Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Every year, I take this time to reflect on how thankful I am for the blessings in my life.

It’s also my time to give back to you for being there for me. As a special thank-you to my loyal friends and fans, I’m offering a special gift – for this weekend only, everything on my website is 10% off with FREE shipping over $100.00 for art prints and giftware!

This is the perfect time to get started on your holiday shopping with a special gift that will remind your loved ones of happy memories and time spent together… a gift that will last a lifetime! Or why not treat yourself to a holiday-themed print or a beautiful ornament to brighten your home?

Gobble Sale Weekend starts tonight at midnight and lasts through Monday midnight. That’s just 5 days to take advantage of this offer – 10% off and FREE shipping for orders over $100!

Don’t miss out on my biggest sale of the holiday season! Your savings will automatically appear when you check out between midnight tonight and midnight on Monday, December 1st. No coupon codes to enter! CLICK HERE to begin your shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Why not take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my fall and holiday appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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”.

Sorry, but I have to take the blame for this recent cold snap! I admit that I asked Santa to bring some frosty weather and snow to get everyone thinking about the holidays, and he came through for me just in time to launch the season’s festivities. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? It won’t be long before the jolly old man from the North Pole will be visiting all the girls and boys (except maybe the naughty ones, but I’m sure you’re not one of them!).

This is an exciting weekend for me as we kick off the holiday season downtown. Tonight is the soft opening of one of my favorite events of the season, the Holiday Market in Market Square. In fact, by the time you read this, my elves will be helping me set up for the Market’s opening. My Chalet will be open for business for the whole holiday season. Visit my Calendar of Events section to learn more.

Then comes Pittsburgh’s Light-Up Night! This year instead of being inside PPG staying warm, I will be outside at my Chalet, enjoying the festivities with all of you who brave the cold to come downtown and launch “Sparkle Season.”

So zip up your jacket and put on your hat and gloves and come see me at my Chalet in Market Square! If you bring along your gift list, I’ll be happy to personalize each one of your holiday purchases with your loved ones’ names at no extra cost.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my holiday 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”.

My holiday whirl has already begun! At this time of year, you can expect to find me all over the map, meeting and greeting, chatting and laughing with shoppers and art lovers, friends old and new. Needless to say, it’s my favorite time of year.

All these holiday activities and shows bring back memories of Christmas 1989, the year when I painted “Meet Me Under Kaufmann’s Clock.” It was the first building I ever painted, and it launched my career as a Pittsburgh artist. And now here we are at its 25th anniversary! Tom and I were stunned at the number of prints that were sold in those months leading up to the holidays. In fact, one day we were riding in the car together, when out of the blue, Tom asked, “I wonder how many people are going to wake up Christmas morning to have a Linda Barnicott Christmas?” It was a weird feeling to hear my name used as an adjective… but I must admit I liked the sound of it!

Now it’s 25 years later, and as I look back on that moment, I think about how blessed I have been to have had the opportunity to bring joy to others through my art… reminding folks of special places and precious moments in life that they’ve shared together. Because I’m able to use my gifts as an instrument to bring happiness into the lives of others, I consider myself a fortunate soul!

So if you happen to cross paths with me during my holiday season travels, I would love it if you would stop by, say hello, and share a story of good cheer.

In case you were wondering where you might find me in the upcoming weeks:

~ I’ll be exhibiting at the US Steel Tower in Downtown, Pittsburgh on the Concourse level on Friday, November 14th from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

~ Next week, I’ll have a booth at Duquesne University’s Gallery of Gifts in the Student Union Building on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 18th and 19th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

~ And starting next Thursday evening (November 20th) and all the way up to Christmas Eve, I can be found at the Holiday Market in Market Square – also located in Downtown, Pittsburgh. If you’re Downtown, please stop and chat a while… it helps me keep warm!

Check out my Calendar of Events to learn more.

Make sure you are the first to know about all of my holiday 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’s that time of year again! My busiest season is about to begin, with orders flowing in, events and shows to exhibit, etc., I’m done painting until January, but what most people don’t realize is that my work doesn’t end after I add my signature to a piece. There’s still much more to be done long after the paint has dried!

For example, I’ve been spending a lot of time at the printers recreating “Holiday Greetings from My Hometown” in ink for the print. I’m also developing the ornament, which is a time-consuming two-week process (if I’m lucky!). Then I have to set up the record books and create the Certificate of Authenticity and have it printed and numbered before getting the print out to the public.

This may be my busiest time of year, but I think it’s also the most fun because I’m out and about, meeting new and old friends and clients, and making the rounds at so many local events. Everyone has a full schedule in the holiday season, but it’s also important to take some time to indulge a bit and treat yourself to a little pampering every now and then.

This Sunday, I will be exhibiting at the 7th Annual Pink Pamper Event at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South (near South Hills Village). This is an annual health and beauty fair that benefits women and children with cancer. (See below for more information.) I will be one of over 50 vendors there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This event will also be the debut of my new Metal Art Creations! Only a limited number will be available at this time, so sales will be first come, first served.

