As the stacks of boxes rise higher and higher, I can’t avoid thinking about how Moving Day is getting closer and closer! I thought this would be a good time to give you a last look at my Monroeville home/studio and show you how I display my personal collection of originals. While some folks can’t make up their minds where to hang just one more painting, I somehow found places for 33 paintings in two rooms, with five more in my small foyer!

Many of my clients have questions about framing their paintings. Should they all have the same style of frame? Or perhaps all different frames? As you can see with the pieces I have hanging in my home, I like an eclectic look and choose different frames to suit the individual paintings. Of course, others prefer a more unified look where all the paintings are framed alike. It’s really a completely personal choice with no right or wrong.

I can literally spend hours searching for just the right combination of color mats and frames. These are the finishing touches that really complete the overall look of the piece. Again, it’s simply a matter of your personal style… the mat and frame combination that harmonizes with the art in a way that speaks to you.

Each and every one of the pieces hanging in my home has been framed and also protected by museum-quality glass (UV protective or museum glass) by my tremendous framing partner in Beaver.

So as I was saying, Moving Day is just around the corner! I will be shutting down my studio on June 23rd until I open back up officially on July 7th. That means this is the last full week of my Super Secret Originals Sale! This one-of-a-kind sale will never be offered again.

If this is the first you are hearing about my Super Secret Originals Sale, that means that you are not on the list to receive my weekly newsletter. CLICK HERE to become a subscriber. When you become a subscriber and one of my special collectors, you will always be among the first to hear about all my news!

This is your last opportunity to invest in one of these original pastel paintings (or your choice of many more that are in my studio) at a one-time-only price! Please call my studio at 412-372-3200, shoot me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com, or call my cell at 412-722-9413.

So please take pity on me… don’t make me pack up all these paintings! I hope to hear from you soon!

Check out this lovely testimonial I received from one of my wonderful customers in Michigan when she received her Pastel Original of “Pennsylvania’s Rolling Hills.”

“My painting arrived late this morning. It is gorgeous! A beautiful little jewel!! I’m trying to find a picture hook so that I can put it up right away. This will be a painting that I will look at often, anytime I want to think about ‘home.’ And that’s getting to be more frequent as the years speed by.” – Sandy

As a small boy, my husband, Tom, dreamed of learning to fly. His dad would pack up a lunch of brick cheese and rye bread, and together Tom and his dad would park at the end of the runway at the old airport and watch the planes take off and land. As Tom grew up, he found that he needed glasses, which meant he would never be able to become a pilot. Of course, he later found his calling in the ministry, but he never forgot his dreams of flying.

During the holidays, I met with a new client of mine who runs a flight school in Virginia. As we discussed her art needs, I told her the story about Tom’s childhood dream. Imagine how delighted I was when she offered to give him two lessons, complete with a flight log book that I could put under the tree on Christmas morning. It’s not every day you find the best possible Christmas gift for your spouse!

Of course, I had to do it right… so right before he opened all of his gifts, I wrapped up a basket with the flight book under a chunk of brick cheese and rye bread. When he opened it, I thought he was going to lift off right there in the living room!

So Tom had his first flying lesson this week… and he was like a kid in a candy store! He took off from Allegheny County Airport, and then later he texted me from Rostraver Airport, where he was practicing his takeoffs and landings. His text read, “This, next to our wedding and the kids’ births, is the best day of my life.”

It was a wonderful feeling to enable Tom’s dream of soaring through the sky. Now I’d like to help others “soar” in a metaphorical way by teaching them how to express themselves and find joy through art, painting their favorite people, places, and things.

When I open my new studio in Bethel Park, I will begin taking private students for the first time in many years. I’ll be accepting students in my medium, pastel chalks, at any level – from absolute beginner to accomplished amateur. If you (or your spouse or anyone else you love!) dreams of learning to paint and draw, I want to help you achieve that dream.

The program will consist of a series of four weekly private lessons; each class is a two-hour private session. That’s eight hours of “one-on-one” instruction each month!

Please share the news! Classes will begin enrolling soon. If you know someone who would like to learn pastels and drawing, please contact me via email, info@lindabarnicott.com

Back when our daughters, Brittany and Alyssa, were growing up, Tom was the minister at Emanuel United Methodist Church, and for four years, we lived in Pittsburgh’s West End neighborhood. At that time, we had the pleasure of living literally just down the street from the West End-Elliott Overlook – which as Pittsburghers know offers the very best straight-on view of the Golden Triangle!

It seemed as if fireworks were almost a daily occurrence during Pirate season, and as soon as we heard the first one go off, we would all run to the car and drive up to the Overlook. It was like having our own personal fireworks show!

Though we moved out to Green Tree after the first four years at Emanuel, for years I thought about that view just up the street from us and how much I wanted to paint it. In time, new stadiums and a new convention center changed our skyline, but the last time I painted that view was in 1992 for one of my best-known paintings, “My Hometown.”

