hectic Thanksgiving-Eve duties to hang out for a little while at my Chalet. Santa’s enthusiasm is so contagious! His visit really got me into the holiday spirit.

Speaking of getting into the holiday spirit… I have some super duper deals on art and gifts for you this weekend!

I’m celebrating Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday all in one big weekend sale to help you “wrap up” your holiday gifting in no time!

For starters, if you come down to see me at the Holiday Market in downtown Pittsburgh’s Market Square this weekend, you will get FREE ART!

With any purchase that totals over $100.00, you will receive FREE your choice of one of the following:

~ Box of Notecards
~ Box of Christmas Cards
~ Metal Coaster
~ Metal Mint Tray
~ Ornament
~ And a Partridge in a Pear Tree (just kidding…I’m sold out of partridges)

In other words, you can save an average of 15% to 24% just for coming into town! Limit one offer per customer per day. To claim your special savings, just print out this blog or show it to me on your phone.

Can’t make it to the Holiday Market or prefer to order online? I’ve got you covered. Just for this weekend, I’m offering FREE SHIPPING with any purchase over $100.00. There are lots of savings to take advantage of! CLICK HERE to begin your shopping.

A visit to the Holiday Market this weekend is the perfect way to begin the Christmas season. So enjoy your leftovers, then come on down. Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. – The sale begins tonight (Thanksgiving Night, November 24th) at midnight and ends at midnight on Cyber Monday (November 28th).

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”.

With a jolly Ho-Ho-Ho! Ready or not, it’s Showtime in Market Square!

My elves and I have been working nonstop this week. We’ve had a blast setting up everything and putting together my wooden Alpine Chalet for the 2016 People’s Gas Holiday Market in Market Square. We tried some different things this year with my booth near the stage. This year we’re trying a brand new look and easier access to my art and gifts. With lots of new paintings and gifts adorning the Chalet, finding your holiday gift purchases will be fun!

So everything’s in place… the Chalet is fully stocked and ready to go for tonight’s soft opening from 4 to 8 PM. Then starting with Light-Up Night on Friday (tomorrow, November 18th), we will be open every day until December 23rd with one day off for Thanksgiving.

Every year the Holiday Market gets bigger and better. With live music, good food, tons of activities, and many unique vendors – not to mention Santa holding court in Market Square! – it’s the best way I know for Pittsburghers to usher in the season. So stop by my Chalet this weekend and see what’s new! I’ll be happy to personalize a gift of art for someone you love.

Let’s get this party started!

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”.

Wow! Another crazy week here in and around my studio. Though it’s definitely exhausting, I love the “busy-ness” of this time of year with shows galore and orders pouring in.

And though it seems like we just put away our Halloween décor, next week begins my end-of-the-year marathon at the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square! In fact, I will be having a soft opening from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 17th… then of course I’ll be there every day (except Thanksgiving) right up until December 23rd. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this and other upcoming events.

In the meantime, I’m exhibiting at a smaller show this Saturday, November 12th, at the Bethel Presbyterian Church here in Bethel Park. So if you don’t like driving into town, this is a very pleasant venue for you to come and see all my new pieces and shop for the holidays!

But the highlight of my week (and maybe even my whole month!) was spending yesterday afternoon with my husband and Franco Harris at Bravo Cucina Italiana in the North Hills.

My supply of signature prints of “Franco Harris – The Immaculate Reception Story” had sold out, so I asked him to sign a bunch of them for me for the upcoming gifting season. Anyway, it was a great excuse to catch up with Franco, who is always more than generous with his time. Tom and I truly adore him.

Did I ever tell you about the first time I met Franco?

Now, the first thing you need to know is that I am not a native Pittsburgher, and back in the days of my youth, the only sport I was interested in was sailing. I was definitely not someone who would stay home to watch football or baseball on TV. So when I started that painting I didn’t know a lot about football.

As I always do when creating a new painting, I had made a series of pencil sketches to work from, and Franco agreed to meet with me and Tom to go over them. First I showed Franco the pencil work I had done with sketches of Terry Bradshaw, Chuck Noll, Art Rooney, and Frenchy Fuqua. Then finally, I revealed the sketch of himself that would be the center of the painting, catching the football in that legendary moment.

