2018 Holiday #13

6x4” original watercolor.    $225

A still life with some greens...
I have a few more Holiday paintings to
work on to finish out the year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
We were blessed with Abbey and Ben home.
Ben made our Christmas Eve dinner again this
year.  We have a lot to be thankful for... we celebrated
our 39th anniversary and Abbeys birthday with my
birthday right around the corner.  So the Holidays
are a busy  time for us.   Linda is slowly getting better,
she is at 3 weeks post op.   Today she walked to the
coffee shop and back...with only a cane.  Then needed
ice and a nap!
Today is the perfect time to say how truly thankful
I am to all my clients and friends.  You and your support
are what allows me to be an artist.  Thank you!!

2018 Holiday #12

SOLD!
4x6” original watercolor
$145 (unframed) Available to the first person to email.
If unsold by 12/23 at 7pm the price goes to $275

Great sled!
Merry Christmas to all.

2018 Holiday #11

SOLD
6x4” original watercolor
$135 (unframed) to the first person to email
If unsold by 12/22 the price is $250

This wagon filled with a pine tree and berries was
spotted while antiquing a few weeks ago.
I added a bit of snow.

Went on a decorated sled hunt this morning in
downtown Lititz.   “Found a good one...

2018 Holiday #10

SOLD!

4x6” original watercolor 

$135  (unframed) to the first person to email

If unsold by 12/21 at 7pm price goes to $250

I’m into sleds!  This is from our Christmas antique outing 

a few weeks ago.

Where did the day go??   Haircut, long line at the post office

and painting.

2018 Holiday #9

SOLD!    4x6” Original Watercolor
$135 (unframed) to the first person to email.
If unsold by 12/19 at 7pm the price goes to $225.

A little Holiday still life.

Update:  Linda had her 2 week knee check.  She is doing too much. She is to cut back and rest more and let it heal.  She has full extension and 90 degree bend.  Off the heavy pain meds but still in pain.  2 weeks more rest...easier said than done!

2018 Holiday #8

SOLD
4x6” original watercolor
$135 (unframed) to the first person to email
If unsold by 12/19 the price goes to $250

Thank you Joan for finding this scene.

Anyone wanting to visit the studio give me a call.
I have lots of mini prints which are great for hostess gifts.
A large selection of signed and numbered prints and
plenty of originals for you to pick from.

2018 Holiday #7

6x4” original watercolor.  $300

This wreath hangs on the wall at the entrance to the

Lititz Spring Park.  I did take artistic license and moved

the wreath so it hung over the  “Lititz “ otherwise it would not

fit in my small format painting.  

This is a  “must have” if you love Lititz!

Last painting for this week.  Next post will be on Monday.

2018 Holiday #6

SOLD
4x6” Original Watercolor
$145 (unframed) to the first person to email
If not sold by 12/14 at 7pm the price goes to $275

Same wonderful downtown Lititz building as yesterday’s
painting.

I am busy shipping print orders so if you have something
in mind for a gift or a gift to you order soon!
Everything is on my website or you can give me a call
or you may visit the studio.

2018 Holiday #5

SOLD!
4x6”  Original Watercolor
$145 (unframed) Available to the 1st person to email.
If unsold by 12/13 at 7pm, the price goes to $275

Downtown Lititz...
Do you recognize the building?

My patient is doing better.  Actually allowing visitors which is a
huge improvement.  I got her a puzzle to keep her occupied.
Although I’m not sure how an oxy challenged brain and a 1000
piece puzzle are going to do... I’m imagining her jamming the pieces
to make them fit!

2018 Holiday #4

SOLD!
4x6” Original Watercolor
$135 (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 12/12 at 7pm, the price goes to $250

I saw this at Millbach Homestead in Newmanstown, PA.
Antiques with some greens.  The red in the crazy quilt
balances the color.   You can easily keep this painting out
all year, it only has a hint of Holiday.

Update on Linda...
This surgery was a lot harder than the other knee.  Her
pain level and swelling is hard to get under control.
She is at one week post op, slowly getting better.
I’m painting slowly between my caretaking.

2018 Holiday #3

SOLD!
6"x 4" original watercolor
$135. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 12/1 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

Just a nice window with greens and nice shadows.

Busy day, Linda is trying to squeeze in lots of things
before surgery.  So a bit of Christmas shopping, groceries,
and some errands.  Tonight we take the studio helpers and
grandpa to American Music Theater for the Christmas Show.
Tomorrow morning she wants to check out primitives at
Millbach Homestead.  Saturday we are looking at a light
for the almost finished guest bedroom.  I am not sure what
else is on the list.   Oh... last weekend we saw "Green Book"
and I highly recommend it.  Great movie.  

