Latest Print - "Elm Block Station"

"Elm Block Station" is a painting that was was commissioned by my good friend Ken Belovarac in 2008.  Ken requested a painting featuring the last remnant of Pennsylvania Railroad's passenger service to Erie, PA.  The painting depicts PRR Train no. 581 as it approaches Erie passing the concrete block and brick block station at Elm Street.  By the mid-1960's, passenger service into Erie was handled by a single E-8 locomotive and a handful of cars.  Time was running out for the Pennsy's passenger service to Erie, not to mention the PRR itself that would be gone in just a few short years.   Today very little remains of this scene.  A single track remains adjacent to a limited access highway and a shopping mall.   To order prints of this exciting new painting see... Pennsylvania RR Gallery

New Paintings for "Return of the Rails"...  

"Fall Along the Bridgton & Saco River Railroad"

Late last year I created this painting for the founder of a non-profit organization know as Return of the Rails, located in Bridgton, ME.  The painting depicts Bridgton and Saco River RR No. 7 leading a northbound train along Hancock Pond during the final years of operation.  The organization has reproduced the painting and is selling limited edition prints to raise funds in an effort to bring back rail service and historic 2-ft. gauge rail equipment to Bridgton, ME.  Return of the Rails has sold nearly all of the 50 limited edition prints of this painting.  The organization has commissioned me to produce 3 additional paintings depicting the B&SR in the three remaining season - Winter, Spring and Summer.  To order a poster sized print of this painting contact William Shelley at gottago48@gmail.com

Paper...

I know it's not a very exciting topic, but what it brings to the finished product is very, very important.  I have been struggling for sometime to find the right paper that enables my reproductions to have the true colors contained in my original paintings and at the same time be acid free and have an archival life.  I also wanted the paper to be heavyweight (more like cardstock).  And, on top of everything else, I wanted to keep the cost low in order to make my prints affordable.  I had been using smooth Bristol board (100-lb stock) as a substrate but I wasn't happy with the texture and the colors were not as brilliant as I had hoped for.  I then experimented with heavier watercolor paper and different coated papers until I found a specialty line of papers produced by Epson specifically designed for the ink and printing process that I use in my reproductions.  Well, I couldn't have been more pleased!   This is truly a superior product and has a rated permanence life of 96-years.  To find out more about this product go to www.epson.com and search for Ultra Premium Presentation Paper.  I will now be using the new Epson® paper on all of my reproductions, and though the cost for this new substrate is considerably higher, I will not be increasing my current prices for the time being.  If you would like to see a reduced sample of one of my prints on this new paper stock, just send a stamped self addressed envelope and I'll send you one.  I know that you will be pleased.

A Word about Originals...

Though most of the artwork for sale on this site consists of high-quality prints, mostly all of the original paintings are also for sale unless commissioned by an individual or already sold.  Most of the original paintings are 18" x 12" in size and range in price from $500 upwards to $650 exclusive of S&H costs and framing.  I have not listed prices for originals because all originals are shipped framed and matted and since that involves custom work, I prefer to discuss those details directly with the buyer.  If you are interested in purchasing an original, please send an email or call me direct.  I would be happy to discuss the details with you.  Fine art is truly affordable.