If you would like tickets to the event, I have some available, or you can get them at the door. It’s a great time to get a jump on holiday gifts and support a worthy cause! Hope to see you there!

P.S. – I will also have prints available at the event of all of my 2014 paintings, including:

“Oasis of Beauty at Phipps”

“Show Time by Kennywood’s Paratrooper”

“Winter’s Glow on Grant Street”

And my newest painting, “Holiday Greetings from My Hometown.”

Visit my prints for sale page, to see the entire collection.

To make sure you always receive the latest information about my new paintings and all of my holiday appearances, please take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters. CLICK HERE to become a subscriber. When you 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 question that I’m asked a lot at my speaking engagements is, “Which painting is your favorite?” That’s not an easy question for me to answer, because I love all my paintings for different reasons. Of course, I do have a few special favorites, and “My Hometown” is definitely one of them because of the wonderful memories I associate with it.

Back in our younger days, Tom and I lived on the North Side of Pittsburgh when he was just starting his ministry, and we spent 11 happy years there together. When I painted “My Hometown,” I wanted to make sure every building I could see on the North Side was in that painting, including the top of our church on the corner of Madison and Tripoli. “My Hometown” was the largest pastel painting I had ever completed at that point (21″ x 27″), and it took me six months to paint back in 1992.

Now 14 years later, I’m “returning to My Hometown” and painting the Duquesne Incline again to benefit Breathe Pennsylvania, a charity that provides support for COPD and asthma patients. The new painting is the fourth in the series of prints I’ve created for them.

This time, the plan was to show the city from the same vantage point, but in the Holiday Season with a wintry landscape, softly illuminated by the glow of the city lights and the tree at the Point. I also wanted to show the incline cars (with an added touch of holiday bling!) passing each other on the hillside. However, this required a little bit of Artistic License – In real life, the cars pass each other at a different point on the slope, so I would have had to climb partway down Mount Washington and probably hang from a rope line to be at the appropriate spot. Fortunately, as an artist I can create that effect without mountain-climbing equipment!

I’ve thought long and hard about a title for the new painting, but I had to make a final decision because I’ll be unveiling this piece to the board of Breathe Pennsylvania next week. I am entitling it “Holiday Greetings from My Hometown” in honor of the original painting created in 1992, and to recognize that it’s a holiday print for this series. The painting will also be made into a ceramic ornament, and both the print and ornament will be available soon.

As always, I’m giving my loyal readers the first look at the new painting! Here below are the sketches showing some of the steps of its creation, and the image at the top of this email, of course, is the finished piece.

What do you think? I would love your feedback on both the painting and the title!

Why not take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my fall and holiday appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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”.

Though things start getting very busy in October, the real push starts in November when I seem to have one show after another through the end of the year. In fact, I have a saying about my creative process that holds true each and every year:

“If I don’t have a painting finished by November 1st, it will not get finished until January.”.

It’s sad, but true… And I have a theory about why that happens. It’s because, like everyone else, my brain has two sides – one side is the creative side that imagines the paintings and creates them. The other side is the side that loves to go out and meet folks just like you and connect people with the perfect piece of artwork that fills their needs. I definitely love using both sides of my brain for different reasons, and they truly are separate from each other.

I enjoy exercising each side equally, but every November and December with all my commitments, the creative side of my brain gets put on hold.

That being said… for now, I’m in “The Zone” once again, still burning the midnight oil! I have just one more piece to finish before the end-of-the-year rush. The painting I’m working on now is especially challenging because the buildings in the background are so small, and there are so many of them. And as I promised, you’re the first to see a sneak peek of a small part of the piece (at the top of this page). The actual focus of the painting will be on the Duquesne incline cars passing each other, and I hope to be ready to show that to you next week!

This will be the fourth in a series of my holiday prints for Breathe Pennsylvania, a wonderful charity that works with children and adults with asthma and COPD. The first three paintings in the series are offered on my website (visit my prints for sale page), as well as the companion ornaments (visit my collectibles for sale page), which you can purchase together or separately.

The next step is to finish this last painting of the year and create a title for it. Any suggestions?

Why not take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my fall and holiday appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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”.

Sometimes we forget that about 20 years before the American Revolution, another war was fought right here in Western Pennsylvania.

England and France fought the French and Indian War (where a young George Washington got his first military experience) for control of the land west of the Alleghenies. So of course, Fort Duquesne at the Three Rivers was a prime target. Because Fort Ligonier was the closest British supply post, the French attacked it on October 12, 1758. The British victory on that day is now commemorated every year with Fort Ligonier Days.

This is my fifth year exhibiting at Fort Ligonier Days on this beautiful hilltop in the Laurel Highlands. Not only is it thrilling to see the historic buildings and exhibits taking us back to the time when King George III was in charge, and the British flag flew over Pennsylvania, but it’s a wonderful time of year to experience the brilliant fall foliage and enjoy a drive in the country.