2018 Holiday #2

SOLD!
4"x 6" original watercolor
$135. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 11/30 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

This is from a photo that a client sent me to use.  Great
stone and old wood, the perfect frame for the wreath.

Give me a call if you want to do some Holiday shopping
at the studio this weekend.  We are trying to stay close to
home.  The studio will be closed Tuesday 12/4 through
Friday 12/7.

2018 Holiday #1

SOLD!
4"x 6" original watercolor
$135. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 11/29 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

Working on my ho ho ho...  playing Christmas music.
Went with a simple wreath to get back into the holiday
groove.

We usually go out looking for Holiday scenes and there
is simply no time.
I can't promise how many there will be this year...

Special Monday Deal...

SOLD!
This painting is the last older Holiday painting I have left. I think Linda had it in her collection for a while and just put it back out for sale!  It is framed in a black frame at $250.


Take your time to really look at this painting, it is not as it appears at first glance.  There are lots of interesting angles.  The greens are not hung on the window but on an entrance. There is a door on the left inside the first room.   Entering under the greens you have the window, and maybe a painting on the left and wood trim on the right.  Yes, the greens are off center...

I just finished a fantastic commissioned painting which I cannot show you until after Christmas.  I was working round the clock for a week and needed to get it finished before Linda has her knee surgery and I am being a caregiver extraordinaire!  My plan is to TRY to get some Holiday paintings done but I am not sure that will happen this year.

Studio Open this Weekend!

A huge thank you to all my clients that came to Open House and helped make it so successful.  There are still some wonderful original watercolors for you to choose from and we restocked all the prints so you are bound to find something special to fall in love with!
We are open this weekend.
Friday 11/23 from 10am to 5pm
Saturday 11/24 from 10am to 5pm
at 4 North Spruce Street   Lititz, PA
free!

Here is my fabulous pig... framed 24x18


All paintings can be found on my website.
We are now shipping orders so place your order today!  If you want to visit the studio either email or call 717-627-3383 to set up a time.

Only 3 days till Open House!

To Linda's frustration, we loose Tuesday as a "getting ready" day because she is scheduled for her pre-op appointment in Philadelphia.  Pretty much shoots the whole day.  However the girls are diligently working.

Open House Update:
Still framing!  The last supply order comes Tuesday.  Cleaning starts Tuesday.  I fuss about this every year but it falls on deaf ears... why do we have to clean everything??  I mean top to bottom cleaning.  Who is looking up that high??  But I did my part and  I cleaned the studio lights, yes, I wiped the bulbs for a brighter light!    The porch is totally set up and paintings hung.  All the older originals are on the porch.  Linda did a Costco run.   All the new originals are now posted to the website, however no sales are allowed until Friday 11/16 at 2pm.  We try to keep it fair to everyone so no early sales.  We will look at  emails and take phone calls at 2pm but at that point its first come first one gets it.

I finished this beauty over the weekend...

And my final painting is this wonderful pig I have been wanting to paint. 

Only 7 Days till Open House!

It is a bit busy here at the Smith compound.  Linda is trying to get her garden cut down for winter after not being allowed to be in the garden all year.  I think she may be overdoing it.  She is also working on applying for her health insurance through the Marketplace and I am hearing strong language coming from her office.  Our show schedule and applications  for next year is laying on piles and several show apps are already due.  She had over 200 change of addresses to enter into the computer and October needs to be balanced to the penny.  And add to that, her Open House duties and a constantly ringing phone and lots of emails.  I am not poking the tired bear!!

Meanwhile I am still painting.  I have to finish everything up by Sunday night.  I have the last show of the season this weekend.
Artisan Fair
Held at Olympic Hall at Spooky Nook Sports Complex
2913 Spooky Nook Rd, Lancaster, PA
Sat. 10am-5pm and Sun. 10am-4pm
$5. admission  I think you can print this card to get $1 off


Open House Update:
Frames and supplies are still arriving.  Matts are still being cut.  I cut two cases of glass yesterday.  I have the cover put up around the side porch.  The porch has been scrubbed and a rug down.  Panels go up on Friday.  Furniture moved and the panels and lights are up in the living room.  Paintings laid out where they may go, subject to Linda rearranging them several times.  The start of grocery shopping for your hors d'oeuvres and a stop at the State Store for wine is checked off the list.  Yes, if you know Linda there is a list... a LONG list!  In fact everyone here gets a list!!  Only 7 days till Open House.