When I finally created “Pittsburgh’s New Horizon” in 2005, I was very sensitive with my pastel chalks, as I wanted to make the city look as beautiful as I could from this vantage point 13 years later. It became one of my favorite paintings and has hung over my mantel for years.

Fast forward to 2014, when one of my loyal customers came by to purchase my original painting, “Game Day at Heinz Field.” As he inspected the painting, he talked about how much he loved this view of the city and how the sky looked in the original. “It’s a real Pittsburgh sky,” he commented. At that moment, I realized that what really spoke to him was the “Pittsburgh memory.” He wasn’t just a Pittsburgh sports fan, but truly an honest-to-goodness fan of Pittsburgh itself!

I then noticed that he was drawn like a magnet to “Pittsburgh’s New Horizon” in its place over my mantel. He spent a long time gazing at the painting and noting all the little nuances of my work… then he looked at me and asked, “Is this one for sale?” I knew in that moment was I going to have a bare spot above my fireplace! (As always, I’ve requested visitation rights so that I may still see it from time to time.)

Folks often ask how it feels to sell an original. Many times they refer to it as “letting it go.” I remember all the love I put into it, and I pause. Then I think about how much it will be loved in its new home… how much joy it will give to a new family… and the many conversations it will have around it. Then I remind myself that I’m sharing a gift that was given to me when I was just a child. It may not be the best, but it makes a difference.

PS… As moving day draws near, there are still originals in my studio that are looking for their “forever home.” If you are not already on the list to receive my weekly newsletter, and if you want to find out about my Secret Sale on originals, CLICK HERE to become a subscriber. Check out the available originals at my website, www.lindabarnicott.com, or call (412) 372-3200 to make an appointment to visit the studio. One of my originals could be yours at a great price! Hurry, the sale is ending mid-June.

Just one short week ago, I was in Yosemite National Park, painting beautiful waterfalls and trees. Now I’m back to reality, which this week means packing up my studio and home.

Fortunately, it’s not all work and no play because I’m also working on a new Kennywood painting! As you may have guessed from the picture above, the Paratrooper is the latest subject in my Kennywood collection.

The Paratrooper has a special place in my heart. It was a favorite ride for Tom and me when we were dating, and especially in later years when we rode it with our children by our side. I can close my eyes and remember the amazing feeling of flying through the air with the breeze on my face and how we would try to kick the leaves as we passed close to the tall trees.

I don’t have much to show yet, but check out this photo of me sketching the scene! Just let your imagination fill in the blanks and see how close you are to what it will actually look like…

For the past 18 years, first for Grand Victorian Days, then for Celebrate America, I’ve had my art booth on the lagoon just across from the Paratrooper. And every year, I’ve enjoyed the wonderful performances by the Kennywood Entertainers – the guys and gals from across the country who come together to perform for park guests throughout the festival. I’ve been very fortunate to enjoy their shows directly in front of my booth, and sometimes they’ve even included me or my family in their performances!. Though they appear at Kennywood only once a year, this multi-talented group is an important part of my “Kennywood Experience.”

Unfortunately, this year I’ll miss Kennywood’s Celebrate America Festival because we’ll be in the middle of our move to Bethel Park. The good news is that I was invited by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) to unveil the painting at KennyKon, a special event that will take place at Kennywood at the end of July. The painting will be officially unveiled and available on July 27th as a limited-edition giclee print (Only a small number of prints will be sold).

If you are not already on the list to receive my weekly newsletter, and if you want to get a sneak peek of this painting in progress, CLICK HERE to become a subscriber. I hope you will enjoy watching it evolve from a rough sketch to a finished work of art!

And, when you become a subscriber and one of my special collectors, you will also be among the first who can purchase a print before they’re available to the public. Just call me at my studio, (412) 372-3200, or email me info@lindabarnicott.com, and I’ll save you a copy!

Writing to you from sunny California! (I know, “Don’t rub it in!”)

Tom and I have been checking in with home regularly, and I believe it has rained each and every day we have been away. But here in Fresno, the sun has been shining, and the sky has been blue and beautiful. While we’ve been here on our Yosemite adventure, we’ve been staying with our friends, Ginny and Jeff. Ginny is a fellow artist and owner of “A Sense of Place,” a fine-art gallery in Fresno. And I’m pleased to announce that as of today, Ginny will be the official representative for Linda Barnicott Publishing in California.

Since I’ve been in California, I’ve painted a few pieces in Yosemite National Park and even a portrait of a precious dog named Piper! Yosemite is a place that you could paint forever and never get bored. In fact, I’ve already planned a year’s worth of new works that I’ll be completing at home and then shipping them to California for sale… unless, of course, I sell them before they go!

I hope you like what I’ve finished so far!