It’s also a perfect time to come visit me at this year’s festival and be among the first to purchase your 2014 Wendell August Forge ornaments. For those who actually come to my booth, I’ll sign and date every ornament purchased. And of course, I’ll have all of my new 2014 paintings available for purchase as well as mini matted prints and frames, and larger prints to decorate your home or to be gifted to loved ones. Not to mention my full line of giftware, including magnets, mugs, note cards, and other ornaments.

My booth is in the Loyalhanna Lot (Booth #16/17). I hope you’ll come see me at Fort Ligonier Days this weekend… it will be worth the trip!

PS – You’re also invited to my Artist Reception at the Courtney-Laughlin Frame Studio and Gallery in Beaver on Thursday, October 16th from 5 to 8 PM. It’s part of Beaver’s “Third Thursday on Third” festivities and includes my latest creations as well as live entertainment. CLICK HERE to check my Calendar of Events at for more details.

Why not take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my fall and holiday appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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 finished my most recent Pittsburgh painting, “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street,” I was reminded that I would not be the artist I am today if it weren’t for my husband, Tom. I have been very blessed over the years to have his total support, but more than that, he has turned into a perceptive and brutally honest art critic. You may wonder why this is something I’d be happy about… so I’ll share with you a little glimpse into my life!

I tend to be quite stubborn (of course, you never would have guessed, right?), and sometimes painting my city scenes can be really tough and time-consuming. In fact, I get incredibly wrapped up in my work when I’m in “The Zone.” So you can imagine how I react when I hear comments like “I don’t like that building color,” or “You’re not done with that yet, are you?”

Here’s a great example – Back when I was working on one of my Kennywood paintings, “Making Memories at Noah’s Ark,” I had spent an entire day just working on the people in the painting. I was so focused on making them look like the people who posed for me that I didn’t realize I had made the faces too big for their bodies! Tom showed up, took one look at the painting, and commented that the people looked like elves. Needless to say, I was quite offended! We bickered back and forth, as I was in denial and couldn’t admit that they were all wrong. After all, I had put in a very hard day’s work, and it had to be right!

Finally, Tom informed me that he was going to take my kneaded eraser (a gray, stretchy eraser that I am very fond of) and erase all the people from the painting for me! Eventually, I swallowed my pride, gave in, and re-painted all the people… putting aside my artistic vanity and saving my painting.

Every artist needs to have one person they can count on… someone with a critical eye who is brave enough and honest enough to tell it like it is. I am very fortunate in that my special person happens to be my husband. Sometimes he’ll even critique a painting by checking its reflection in the glass of another painting to see it from a distance, looking the slightest detail that might be amiss.

Tom is the final person I will ask to take a long, hard look at each of my paintings one last time before it goes to the printer. Not only is he my best and most honest critic, but he’s also the guy who can be counted on to carry, pack, and put up my displays without complaint. I’m fortunate to have the love and support of this amazing man, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. Thanks to Tom, I’m a better artist… and for that, I’m tremendously grateful.

Why not take the time now to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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”.

Over the years I have painted over 75 paintings of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. What you may not know is that before I started painting Pittsburgh, my first love was painting portraits. There’s so much to love about being a portraitist. I love the challenge of bringing the subject’s personality to life in the painting… the connection with the family… and furry friends are also a lot of fun to paint! I enjoy every step of the process, from the pencil sketches and charcoal to painting with rich, vibrant pastels.

This year, I made the decision to begin accepting portrait commissions once again; in fact, I had the honor of being present at the unveiling of my latest portrait last Friday at the gala dedication of Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s newly renovated Gargaro Theater in the West End.

Dr. Ken Gargaro, retiring founder and leader of Pittsburgh Musical Theater, is an amazing man who has been a teacher and mentor to many, many musical theater performers. As PMT dedicated their new facility in his honor, the evening was filled with tributes from theater pros and students alike – performers who learned the craft under Dr. Gargaro’s meticulous direction, and people he inspired with his passion for the arts.

So many from the Pittsburgh (and beyond!) theater community turned out to honor him. And I was thrilled, considering how many theater luminaries were present, to get a small mention in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story!

Artist Linda Barnicott, whose portrait of Mr. Gargaro was unveiled at the gala, also was on hand. “Linda said that while she was painting, she kept having a feeling like she wanted to sing. That’s what you do for all of us,” Ms. Petrucci said, directing her gaze toward Mr. Gargaro. “You make us want to sing.”

I truly enjoyed painting this piece – and yes, I did sing my way through it!

Even after all these years of painting amusement parks, cityscapes, and landscapes, I never really left portrait work behind – as I tell people, I’ve been painting portraits for the last 25 years. There are plenty of portraits in my Pittsburgh and Kennywood paintings… it’s just that they’re about 2 inches high!

Why not take the time to sign up for my weekly newsletters now. As a subscriber you will receive information about all of my appearances, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers! 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”.