“And here is The Scoop!” I announced. He looked a little confused. “The Scoop?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, “The Scoop! You know…” and I pointed out how the sketch showed him making that historic catch. I think it was then that Franco realized I hadn’t a clue. He very sweetly put his hand on my arm, looked me right in the eye, and said, “Linda… we call that The Reception.” I just laughed while Franco and Tom spent the next five minutes making ice cream scoop jokes.

I have so many fun memories of creating this painting with Franco! If you know someone with a man cave that is in need of décor, or perhaps just a Steelers fan who would love to hang it in their home or office, I hope you’ll come by this holiday season and take a look. Or you can check it out online by CLICKING HERE!

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”.

On Halloween night, Tom and I spent the evening outside, greeting the little children and passing out treats.

I told Tom that breathing in the crisp, clear air on that chilly autumn evening reminded me of how it feels to be in my Chalet in Market Square. It also started me thinking about one of my favorite things about November and December – getting out of the studio, renewing old friendships and creating new ones. Definitely the “second-best” part of being an artist. My face-to-face encounters with all of you are what give me such joy at this time of year and keep me energized – even better than a Halloween sugar rush!

Generally, I’m a pretty high-energy sort of person even without sugar, and this is one of those times that it really comes in handy. Especially this week as my holiday season begins with four different shows in four days!

~ A private show Thursday evening (tonight) at my home – “An Evening with the Artist.” Though this event is private, I’m always happy to receive visitors at my studio during business hours. (Just call ahead.)

~ On Friday, November 4th, I’ll be the featured artist at the Giant Oaks Garden Club “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” event, held at Southpointe Hilton Garden Inn (1000 Corporate Drive, Canonsburg 15317) from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

~ Another lovely seasonal event is “Christmas Affair” on Saturday November 5 from 9 AM to 3:00 PM at John McMillan Presbyterian Church (875 Clifton Rd, Bethel Park 15102). I’ll be in Rooms 9-11.

~ I return year after year to The Old Allegheny Shoppe on Route 51 in Baldwin for their annual Christmas Open House. I’ll be there from noon to 4 PM on Sunday, November 6th, where I’ll be signing prints and gifts. It’s a great event to start off the festive season. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about these and other upcoming events.

So with Halloween and the last of the fall festivals behind me, I’ve been getting my ducks in a row, putting on my “business hat” to prepare for the logistical end of the holiday gift-giving season. Like Santa, I also am making my list and checking it twice to make sure I’m ready for all my events. Stocked up on booth and art supplies… check. Filled up candle inventory… check. Ornaments and prints ordered… check!

I’d be honored if you would take some time this busy weekend to come check out my new pieces. I’d love to help you make this holiday a special one!

P.S. – For those of you who are interested, it’s been a while since I posted a photo of my sweet grandbaby Aria Grace… two months old now!

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”.

Ever wondered how an artist gets inspiration from their surroundings and turns it into something extraordinary? How do you make the magic happen?

The story of “Santa’s Joyride,” my new limited-edition print for 2016, the companion print for “Making Magic in Santa’s Workshop,” is a great example of how the serendipity of everyday life can spark inspiration… if you’re ready to receive it!

Back when I was planning out my Jolly Old Elf series, I decided that my theme for 2016 would be the magic and wonder around Santa… but especially the toys! And why shouldn’t Santa himself have toys of his own?

It all started the day my muse and model – Santa John – came to my house for an all-day photo shoot, bringing along many changes of clothes and two elves with cameras. We were brainstorming the beginning of the Jolly Old Elf series, and inspiration crackled in the air like electricity.

First, I proposed a painting of Santa golfing. We didn’t have any clubs in the house, so I called my neighbor Viv… who just happened to have the perfect golf club – one with a shiny red handle!

Because I was new to the neighborhood at that time, when I returned the golf club, I asked Viv if anyone in the neighborhood had a wood workshop that we could use as a backdrop for another painting. She opened up her garage to show us her husband’s workshop, but what really caught our attention was his beautiful vintage Harley motorcycle. My first thought was that it deserved a new painting of its own!

Once we started brainstorming, the creativity really began to flow. Nathan the Elf offered his leather jacket (that just happened to be a perfect fit for Santa). Santa had also brought along a green and red flannel shirt that completed the ensemble. I ran across the street to get a wreath to decorate the headlight.