One of the paintings that I’m just finishing up will be presented for sale tomorrow to an art collector from the Bay Area. He saw it partly finished yesterday and called Ginny back, saying he just couldn’t get the painting out of his head! He’s bringing his wife with him to meet me and see the painting for herself. I hope she feels the same way about it, and that they’ll be the new owners of this special piece.

With the busy summer ahead, we really appreciated this wonderful opportunity to spend time in beautiful Yosemite National Park, relaxing, creating art, and gathering inspiration for another year of painting… and especially trying not to think about our impending move! Soon Tom and I will be on our way back home, where we can get back to the real world – like organizing and packing our entire household and my studio in the next two months!

Speaking of moving, don’t forget that rather than packing up and moving all of my originals, I’d love to find new homes for them before then so I don’t have to go to all that trouble!

My Secret Sale of my original works is going on until Packing Day (mid June or thereabouts), so stop by the studio, give me a call at (412) 372-3200, drop me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com, or check out my website, www.lindabarnicott.com , to see which originals – maybe one of your favorites? – are looking for a good home!

“Game Day at Heinz Field”

I have some great news to share with you! I have had several calls about my originals in the past week, and one of my favorites is headed for its permanent home. “Game Day at Heinz Field” has found a happy home in the South Hills! It’s one of my favorite pieces – against a classic Pittsburgh winter sky, this original just glows with reflections on the water and the colors of the fans in the seats. The frame is black and gold with a brass title plate shadow-boxed in the mattes.

“Game Day at Heinz Field” was so much fun to create. My favorite memory of that creative process is the night I went down to Station Square to see the stadium after dark. It was a perfect night… as the fans gathered for the game, the beauty of the reflected light on the water made my heart sing. Then, as luck would have it, the water shuttle carrying fans to the stadium passed by, creating a brilliant twinkling in the water from its wake. I like to think that you can feel what I felt when you look upon this painting.

If you know me (and most of you do!), you know how important it is for me to find a good home for my originals. The process of creating an original painting is like raising children in a way. I develop them from just a thought and help them grow into a finished work of art. Each new stage builds upon the last. Along the way, there are challenges and victories, and the end result is worth all the hard work. I can’t speak for other artists, but as each day passes, when I look into my studio for the first time each morning, I smile because I can see that beautiful work of art emerge, becoming the best I can make it.

Because I’ll be moving soon, I’m hoping to find homes for as many of my originals as possible. If you’ve ever thought of owning an original piece of artwork, why not invest in one of my paintings of something you love? Pastel paintings will last for centuries and will be a family heirloom to be passed down from generation to generation… a gift that keeps on giving that you can enjoy right now!

Drop me an email at info@lindabarnicott.com, or give me a call at my studio, (412) 372-3200. Or have a look at my available originals on my website at www.lindabarnicott.com and see if something catches your eye!

I’ll be in California painting amazing natural scenes around Yosemite National Park until May 17th. I’ll have more to tell about my trip next week!

Hi, It’s Linda!

So much has been happening in the last several weeks! Planning a move on short notice is keeping me very busy, but lately with so many new opportunities around every corner, it’s been a pretty wild ride!

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who responded to my last email concerning our move to Bethel Park. What a blessing all of you are! Your kind wishes mean so much to Tom and me.

You might be surprised at what my biggest seller has been in this newly emerging spring season – original pastel paintings! Perhaps it’s a longing for soft colors and warmth after the long, cold winter we just survived? After selling “A Snowy Evening at the Benedum” a few months ago, I’ve recently sold three more originals: “Oasis of Beauty at Phipps,” “Water Lilies Swim, Light Streams,” and two weeks ago, “Ocean Breeze.”

Original paintings are true works of art. Even though there are beautiful prints of many of these paintings, there still is only ONE original. Pastel paintings become heirlooms – they have been around for centuries, and they don’t yellow or crack the way oils can. They keep their fresh look and show a multitude of colors as the pastels mix on the surface of the painting. Just put a picture light on them and watch them glow and shimmer!

I do have quite a few original pastels available in my studio… some old favorites like “Game Day at Pitt Stadium” and “A Grandview of Pittsburgh” – some adventuresome Kennywood pastels like “The Phantom of Lost Kennywood” and “Riding Kennywood’s Auto Race and Train” – some peaceful “take me away” landscapes of water, fields and flowers – and so many more.

If you’ve ever had a yearning to own an authentic original pastel, please take the opportunity to stop by my studio before mid-June. Just call my office to make an appointment, (412) 372-3200. Or email me at info@lindabarnicott.com.

They say change is inevitable, and it’s true – In less than three months, I’ll be moving from Monroeville to a new home in the South Hills!

We just found out that Tom has been called to serve First Bethel UMC in Bethel Park beginning on July 1st of this year. We were happy to learn that the parsonage is only five minutes from Tom’s dad’s home. And it will be interesting to see how many of our new neighbors and church members are Tom’s former classmates at Bethel Park High School!

