Reading Jazz Singer

The city of Reading, Pennsylvania, where I call home, hosts an annual Jazz festival called the Berks Jazz Fest.  In conjunction with the musical portion of this the Berks Arts Council hosts an art competition/exhibition entitled the Art of Jazz.  I entered a different painting this year (click here to read about it and see it!)  and got into the show. I wanted to enter this painting, however, I didn't finish in time due to the dreaded flu season which hit our family hard.  I finally got it finished and it will be hanging in Art Plus Gallery soon!  It is framed and ready for hanging.

Reading Jazz Singer, 18" x 24", oil on panel, framed
$375

Day 21 - Commemorative painting for the Riverfront Credit Union

Last night I presented a commission that was several months in the making.  The Riverfront Credit Union headquartered in Reading, PA was holding their 800th board meeting and several of the members/board members hired me to create a painting to commemorate this event.  The painting shows the credit union's history as it was originally founded by the members of the Reading Railroad.  After time, other organizations were acquired, starting with Conrail, then Amtrak.  There were many other acquisitions after that, too numerous to list, but the credit union finally settled on the Riverfront as their name.
The painting has many references to the credit union's history, including these names put on the engine and rail cars.  The caboose's number indicates the date of the meeting (1-20-15).  The city in the background is the town of Reading, PA as it is today.  I must say, this was one of the more challenging parts of the painting as I had to cobble together many different photo references from the web to create this panorama.  The view of Reading is looking West from atop Neversink Mountain roughly at a location known as the Witch's Hat.  The Pagoda, an historic landmark of Reading can be seen atop Mt. Penn on the right side of the painting.  The people who commissioned me also wanted to include Berks  County's rich farming history, hence the rolling hills and farm land receding into the background.  Finally, the sun is rising on the horizon, to symbolize Riverfront's new beginnings in the 21st century.
The frame was also made by myself and my husband and I am quite happy with how it compliments the painting.  Under the painting is a plaque that lists the current board and upper management.  This was a long time in the making, but I have to say that I love creating historical paintings such as this. Through researching the history of the credit union I learned so much about the Reading Railroad, which was huge in it's time as well as the history of Reading itself!

Commemorative Painting for the Riverfront Credit Union, oil on canvas, 18" x 36"
Sold

Commemorative Painting for the Riverfront Credit Union, Unframed

Reiffton Fire House and Social Quarters Commission

Well, last night was the 'unveiling' of the painting I did for the Reiffton Fire House...  It was so much fun and a huge success!  I thank everyone for their kind comments and am so happy that everyone is pleased with the results!  I enjoyed working on this commission as it used so many of my skills (not just painting).  I feel like a true painting historian!  I put my photoshop skills to use, photography, and of course painting.  Am excited to say that I got another commission to paint a historical house that has been in the Daniel Boone family!  This one will be similar in that I will have to do the same kinds of things I needed to do to complete the Reiffton painting.
 Without further ado, here it is.  Enjoy, and as always, thank you for looking!  Also, if you are in the mood for reading some more, look further below to read in detail about the painting and trucks in it... :)

Reiffton Fire House and Social Quarters 100th Anniversary Commemorative Painting,
Oil on Canvas, 18"x24", 2013

100^th Anniversary Commemorative Painting

The management and board of trustees of the Reiffton Social Quarters hired local artist Karen Weber to create a painting to help commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Reiffton Fire Company and social quarters.  The artist conceptualized the painting as a blend of old and new as it includes fire trucks that the company has owned and operated throughout the 100 years it has been in operation.  The image portrayed in the painting includes two antique fire trucks from the early 1900’s and 1951 and one contemporary fire truck which is still in operation as of 2013. 

The Reiffton Fire Company and social quarters building is also an integral part of the painting as the architecture is unique to the station.  While the building has expanded through the years to house more fire trucks and include the social quarters, the integrity of the architectural style has been maintained and its beauty has been preserved.

Prints of this painting are available through the artist.  You can contact her at www.karenweberfineart.com

This photograph is the property of a private collector and can be found by clicking here 

In 1930 a firemen's convention was held in Reading. Earl R. Anderson, a local publisher and member of the convention steering committee, photographed  many of the fire companies in Berks County. This is a picture of the Reiffton Fire Company with a pumper truck owned by the company.  The truck is circa early 1900’s.

(The picture above is from the Berks County Historical website.)

1951 Mack Pumper truck owned by the Reiffton Fire Company

In 1951, the Reiffton Fire Company purchased a new Mack Engine.  This engine served Exeter Twp. and St. Lawrence Borough for many years. The engine was sold to a collector and was returned in 2010 via flatbed truck from Texas.  The company started to refurbish the engine starting on the mechanical items. The engine went through several stages of upgrades. As of 2012, the pump maintenance was completed, pump flushed and pumped for the first time in over 20 years.  ETFD is one of the few departments able to save its history with a historical engine. 

The truck will be used in parades and other local events.  (Information gathered from /www.exetertwpfire25.com/news/archive)

Would you like to go for a row?

This is a new painting that is in Art Plus Gallery's upcoming July/August show entitled "Seaside Treasures"  I have never painted boats before, but so many artists do and boats tend to be beautiful, so I gave it a shot.  I will be painting more boats!  Want to go down to my Dad's marina and get some pics of the boats around there!  Anyway....If you live in the Reading, PA area and want to come out for a nice night out, the opening is on July 11th at 604 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA.  Hope to see you there!

Would you like to go for a Row?, 11"x14", oil on canvas

Busy being a Mom

So, with the last few weeks of school gone and the first week of summer vacation over and done with.... I maybe am beginning to establish some kind of routine.  Maybe.  I never say anything is definite because with kids, you just don't know,  but I am trying hard to get up in my studio on a regular basis.  I DID finish a (beautiful) painting today, but didn't photograph it yet because the light was sucky with rain and clouds and whatnot.  But I will post it tomorrow.  In the meantime, I really have been doing art related things!  Just not a whole lot of painting.  I participated in a street festival this past weekend called Art on the Avenue in West Reading.  Below are some pics I took of the event.  It was loads of fun and I displayed 3 paintings.  Unfortunately none sold but all is o.k.  I displayed with Art Plus gallery so I didn't have to rent a spot... But I got lots of ideas and maybe next year...

Kevin and Rowan

Meilea in her heels

Setting up the tents outside of Art Plus

Harry and JD

Little girl doing silk painting

Marilyn

Somethings wrong with this nose...

Three Paintings I displayed at the show

Arts on the avenue

Every summer, West Reading closes Penn avenue to cars and such traffic and opens it up to local artisans who showcase and sell their wares.  When I went last year, I was interested in the people who showed up.  This lady was there with her little dog and they made such a great picture.  I snapped a few photos and painted this as an homage to her unique character.

Lady and dog on the Avenue, acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24", 2012