We set up our photo shoot in the cul-de-sac at the end of my street. Someone came up with the idea of tying a string to Santa’s hat so that it would look like it was blowing in the wind. (Note the helpful elf in the background holding the string!) We took what seemed like a hundred pictures to get just the right one for the painting.

Our next challenge: How to place the toy sack on the bike and what toys to put in it. Santa took a picture of his toy sack with a few gifts in it, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I asked myself what toys were my childhood favorites, just as I did to select the toys for “Making Magic in Santa’s Workshop,” Then I realized what would be the perfect finishing touch to the sack… a puppy, holding on tight, loving the wind in his face.

I remembered that one of our Facebook friends had recently gotten a new puppy. He had even posted a picture of the puppy (whose name is Michael) sitting on the front seat of the car with the air conditioner blowing in his face. When I saw my friend at a conference the next week, I told him I wanted to “steal” his puppy. He looked at me strangely and said, “No, you can’t!” When I explained what I needed him for, he loved the idea, and we had a good laugh!

For the last element of the painting – the background – I wanted to show the magic and movement of Santa’s ride. I chose a simple blue background with swirling snow and stars. Even the little airplane has caught a snow swirl as if it were starting to fly.

“Santa’s Joyride” is available as a 9 x 12” archival giclee print (of course, without the watermark in the corner). I can’t think of a more perfect gift for the motorcycle enthusiast in your life! CLICK HERE to begin your online shopping.

I hope you enjoy my newest painting and the story of how it was created!

P.S. – My Busy Season starts now – come out and see me! Next week I will be at three public art shows and one private show next Thursday evening. CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about these and other upcoming events.

Hope to see you at one of my upcoming shows!

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”.

If you ask me “What’s new?” this week, you’re going to get quite an earful! I can’t wait to tell you about all the latest and greatest, and if you come out to Fort Ligonier Days this weekend, you can see it for yourself.

Fort Ligonier Days is a wonderful annual October tradition in and around the historic town of Ligonier. I’ll be there all weekend, Friday through Sunday (October 14-16), with a big selection of my art and giftware.

The headliner this weekend, of course, will be my latest Jolly Old Elf painting – Santa’s Joyride! I just put the finishing touches on it. But I wanted my loyal readers to be the very first to see it before it makes its grand debut this weekend – here’s how it progressed from sketch to finished painting…

So what else is new for this weekend? If you come out to Fort Ligonier Days, you’ll see it all!

~ As I already mentioned, “Santa’s Joyride” debuts at the festival this weekend. I literally just finished creating the print last night! By this time next week, it will also be available on my website.

~ Five new designs from my line of soy candles from the Sugarcreek Candle Company will be available. I’ll even personalize them in gold for you.

~ A new metal art piece created from my painting of St. Teresa of Calcutta, “The Heart of a Saint” (only one is available for the show).

~ Have you seen my new gallery wraps yet? They’re really spectacular! Available for the “Jolly Old Elf” Santa series as well as “The Heart of a Saint.”

~ New “Jolly Old Elf” Santa series ornaments from Wendell August Forge… this is the perfect time to start to a new collection!

~ Holiday cards and note cards new for 2016 – including “Making Magic in Santa’s Workshop” and “Santa’s Newest Reindeer.” I also will have new note cards of “The Heart of a Saint” – St. Teresa of Calcutta and box note card sets of “Pittsburgh’s Shimmering Season” and “Holiday Greetings from My Hometown.”

With all these new art pieces and more to come for this season, holiday shopping should be a breeze!

Nothing says Fall like a country outing during peak leaf season. I’ll be showing off all my newest creations at Fort Ligonier Days on Friday and Saturday from 9 to 6 and on Sunday from 10:30 to 5 at Booth #16 and #17 in the Loyalhanna Lot.

Why not come out and enjoy the fall leaves and the festivities around the historic fort and the town of Ligonier? Looks like it will be another spectacular fall weekend… hope to see you there!

