Highland Park Bridge Archives

Bicycle Art Fundraiser for Pittsburgh’s MS Society 12/7/2018

November 10, 2018

Cycling Across the Allegheny River, Watercolor and Gouache by Carol Skinger to be auctioned this coming Friday Dec. 7, 2018 Art of Cycling, A Benefit for Bike MS at the Wigle Distillery in the Strip District Pittsburgh MS fundraiser between 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Wigle Whiskey Distillery 2401 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222. Proceeds benefit the National MS Society, PA Keystone Chapter & Bike MS. Join us for cycling-themed cocktails, Blue Sparrow Food Truck and an auction of cycling-themed artwork by Pittsburgh artists including two paintings by me. They will be unveiling and auctioning the first-ever Wigle Whiskey cycling jersey, produced locally by Aero Tech Designs. Between now and then my two Art of Cycling paintings are on display with 2 others (one by Baron Batch) at Kindred Cycles, 2515 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

(Here’s my other auction item) 2401 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

Take a closer look at both my paintings now before the auction at Kindred Cycles 2515 Penn Ave, Strip District Pittsburgh

Aspinwall Painting

December 16, 2017

“Aspinwall” original painting by Carol Skinger 24″ x 31″

“Aspinwall” a painting of the rooftops of Aspinwall from Route 28 is original painting by Carol Skinger. It is a watercolor, gouache & ink painting on 400 lb watercolor paper, $500. It was created for my 10 month solo art show (now ended) at Cooper Siegel Community Library in Fox Chapel, PA May 14, 2017- March 15, 2018.

Prints available in two sizes 11″ x 14″ printed on watercolor paper $55. Larger prints suitable for a 16 x 20 frame are $80. To order a print or purchase the original painting contact me

Larger prints than that could be made.

I don’t want to delete the image above, but this post was created before I had a high res scan made of the painting. Therefore the image below is more like the print.

Where Brilliant Railroad Bridge meets Aspinwall is the beautiful new Aspinwall Riverfront Park which recently received some awards. Art critic Mary Thomas reports the awards in Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Architect Eric Fisher won the AIA People’s Choice Award for his design re-purposing the Aspinwall Marina. AIA awarded this project a Certificate of Merit in Historic Preservation.

Details of my painting are seen below.

Detail from my full size painting “Aspinwall”

At left the chateaux style yellow brick building is on Maple Avenue in Aspinwall, PA. It is a former convent of Saint Scholastica Church in Aspinwall built in 1925. The architect of the former convent Edward J. Weber was a native of Cincinnati who studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and traveled throughout Europe. He came to practice in Pittsburgh, where he had a number of Roman Catholic commissions, of which this convent was one. Weber clearly loved the medieval period, even writing in 1927 that this was when, “art was at its best.” In this convent, he seems to have been inspired by the 15th century Château du Moulin in the Loire valley, which clearly was the inspiration for Central Catholic High School in Oakland. Information on the architect thanks to historian Frank Kurtik, Docent at Heinz Memorial Chapel and a former Heinz family archivist. Very near it is Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy (formerly called St. Scholastica School), and Saint Scholastica Church.

Detail from my full size painting “Aspinwall”

The red brick church sitting more or less in the center of the painting is the Aspinwall Presbyterian Church. Everything but the church’s tower burned down in 1999 and was rebuilt immediately. The sanctuary a KSBA Architects design has a wood-beamed ceiling and interior cross plan with a wide center aisle and holds a 40 pipe Luley type organ. Four large Hunt Studio designed stained glass circular windows illuminate the sanctuary.

Brilliant Railroad Bridge a truss bridge spanning the Allegheny River beyond, was built in 1904 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of a bypass of the narrow tracks around downtown Pittsburgh. The rail line has been out of use since the Azcon Metals scrapyard on the outskirts of Aspinwall ceased functions around 2010. It connects Aspinwall with Highland Park. On the Aspinwall side it lands at the Aspinwall Riverfront Park and at the other end is very near Choderwood, a house was built by the Corps of Engineers in 1905. The property is a unique private residence that sits on the Allegheny River at the Highland Park Dam. Choderwood is an “ideal space for individuals planning smaller scale events and gatherings. Perfect for intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, family reunions, special events, birthday parties, corporate retreats, or relaxation.”

