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”.

The New Pittsburgh Collection
“The Grand View of Pittsburgh”
“Ice Ball Treats with Gus and YiaYia”
“Sharing the Season at Market Square”

The New Kennywood Collection
“Laughing through Kennywood’s Le Cachot”
“Riding Kennywood’s Auto Race and Train”
“The Phantom of Lost Kennywood”

There’s a chill in the air this week, and you know what that means… the holidays are coming! This year’s new pewter Christmas ornaments are in from Wendell August Forge, and they look fantastic! It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I partnered with the Forge to create handmade, uniquely crafted ornaments of my Pittsburgh and Kennywood paintings. Click here to see them on my website, or better yet, you can see them in person at the 44th Washington County Covered Bridge Festival. I will be exhibiting at the Ebenezer Covered Bridge in Mingo Creek County Park this Saturday and Sunday, September 20th and 21st from 10 to 5pm both days at Space #51.

I’m returning to the festival after a year’s absence – but I had a very good excuse for not participating in the show last year. It seems we had a wedding to attend… my younger daughter, Alyssa, married her wonderful and loving husband, Jon, that weekend. After a year, it’s like they’re still on their honeymoon, and we couldn’t be happier for them!

Because the festival is so competitive, I hated to drop out of the loop, and I called them begged to be “put on hold” for a year. Lucky for me, they were very understanding and invited me back for this year’s event. So that’s where I’ll be this weekend with a complete collection of my ornaments created by Wendell August Forge from all five years. So if you’re missing any from the series, this is a great chance to complete your set. If you come see me at the festival, I’ll be happy to hand sign and personalize each piece for you.

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”.

I was surprised and pleased to see how many of my readers had guesses about the last-minute changes I made on my latest painting, “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street,”. The answers may not be what you expected!

The first change I made is that I “turned off the lights” on the second floor of the City-County Building. I felt that the lights drew the viewer’s eye away from the Courthouse, and because the painting is really all about the 125th anniversary of this remarkable building, I decided to exercise a little “artistic license!”

Number Two: The streetcars. The painting is set in 1984, a year after the building now called BNY Mellon Center (originally One Mellon Center) was built in 1983, and a year before the streetcars moved underground in 1985 to become Pittsburgh’s “T” subway/light rail system. The colors of the streetcars changed around this time, and for the definitive word on the trolley situation, I consulted Scott Becker, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Trolley Museum. I had painted the cars maroon and grey for artistic reasons, although the tri-color cars had mostly replaced them by 1984. Scott suggested that I change at least one of the trolleys to a tri-color car, as the maroon-and-gray cars were almost gone by that time. So that’s why I changed the last streetcar in line to a tri-color. (I’m granting partial credit to readers who thought the front part of the tri-color streetcar was a British phone booth!)

Bonus points also go to those who pointed out the falling snow as another last-minute change. Technically, it wasn’t actually a change – when I paint a winter scene, adding the snow is always the final step. But to you, it was a new addition, and you sharp-eyed readers get props for noticing it!

The finished print is now available on my website. CLICK HERE to learn more. The holiday cards will be available soon from the American Cancer Society. They’ll have them available in a few days, and you can call them for an order form at 412-919-1100.

Now that my new painting is truly finished, I am taking a little time off to travel to Nashville to visit my mom – after such a hectic summer, I can really use some “Mom Time!” When I return, I’ll be finishing up a portrait I’m working on for a presentation. If I can get permission from my client, I’ll share the details with you in the coming weeks.

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”.

It really took a lot of concentration and hard work, but I have good news for you today! I just put down my last pastel stick and signed my new painting with a charcoal pencil, and tomorrow “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street” goes off to the printer. For the last several days, I’ve spent just about every waking minute in my studio putting the finishing touches on this painting, the latest in my Pittsburgh collection. And one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most in the creative process is having you with me throughout its evolution.

If you’re a true Pittsburgher, I think you can’t help but feel nostalgic when you walk in the “Winter’s Glow on Grant Street.” When I created it, I wanted to bring you back to a time when families would hop on a streetcar and take in the beautiful decorations downtown during the holiday season. You can almost feel the winter chill in the air as holiday shoppers cross the street to get a closer look at the wonderful tree in front of the City-County Building. And just down the block, the stately landmark Allegheny County Courthouse is aglow, with its light softly illuminating Grant Street.

Soon the original will be mounted in an elegant frame, and the archival giclee prints will be available to the public. It will also be available as this year’s holiday card to benefit the American Cancer Society (order them at 412-919-1100 and ask for the card by name).

All my prints are archival giclee prints, made with the highest quality paper and inks. The edition will be limited to 300 signed and numbered prints and 30 artist proofs (also signed and numbered). There will also be a limited edition of 50 larger artist-enhanced prints – each one personally highlighted by hand with my pastels. That means the total number of prints is less than the number of subscribers on my list, so don’t delay! This piece would be a perfect holiday print to adorn your walls or a lovely gift for a special someone.

PS – Here’s a challenge just for you! I made two significant changes to the painting at the very end (and I’ll tell you why next week!). If you can find my last-minute changes, email me at info@lindabarnicott.com.

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”.

On this brilliant sunny late summer afternoon, I have to admit it feels a little weird to be painting bright and festive holiday décor and glittering lights with people bundled up against the cold! But that’s just typical on an artist’s schedule – in the summertime, I’m working hard at my easel, recreating the warm glow of the winter holidays. And when the snow flies, I’ll be dreaming of and painting lush green springtime landscapes!

As you know, I exhibited my original paintings at Shadyside: The Arts Festival On Walnut Street last weekend. It was a wonderful show, especially because so many friends and fans came out to see me. I loved talking with all of you and helping connect people with that special piece of art that was just right for them. I’m definitely looking forward to participating in the show again next year!

Now that the intensity of the Arts Festival is behind me, I’m back at my easel this week. If you look at the pictures above, you can see the progress I’ve made on my latest painting! I’m a little behind schedule because I was so busy with my big move and with the Festival, and I just started the actual pastels this week.

“Winter’s Glow on Grant Street” is this year’s subject for the American Cancer Society’s 2014 holiday card. I am honored to have been chosen to create these cards every year for the last 16 years. Imagine how gratifying it was to find out that the cards with my designs have raised over $750,000 for cancer research and prevention! It’s is amazing what a little holiday greeting can do for others. What a blessing!

Speaking of seasonal things… it’s Back-To-School time again for my daughter Alyssa – but this time she’ll be a teacher instead of a student. She is working as a Multi-Categorical with Autism Special Education Teacher at Upshur County Schools in West Virginia. Needless to say, I’m very proud of who she has become! I hope you’re enjoying this back-to-school season with your families!

Over time, we all have special loved ones who move away from “The Burgh” to find their destiny, and I think out of all expatriates, the ones most likely to be homesick are the former Pittsburghers! Many of my loyal customers purchase paintings and gifts from me because they say their distant loved ones really miss their hometown, and having a visual reminder brings them some joy until the next time they can visit. Some of my clients have even said they’ve given my Pittsburgh-themed prints and gifts as a not-so-subtle hint to remind the recipient of what they’re missing! Trust me, I have proof that it works!

So, if you are looking for something beautiful, a little extra something to decorate a dorm room or brighten up a new home far away, why not choose a piece of art that will remind them of you? And maybe even inspire them to come home more often? Check out the “Prints for Sale” or “Original Landscape Paintings for Sale” of my website for some really cool paintings and prints and look at the “Collectibles for Sale” section to find my line of unique collectibles that make great gifts.

If you want to receive information about all of my shows, my latest paintings and special offers only for subscribers, 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”.