P.S. – You’re invited to attend my artist reception at Courtney-Laughlin Frame Studio and Gallery in Beaver on Thursday, October 20th, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Santa’s taking the day off from his pre-holiday duties to join me for live music with Rick Gilbert (one of my personal favorites!), wine and cheese, and other goodies! Many of my prints and gifts as well as 14 of my original paintings will be available for sale. You can even get a “Selfie with Santa!” If you stop in early and pre-purchase, I’ll personalize your art at the event. I hope you’ll consider joining Santa and me for a fun evening! CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this 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”.

Can you believe it was just a few years ago (2011) that construction began on the new Consol Energy Center sports arena? And it was only just a few years earlier that I had painted the old Mellon/Civic Arena in “Hockey Fever at Mellon Arena.”

As they were tearing down the old arena in early 2011, it seemed that everyone wanted something to remember it by, and soon that print had sold out. My goal (ha ha, see what I did there?) in painting “Pittsburgh’s New Home for Hockey” was to build a bridge of memories from the old arena to the new. In fact, if you look closely you’ll notice that I even painted the beautiful reflection of Mellon Arena in the glass of the newly constructed Consol Energy Center.

I remember the day we scouted out the new Consol Center with a two-hour photo shoot for the new painting. We recruited friends and family to put on their own period hockey jerseys and assemble outside the new arena. I asked my models to walk around alone, with their families, and also mingling with other groups as I considered different layouts for the painting. This is how I figure out where I’ll put my people in the final composition. The idea is for them to lead the viewer’s eye around the painting to where I want the viewer to look. We had a lot of fun that day, and I’ll never forget it!

Now with this week’s announcement of the name change to PPG Paints Arena (which is going to take some getting used to!), “Pittsburgh’s New Home for Hockey” has suddenly become nostalgic! Do you think Pittsburghers will continue to refer to it as the Consol Center, just as most of us never quite made the transition from the Civic to the Mellon Arena? We are a stubborn tribe!

I’m back in the studio this week working on “Santa’s Joyride.” I hope your week is fun and productive as well!

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”.

First and foremost, I want to thank you all for your prayers for my husband Tom. We were a little concerned last weekend and into the beginning of this week, but eventually he turned the corner and is recovering nicely.

Now that he’s finally starting to feel better, I’ve picked up my paintbrush again to work on the next painting in my “Jolly Old Elf” series – “Santa’s Joyride” – and I’d love to share it with you. Ever wonder how Santa gets around after he parks the sleigh for the season? Here’s the final sketch before the painting began…

If all goes well, next week I’ll be able to share the next stage of the pastel painting with you as it develops. I really am loving the process of creating this piece… Not only is it very therapeutic, but the image of Santa riding on the back of a vintage Harley makes me smile!

Last weekend was one of those glorious fall weekends where it’s a joy just to be out and about. I spent my weekend outdoors, meeting and greeting at the 2016 Mt. Lebanon Artist’s Market. Lots of other people were out and about as well and visiting the Market, so I met many great old and new friends and sold a ton of my artwork. I also picked up a pair of very warm handmade mittens from a craftsperson – they’ll definitely come in handy for the Market Square Holiday Market this coming season! You can’t be too prepared for winter weather, especially when you spend the entire month before Christmas outdoors. And I’m one of those people who’s always cold anyway!

Where in the world will I be this weekend? On Saturday, October 1st, I’ll be at the 27th Annual Arts & Crafts Show at St. Thomas More Church (126 Fort Couch Rd., just across from South Hills Village in Bethel Park) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This show is an indoor event with 70 vendors, a Chinese Auction, and plenty of food, including homemade soups. It’s a great way to spend the day! CLICK HERE to view my Calendar of Events and find out more about this and other upcoming events.

I will have some of my larger paintings at the show and all of my giftware, including my 2016 Christmas cards and my new Wendell August Forge Santa ornaments.

I’m also featuring my complete line of candles, including the latest one based on my painting “The Heart of a Saint,” honoring the life and work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

These slow-burning, scented soy candles are a lovely addition to any home. When the candle is burned to completion, the glass vessel and printed image are dishwasher safe and can easily be repurposed. For example, I bought some battery-operated fairy lights and placed them inside one of the jars, and they illuminated the image beautifully.

Can’t make it out to Bethel Park on Saturday? The Christmas cards are now available on my website, as are the Mother Teresa candles (and of course, the rest of my art and giftware catalog). You can check them out and order online. CLICK HERE to begin your shopping!

Hope to see you at the show!

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”.