Over the last three weeks, it seems like I’ve been all over the map, going everywhere and doing everything. And though I’ve been working on my latest Santa and the Forbes Hospital mural project, what’s keeping me so busy isn’t just painting… I have a whole lot of other stuff going on!

Lately it seems I’m constantly on the go – learning, fundraising, exhibiting at my museum show… and even tearing out walls! I’ve also been working on my garden between the spring showers.

Recently, I had the privilege to be the featured artist for the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh’s biggest fundraiser of the year. This worthy cause supports Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility on the North Side.

Then two weeks ago, I attended a conference in Jacksonville, Florida, where I learned ways that I can serve my customers better and how I can help make a difference in our world. Becky Auer, my travel partner (and previous owner of South Side restaurant Nakama), spoke from the stage about her daughter’s fight with Cystic Fibrosis and how it has influenced her business. She also shared some fun ideas for creating a happier work life.

Speaking of creating a happier work life, I also met Rick Harrison from Pawn Stars! I was impressed by his story of how he overcame the fear of epilepsy and built a career for himself doing what he loves.

Sounds pretty hectic, right? But I didn’t stop there! When I returned home, our family worked together to catalog 28 of my originals for my one-woman art and gift show at the John A. Hermann, Jr., Art Museum in Bellevue.

Last Friday was the artist reception, and I was thrilled at how many of you turned out for the evening! I had a chance to personally sign many pieces of my art work for customers. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves… even Santa himself, who was an unexpected visitor! You can catch the show on weekends from now until the end of June.

In the last week or two, I’ve also expanded my resume to include home remodeling! We’re fixing up our home in Brentwood so that Jon and Alyssa can move in as they await Aria’s birth, and this involved doing some serious demolition work in the kitchen area. The funny thing was that of the four of us who did the work, only Jim Walter from our church (First Bethel UMC) had any experience at all with demolition! But it ended up being fun, and working together was a great experience.

As if I didn’t sound busy enough, I actually have even more to share… but it will have to wait for another blog! I hope you have a great week, and I look forward to writing to you next time. Thanks again for being a faithful follower. Your support means a lot to me!

P.S. – Graduation Season is in full swing! Have I painted your child’s college or university? CLICK HERE to find out.

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”.

One sure way to keep life interesting is to do something you’ve never done before.

So I’m having a particularly busy and exciting week as I prepare for my very first museum show! The show will feature my original pastels, and some prints and gift items will also be available.

Earlier this week, Tom and I packed up 28 of my original pastel paintings and delivered them to the John A. Hermann, Jr. Memorial Art Museum in Bellevue, Pennsylvania.

The Mayor of Bellevue himself was there to greet us and to help us unload. Mayor Paul Cusick has a beautiful heart and was very enthusiastic in his support for the show.

The show will begin with an Artist Reception from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, May 6th. It’s open to the public, and I’d like to extend a personal invitation to you, my loyal readers.

I would love to see you at the reception Friday evening too kick off my very first museum show ever. And if there is a piece of art that you would like to have signed, I will be personalizing my work in gold during the reception.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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”.

It seems like I’m writing a lot of Mother’s Day themed blogs lately. Maybe it’s because this year I’m a very happy Grandma-to-Be!

This week we had 25 friends over on Saturday for the Big Reveal – my daughter Alyssa announced that she and Jon are having a baby girl whose name will be Aria Grace. The reveal was done in a really cute way – Alyssa handed out both pink and blue balloons, and everyone was asked to blow them up at the same time.

It soon became obvious that only the pink ones were blowing up, meaning that a baby girl was on the way… that’s because we put holes in the blue ones!

Looks like the word is getting out about my new line of candles! The Sugar Creek Candle Company now has my designs available on their website. If you’re looking for a nice Mother’s Day gift (or if you’re a mom who just wants to treat herself!), check them out.

On this Mother’s Day, don’t forget to honor the “mom” you love with a gift that will bring back warm memories of your times together. You can purchase the Sugar Creek Candle Company Candles and a multitude of other gifts with Pittsburgh memories for you to share on this website. CLICK HERE to start your shopping!

If you would like me to personally sign your gift, just leave a note in the Special Instructions section of the order form.