More paintings for your wish list.  Both are 14 x 18" and both are from Ireland although they look like they could be from anywhere.  None of the new originals may be sold until 2pm on Friday 11/16.  If you cannot attend but want one you may send an email or call promptly at 2pm when the show opens.  No holds!  Any prints may be ordered and shipped anytime!

Two more paintings...

Two more fabulous paintings... not available until Open House!
If you did not get an invitation you can click here.

17x21"

14x18"

Monday...

I am focused on painting.  Here are two more Ireland landscapes.
Both 14x18

Open House Update...

 I am spending the next 4 days working on my larger paintings for Open House. I have several started but not finished.  I have these ready and you can put them on your wish list but no sales till 2pm on Friday of Open House. I need titles and they are not priced.  For the best selection of original paintings, come on Friday!                      

  14x18 

                        21x17

Save the date...
Andy Smiths 35th Annual Open House
Friday, November 16 from 2 to 10
Saturday, November 17 from 10-10
Sunday, November 18 from noon to 5
Held at 4 North Spruce Street Lititz, PA

Lots of framing is being done and supplies are rolling in weekly.  Invitations are designed, printed and at the mailing house.  You should have it in your mail box any day. My website was updated with an invite you can click on in the top right of the home page.   I think the menu is finished although I think Linda will be cooking a bit less this year so she does not get too tired with surgery scheduled.  I am concentrating on painting... more to come.

2018 Ireland #12

5"x 5" original watercolor   $225.

A view while driving through the Wicklow Mountains.
Fantastic landscapes every where you look!


Day 11
Our last day in Ireland. We are not ready for it to be over.
Kilkenny Castle is first up.  Our favorite impressive room was the Picture Gallery.  Now this is a castle!

A drive through the Wicklow Mountains with beautiful landscapes and we stop at Avoca Village.  This is a working woolen mill and we had a nice tour and again... time to shop.  Here is the final photo of our group.

The girls are already talking about a 2020 trip!

2018 Ireland #11

SOLD!
4"x6" original watercolor
$135. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 10/25 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

A view from Old Midleton Distillery, home of Jameson whisky.


Day 10
Excellent is my word for today!  We started with a walking tour of Kinsale with an excellent guide Barry.  The girls had a little shopping time here before heading off to Cobh.  Cobh has a large seaport with lots of cruise ships coming in.  It is also the port where the last 123 passengers boarded the Titanic.  Our main focus was climbing a huge hill; I have no idea why we did not get into a cab and save Linda's knees... but we wanted to see the St. Colmans Cathedral.  An excellent Cathedral in European style.  Worth the hike and excellent views from the top.  

Next highlight for the day is a stop at Old Midleton Distillery.
We had an excellent tour and capped it off with a tasting.

We both decided we rather liked Jameson!  Home base tonight is in Kilkenny and we are staying at Kilkenny Rivercourt.   Only one more day on our excellent Ireland tour.

2018 Ireland #10

SOLD!
4"x6" original watercolor
$125. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 10/24 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

I was asked where are the sheep...  So here is a landscape from between Kenmare and Kinsale with two grazing sheep.  I left off the pink owners mark that was on them!


Day 9
My word for the day is outstanding!
It is raining today, we have been very lucky with the weather.  Our first stop is an outstanding Stone Circle near Kenmare.  15 impressive stones in a circle.  Also a hawthorn tree where people, including all of us, hung a wish.

The town of Kenmare is our shopping and coffee stop.  Then off to  Molly Gallivan's Cottage.  An outstanding look into Irish history and a working farm with  owner/guide Stephan who is passionate about his farm.

Our tour guide had a surprise stop at Kinsale Garden of Remembrance.  A garden dedicated to the fireman who died in NYC during 911. There is a tree for each fallen firefighter.  Extremely moving and unexpected and yes, outstanding.   Worth the time to read the link.

We are now in the seaport of Kinsale and our home for tonight is the Actons Hotel.

Cable TV interview...

I spent the day setting up for our show in Mohnton, PA  This is an excellent small show I think is worth your time.  I will be demonstrating a painting with pewter.

PA Traditional Crafts & Folk Art
Saturday, October 20  from 10 to 3
held at the Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church
1327 Alleghenyville Rd  Mohnton, PA
FREE Admission!!
Great interview featuring craftsman and myself for this Saturday’s show in Mohnton, Pa
The interview starts 1:36 minutes in... click here and give it a few moments to load.

2018 Ireland #9

4"x6" original watercolor
 $275.

I went with a still life from Kerry Bog Village.  