D.J. Bryant, a designer at AE7 Planners and Architects, proposed a bike and pedestrian use for the Brilliant Railroad Bridge an ambitious new idea—the Brilliant Branch Rail-to-Trail—in a July 2017 Next Pittsburgh article. It would increase connectivity and access to safe, affordable transportation options for several communities in the city. I hope this becomes a reality. Open link for exciting renderings.

An ongoing discussion of road access to a future Riverfront 47 development has activated public involvement and interest and is under discussion. To clarify things the folks at Aspinwall Riverfront Park created this statement.

Hydroelectric power could be fueling the homes and businesses being developed in the Riverfront 47 project along the Allegheny River in Aspinwall and Sharpsburg by 2020.

The current issues in December 2017 are a new PennDot proposal and gathering public input around entrance and exit isPennDot prosues between Highland Park Bridge and Route 28.

At far right in the painting is Highland Park Bridge. Approximately 57,000 vehicles use Route 28 in the area of the bridge every day. There are discussions about an improvement to access to the bridge from Route 28.

Painting of Aspinwall

May 19, 2017

“Aspinwall” a 24″ x 31″ painting of the rooftops of Aspinwall from Route 28 is original painting by Carol Skinger.

It is available for purchase $500. It is a watercolor, gouache & ink painting on 400 lb watercolor paper.

Prints available 11″ x 14″ printed on watercolor paper $55. Larger prints suitable for a 16 x 20 are $80. A high resolution scan has been made for future reproduction uses which can be generated (larger prints and other uses).

To learn more about buildings in the painting, see details within the painting and find additional information look here.

Progress images of this painting:

sketch of Aspinwall, PA by Carol Skinger

progress on Aspinwall, PA painting by Carol Skinger

Sketch on site, paint in the studio

October 14, 2015

“Downriver view from Highland Park Bridge” SOLD Watercolor ad Gouache

I like the idea of plein air painting, I really do but I don’t like doing it, at least it seems that way. Where would I go to the bathroom if I stood out on the bridge to paint this? Would I dump a few gallons of water from cleaning my brushes over the side? Even if that was OK and its not, there is a chain link fence. The amount of stuff I would schlep is not appealing but it happens sometimes and I have been known to say I like plein air painting, and in truth there ARE moments when I like it, but mostly I like the idea of it. Though working on site is good for sketching I rarely take a painting all the way through at the site.

People ask if I use photos when I create a painting. I very often do. Here are a few I took to visualize a composition for this painting. I see this view so often when driving over the bridge I wanted to paint it. There is a sidewalk on the bridge and I recommend walking it to slow down the view you see when driving.

A list of things seen in my painting is at the bottom of this post.

Some of the many pictures I took to help visualize this scene:

I walk out on the bridge and do a quick sketch and take a bunch of pictures. Then I put together my ideas indoors, where there is a sink, a bathroom, heat and air conditioning. Oh and a computer where I look at my photographs. So no. I am not much of a plein air painter. Not often anyway. I even take pictures of my painting while I am painting it and seeing them on a big screen helps me know what to do next. Pathetic words for a real plein air painter!

What you can see in this painting looking downriver from Highland Park Bridge:

Lock No. 2 on left at foot of Morningside . The bridge you see is the 62nd Street Bridge. The first neighborhood on the right is Sharpsburg and the docks and island nearest you are where, in 2015 you can rent a pontoon boat at Sharpsburg Islands Marina. The water tower is in Sharpsburg. A new plan is underway to develop a wonderful waterfront park. It is the vision of Susan and Currie Crookston. The Crookstons generated community support from the three municipalities the property runs through, Sharpsburg, O’hara and Aspinwall. The new Aspinwall Riverfront Park which you cannot see in this view. It is on the right and it is just on the upriver side of Highland Park Bridge.