This weekend I was able to do two things that I love to do, finish a painting and hike a trail. I was able to finish my latest painting " Pine Trail" early Sunday morning but do to the rainy weather here in Pittsburgh the last couple of days, I haven't been able to get a photo of it yet. This painting is similar to my "Summer Glory" series but features the pine trees that I see on hikes such as the forest trail in Raccoon State Park.

  Speaking of hiking trails, I got to do one of my favorites at Riverview Park which is one of Pittsburghs best kept secrets. The parks boundaries are in the city itself but it takes just three minutes after parking your car to be right in the middle of the woods. The nice thing about the trails in this park is that you can break up the "loops" to do either a nice small walk or a nice long hike if you choose.. I have a good bit of reference photos from this park and by the end of the year will probably have more. I've often thought of doing a series of paintings based off of them and might start doing just that this fall depending on whatever artwork I'm doing at the time.

  Getting back to the paintings, I still have to finish "Rachael Carson Footbridge" and one more "Summer Glory" painting for my show in July which will give me a total of twenty paintings to have on display. I'm looking forward to taking some days off from my day job to frame some of these works and do some promoting as well.

  That being said, that is all I have for today so as I wait for the rain to stop, stay dry, take care, and have a great day!