I’m off again this week… this time I’m in Florida for a business conference. There’s so much out there to learn! Wish me luck!

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 one of my clients asked me “Have you noticed how much younger grandparents are becoming these days?” I had a good laugh, as I just celebrated my 58th birthday – and I definitely agree that we’re getting younger all the time!

As you probably know, my daughter Alyssa and her husband Jon are having a baby in September. And with Alyssa as a mother-to-be and me about to become a grandmother for the very first time, Mother’s Day is especially meaningful to me this year.

One of my favorite Mother’s Day memories is from Kennywood Park, the subject of many of my best-known paintings. One year, although the subject of my new painting was going to be Kennywood’s Fall Fantasy Parade, I actually did the posing for the painting with my friends, family, and park employees on Mother’s Day weekend.

The inspiration for “Celebrating Kennywood’s Fall Fantasy” came from the many years that Tom and I visited Kennywood late in the season to see the different school bands march and play in the Fall Fantasy Parade.

Tom would reminisce about his teenage years in the Bethel Park High School Marching Band and how much fun he had… how his family sat up on the patio of the restaurant and cheered him on as the parade passed by… and how the park was bedazzled with colorful lights and banners and wonderful floats that delighted children and adults from all over the Pittsburgh area.

When I planned the painting, I had to make a tough decision… which high school band would I put in the scene? There were so many wonderful bands that played at the park, I just couldn’t make up my mind. Plus, I was certain that if I featured just one school band, I’d get hate mail from all the others!

Fortunately, there was an easy solution. At the time, Kennywood had its own little band of percussion and brass, so I took the coward’s way out and painted them at the head of the parade.

Though the painting was about Fall Fantasy, it was actually on Mother’s Day weekend that I posed Tom and Alyssa at the mushroom fountain getting a drink of water. My older daughter, Brittany, is sitting on the restaurant patio with my father standing beside her. Dale Hertrick, Tom’s best friend from Bethel Park High School, is there with his family, standing below the patio on the far left. Mike Seaman, the manager at that time, is on their right. The park benches are populated by some of our oldest friends, and the patio above is filled with park employees who volunteered to be models.

The real people that I put in my paintings add flavor to the pieces and give them personality. Every time I look at this painting, I’m reliving all those wonderful memories of Kennywood and the Fall Fantasy Parade that Tom, our daughters, and I have enjoyed over the years… and especially that long-ago Mother’s Day weekend. I hope it brings up happy memories for you and your family as well.

If you’d like to share your own Kennywood Mother’s Day memories, just drop me an email! I would love to hear about them.

P.S. – Though I don’t always have the opportunity to respond to your emails, I want you to know I read and treasure every one of them, as I do you.

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”.

Like the parrots in this picture, I’ve taken flight to Florida to enjoy some much-needed R&R.

Disney World, as always, was a magical experience. The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing, and we really enjoyed a “best of” experience at each of the parks. With so many picturesque views and dramatic scenes to take in, I’m filled with inspiration… now to just take that inspiration home with me and put it into some of my paintings this year! It looks like even Daisy Duck herself was inspired – here she is with her paint brush at the ready, creating art through flowers.

Aside from the excitement of Disney World, just being here relaxing in Florida with my nearest and dearest ones has done this little artist a lot of good.

Last night as Tom and I walked along Orange Lake – this beautiful resort that we’ve been coming to for the last 32 years – I told him this is my Happy Place. We’ve made so many family memories here that I can’t help but smile every time I think about it. Though we’ll be returning home soon, I know the memories we’ve shared here will be a part of me forever. And the fact that all of us are able to be here together this year makes it even better.

Some of my most treasured moments from our visits to Orange Lake have been Tom and I sitting on the beach under the palm trees and watching the sunset. Last night was one of those moments. Someday I may even have to paint it!

Still, I’m looking forward to returning home to my studio… maybe I’ll even completely miss this final (hopefully!) cold snap in the ‘Burgh. Wishing you all a wonderful week… and counting my blessings!

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”.

In the first quarter of every year, the Barnicott household is a very busy place. It’s pretty much nonstop action for us, as preparing for the Home and Garden Show occupies most of our time in January and February… followed, of course, by the long, long work days during the show itself. And then we have to fill all those orders we received during the show.