Though we have loved our time in Monroeville and will truly miss all of our friends there, we’re looking forward to serving a wonderful and warm congregation at First Bethel UMC. Stay tuned, and I’ll keep you posted on the details.

This all reminds me of when my husband Tom (already an exceptional account executive at AT&T at the tender age of 23) took me to the Blue Angel Restaurant in Latrobe for dinner for our first anniversary. As we watched the airplanes land and take off, he said he had something really important to tell me. OK, I thought, I’m game. He proceeded to tell me he hadn’t been coming straight home on Fridays after training all week in Philadelphia… now I’m not sure how you would react to that, but it definitely got my attention!

What he told me was that he was stopping at his church for a while each week and that he felt he was being called into the ministry. I told him immediately that I would support him 110%. We didn’t have children or a mortgage yet, so if we were going to make this change, we should do it now.

Tom entered the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (he entered as a Presbyterian and graduated five years later as a United Methodist – but that’s a story for another time!), and the rest is history!

This is all new to us, and we certainly weren’t expecting it, but I learned a long time ago to accept change and see it as an opportunity for new adventures. For example, just think of all the South Park landscapes I can paint!!

PS… So I looked around and started thinking… maybe it would be good idea to have a Moving Sale! I have so much inventory – I had stocked up for the year – and it’s a lot to move!! More details next week!

Kennywood Park is not just a local institution and historic landmark, but it’s also been one of my favorite subjects for my paintings over the last 20 years. With Opening Day just around the corner, I’d like to share with you the story of how I got started painting Kennywood.

Even at the beginning of my career, Kennywood held wonderful memories for me – it was the place where I had my first Pittsburgh date with a very special guy (Tom!) who would soon be my fiance. So I really, really wanted to paint it! Unfortunately, my publisher at that time was a North Hills/West View Park kind of guy, and he wasn’t interested in having me paint Kennywood.

However, I never gave up on the idea, and on the very day I parted from my old publisher, I walked into the new publisher’s gallery with a mission. I said “I have an idea for a series of paintings that I’ve wanted to do for years,” and he replied, “I also have an idea for a series!” I was taken aback, but I said, “OK. You go first, but I really feel strongly about this!”

As I looked at him with anticipation, he said, “I thought we could paint some Kennywood together!” I still get happy chills up and down my arms when I think of that moment! Folks, that’s when you know it is meant to be!

The next step was to convince Kennywood management to come on board with the idea. I remembered that Rick Sebak from WQED had helped me with some resources when I painted “Meet Me Under Kaufmann’s Clock, Too!” and he had just finished making a documentary at Kennywood called “Kennywood Memories.” He promptly returned my phone call, and I was flattered to hear that he was familiar with my work. He recommended that I call Mary Lou Rosemeyer, the PR director at Kennywood… and to tell her he said hi!

When I called Mary Lou, I introduced myself as a Pittsburgh artist and told her about our idea. She thought it was a wonderful project, and soon we got together and planned out the five paintings of the first series, beginning with “Ride With Me on the Carousel.”

The rest is history! Over the next 10 years, I painted many of the rides and buildings in the park, and Kennywood has always been very generous to me in return. Click Here to check out my Kennywood print collection and take a walk down Memory Lane.

“Ride With Me on the Carousel”

Available as a color poster – 16.5” x 12”
Retail $30.00

Have we finally put this long Pittsburgh winter behind us? Finally, it’s time to break out and enjoy the pleasures of spring!

One way you can do that is to visit me at the Doubletree Hotel in Monroeville from April 6th through 8th. The Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania is celebrating its 84th annual convention with a beautiful flower show – “My Fair Pittsburgh” – that’s free to the public. If you love flowers, this is an ideal place to celebrate the arrival of spring!

The show is open to the public from Sunday through Tuesday, and I’ll be there with two tables full of art gifts and prints. It’s a perfect time to stock up on gifts for all those special occasions coming up – like birthdays, anniversaries, Easter, and graduations!

Again, the event is at the Doubletree Hotel at the Monroeville Convention Center, 101 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, and there’s no charge for admission to the flower show, exhibits, and vendor marketplace. Hope to see you at the show!

Event hours are:
Sunday, April 6th – Vendor Marketplace 3 to 5 p.m., Flower Show 5 to 6 p.m.
Monday, April 7th – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8th – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most in my 25 years as an artist is when a client sends me a photo of my work hanging on their wall. Would you share yours with me? I’d love to see how you have integrated my art into your home! Just send your photos to info@lindabarnicott.com.

If you would like to part of a special group of people you get to see my works in progress, receive art tips, stories behind my paintings, regular updates on upcoming shows, plus FREE offers, sign up for my newsletter. Click Here to sign up – it’s easy!