Dedicated to the memory of my Beloved Mary

Mary Kingston was a third-grade student when, after winning a poster contest, she discovered her love of art. “That’s when I knew I liked art work and I have pursued it ever since. Mary Kingston,“ she said. She studied art under the famous John Pike at the art colony in Woodstock‚ N.Y. and under Ferdinand Petrie in Rockport, Mass. For many years, Mary Kingston worked as a commercial artist and in the advertising field, but eventually dedicated more time to watercolor. “Watercolor is the most difficult medium to master. When put on paper it has to be right the first time‚“ Kingston said. “Watercolor is a one-shot expression. It took years of perseverance‚ but I feel I have finally captured the splendor of it.“ Mary Kingston: born 1936‚ died 2005

                                      About Barry

Barry Shiff‚ a native of Massachusetts‚ received his art training at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and studied life drawing at the Don La Cedra Copley Society.  Mr. Shiff works primarily in pastels and oils. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Village Ridgewood NJ, Easton Historic Society in Easton‚  Mass. and many private collections in the the  United States and around the world.

Working in a wide range of media‚ he sketches on location or paints in his Fort Lee, N.J. studio. His favorite subjects are sailing ships and railroad trains. His rendering of old railroad depots brings them to life as they were in their by-gone glory days. He achieves incredible historical accuracy of these New York and New Jersey settings by using vintage photos and postcards as reference. He also creates portraits of home exteriors in pen and ink or oil,and watercolor.