Yet somehow we survived it all (we always do!) and made it to April. All the paintings, prints, and giftware that were ordered have gone to their new homes, so now the Barnicotts are ready for some well-deserved playtime!

Tom and I are enjoying some quiet time alone in Hilton Head, South Carolina before we head down to meet up with the rest of the family in Orlando. I’m so excited to be having a real family vacation back in Florida for the first time in years!

For our girls, Florida has always felt like their home away from home. Way back in the days before they became popular, we bought into a time-share property about 4 miles from Walt Disney World. I know time shares can be tricky, but for us it turned out to be a wonderful investment. We spent so much time there that our kids thought it was our summer home!

In fact, two of my favorite original landscape paintings were created in Florida: one at our vacation property, “Morning on Orange Lake”, and the other in the town of Celebration, “Light Streams, Water Lilies Swim”. If you’re interested in purchasing one of my landscapes, Click Here.

Although this is definitely not a “working vacation,” I admit I did bring one of my current projects to Florida with me. You may think I’m nuts to bring work along on my desperately needed holiday, but to me, drawing is fun and relaxing!

I’m sure there will probably be some available downtime when we don’t have any activities planned. So although I didn’t bring any of my pastels this time, I’ll be doing a little bit on the project that I’m currently working on for the Porsche Club at the Vintage Grand Prix, sketching the painting onto the good pastel board.

Here’s one of the early drawings to give you an idea what it will look like…

Speaking of ongoing projects, I’m making significant progress on my latest “Jolly Old Elf” series painting – Santa’s Toy Shop. Those of you who have stopped by my studio in the last week have seen how it’s taking shape. I’ll post some photos after I return from Florida.

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”.

Spring has definitely sprung at my home and studio. All the beautiful perennials I planted last year are returning again this year. My only problem is that being fairly new to gardening, I don’t really know exactly which ones are flowers and which ones are weeds! So if any of you who are experienced gardeners would like to stop by and offer some advice, I would be happy to listen. But in a way, it would also be fun to just sit back and be surprised at what pops up.

I do love a good surprise, and that’s what has been on my mind this week.

There’s a lot to love about being an artist. Painting brings me peace, and I create my art with the hope that it will awaken warm memories and give you some joy whenever you see it. But there is another bonus to being an artist that I love almost as much… and that is being a part of a surprise.

This week, one of my customers purchased a gift for his wife, a surprise for a special occasion. When he called me, he had to make sure she couldn’t overhear our conversation. He had to make sure the payment didn’t show up on any of their credit card statements, and he will have someone else pick up the finished piece when it’s framed.

When we last talked, he apologized for making the process so difficult for me. My response was “No problem! I love being a part of the surprise.” He even offered to take a photo of the event so I could see her reaction for myself. I love hearing stories like this, especially when I’m involved in them!

As Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up, I hope you’ll allow me to be a part of your celebration. I have a full line of gifts for your loved ones – everything from original pastel paintings, archival giclee and lithograph prints, and this year, my new line of candles.

I’m really excited about the candles, and so far the response has been great. Two new candles have been added to the collection… “Ice Ball Treats with Gus and YiaYia” and “Oasis of Beauty at Phipps.” They just need a few final touches before they’re shipped out to their new homes this week.

As I mentioned in my last email, there are many ways to re-purpose your candle’s collectible glass jar after you’ve enjoyed 150 hours of candlelight:

~ Fill it with jelly beans, M&Ms, nuts, or your favorite treat
~ Turn it into a vase by adding a bouquet of spring flowers
~ Keep it glowing by putting in a battery-operated mini-light (or re-wick it and pour new wax)
~ Put it to work in the kitchen to hold your favorite cooking utensils
~ Collect all of the candles and display them together

I’m sure you can come up with even more creative ways to keep enjoying your collectible jar… I’d love to hear about your ideas!

Have a great week, and be sure to shop at my website, www.lindabarnicott.com, for inspiration if you want to surprise someone you love on their special day!

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”.