Day 8
I am going with dazzling today... 
Started our day with a tour of Kerry Bog Village   which shows life in the 19th century.  And we finished this tour with a little Irish coffee!  Evidently it is never too early for Irish coffee!

The Ring of Kerry is next.  Because of high winds the large tour busses were not able to be on the road, our bus is smaller so off we went and had very little traffic.  The dazzling views change often.  From seascapes to landscapes, views of the ocean, Skellig, rock walls, ruins, sheep.
Up and down mountains, one lane roads!  Dazzling!   We capped off our day with an unplanned night of dazzling Irish dancing and music.  The group included several retired Riverdance dancers.  

2018 Ireland #8

6"x4" original watercolor  $250.

Working on my Irish greens and stone walls. 
A view from Kilmacduagh Abbey

Day 7
My word for today is phenomenal!
We started our morning with a walking tour of Ennis.  All the ladies wanted shopping time in this town, including Linda who is not a big shopper but there was no time, the bus was leaving.  Off to Kilmacduagh Abbey.  

This may have been a top 10 for us.  Basically a phenomenal cemetery and Abbey ruins with phenomenal views.  Now a drive through the Burren;  means rocky place!  More phenomenal views.

Off to another highlight... the really phenomenal Cliffs of Moher

Here is Carl, Joan, Linda, Beth and me with the cliffs behind us.  I cannot believe Linda made it up to the top from the parking lot but she was determined.  The rest of our group was out hiking.  Home tonight was Killarney Royal in Killarney.  Our favorite hotel on the tour.

Larger painting competed

I spent a very cold weekend in Bedford, PA.  Last week we were in 90+ on Sunday and this week it was 45.  And to top it off we were camping!  With frozen fingers I managed to finish this masterpiece.  It is from Monasterboice, County Louth in Ireland.  14x18 and will be available at Open House!  Put it on your wish list!

This Saturday, October 20 I am exhibiting with a fantastic group of artisians
PA Traditional Crafts and Folk Art
FREE!!  from 10 to 3
Held at:
Allegheny Evangelical Lutheran Church
1327 Alleghenyville Rd
Mohnton, PA
It's free and worth the trip...

Thursday check in

No painting today! 
I have 4 cases of glass to cut and a van to pack.
Plus a few things on Linda's list to catch up on.


You can find me:
Fall Foliage FestivalOctober 13-14
held in downtown Bedford, PA
9 to 5   ~  rain or shine
My booth is #177 on Juliana St
near the corner of Juliana and Penn St

It is to be chilly this weekend so I will be sporting one of my new Irish hats...  maybe my sheep hat...

2018 Ireland #7

5"x5" original watercolor   $225.

My first day of really seeing the green!  Warm yellow undertones with emerald. This is my first lrish landscape.  Overcast skies.  Somewhere between Dublin and Ennis.


Day 6
Linda and Kathy, our trip planners decided we would try a small group bus tour for the second half of the trip. To give the girls a break from planning and making decisions. We have never been on a bus tour.  There was 18 people and we had an awesome guide and bus driver.  Awesome is my word for today!  We went with Back-Roads Touring UK.  We were picked up in Dublin and began the tour with a stop at the Irish National Stud Farm.  Awesome guide and awesome grounds with gardens.  Next up is Portumna Castle.  Awesome grounds, and an awesome entrance and front of the castle.  The castle has only one floor conserved, and they are working on the rest.  I am currently working on a larger painting, an awesome window from here which I will show you later.  We spent the night in Ennis at the Old Ground Hotel.  

Here is Linda coming out of one of the little out buildings in the gardens of the Stud Farm.

2018 Ireland #6

SOLD!
4"x6" original watercolor
$125. (unframed)  Available to the 1st person to email
If unsold by 10/11 at 7pm, price goes to $250.

A statue from Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.


Day 5
We did a before the lines tour of the Book of Kells and Dublin Castle.  It is impossible to wrap your mind around a book from 384AD... and a Castle originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings.  But a favorite of ours is the Long Room in the Old Library at Trinity College.  It is filled with 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books and is one of the most impressive libraries in the world.  Built between 1712 and 1732.  Impressive!  Now off to a cemetery.   Besides churches Linda has a thing for cemeteries.  We never miss one with good statuary.  Glasnevin Cemetery is next and we are scheduled for a  "Dead Interesting" tour.  Fun young guide with cute interesting stories about some of the buried.  We  finish our day with an evening of food, Folklore and Fairies!  A surprisingly good Irish meal and entertainment for our last night in Dublin.