Looks like Punxsutawney Phil was right! Spring has come early this year, with warmer days and more sunshine than usual for March. In fact, I feel like this is my best Spring ever, with a great Home and Garden Show and the introduction of my new line of collectible candles. You might even say I’m on fire…

Okay, I’ll spare you the candle jokes… but I want to tell you the story of how Linda Barnicott Collectible Candles were created.

My husband Tom is a fanatic about burning candles in our home – he really enjoys the warm glow of candles and also loves their scents. Unfortunately, when he used the typical candles we bought in retail stores, it didn’t affect me quite the same way. My eyes would water, and I would cough my way through the day, totally miserable.

When we went candle shopping at the mall, I would have to stay outside while Tom picked out the candles he liked. He would call me to come in and help him choose between all the great scents, but I wasn’t able to stay in the candle store for very long before my symptoms would begin again. Poor Tom just couldn’t understand why I was beginning to hate candles so much!

That all changed at the Home and Garden Show four years ago, when the Sugar Creek Candle Company became a fellow vendor there, and I learned to love candles again. Their candles are 100% soy and clean burning – finally I could burn candles and enjoy the beautiful scents without suffering!

So for the past four years, the Barnicott household has been a frequent Sugar Creek customer. And then we had a great idea… wouldn’t it be amazing if Linda Barnicott Art and the Sugar Creek Candle Company could join forces to create something unique and beautiful for our customers?

And that’s how my new product line, Linda Barnicott Collectible Candles, was born!

The candles are now available on this website. CLICK HERE, to see the whole line of candles, featuring five of my favorite paintings each with a different delightful scent.

They make great gifts for friends and family… or even just when you want to treat yourself. Which one do you like the best? Enjoy!

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”.

Well, it’s a wrap! Another Home and Garden Show has come to an end, and my booth has been dismantled and put to bed until next year… but that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped or even slowed down!

Even after the endless preparations getting ready for the show and the frantic schedule of the show itself, there’s no time to rest… I still have lots of art to create! I also have a lot of work to do to get my new line of collectible scented candles out the door to my customers and up on my website.

So if you remember last week’s blog post, I introduced my new product line – three brand new candles featuring my paintings – created by the Sugar Creek Candle Company.

This week we’re introducing another new candle with my painting “Ice Ball Treats with Gus and YiaYia.” Not only is it beautiful, but the scent is intoxicating! If you close your eyes, you’ll think you’re about to enjoy one of Gus’s Cotton Candy Ice Balls!

These high-end, clean-burning candles are 100% soy and will burn for 150 hours. Each candle features one of my paintings and has a scent that was specially chosen to go with the painting. My candles are art collectibles, yet they’re very affordable – just $29.95! – less expensive than my major competitor.

What’s more, the paintings on the glass are dishwasher-safe. So when the candle part is used up, you can simply wash them and repurpose them!

I’m so proud of my new Pittsburgh candles! If you’d like to be one of the first to enjoy them, that’s easily arranged. Just give me a call at my studio, (412) 283-4072, or drop me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com They’ll also be available on my website soon.

And if you read last week’s blog, you will also know I had the privilege of a visit from Santa (making a rare off-season appearance) at my booth during the show. He loved seeing his paintings!

Many of my booth visitors had the opportunity to see my preliminary sketch of Santa’s workshop firsthand. In case you missed the show, I thought you might like to see this work in progress.

Thanks to all of you who offered positive feedback. I can’t wait to get started with putting the concept onto the good pastel U-Art board. So stay tuned! Enjoy your week… and I would love to hear from you!

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 don’t usually reach out to you twice in one week, but I couldn’t wait to share the news…

I’m launching my newest product line – beautiful high-end, long-burning scented candles paired with some of my most popular paintings.

Each candle comes in a glass jar encircled by one of my paintings so that the beauty of the art is illuminated from within by the candle’s glow.

These luxury candles (created in partnership with the Sugar Creek Candle Company) are 100% soy with a clean-burning 100% cotton wick and will burn for 150 hours… yet the price is considerably less than that of our biggest candle competitor!

The first ones are now ready – just in time for the last weekend of the Home and Garden Show at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. If you come to the show today, tomorrow, or Sunday, you can be among the first to start your collection.

I can’t wait to show them off! Come visit me at Booth #3146 at the Home and Garden Show, have a sniff, and take one of my new candles home with you.

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”.