Priscilla Popp Paints the Erie Canal

by Wendy Schreiner –

Priscilla Popp of Perry, New York had a very interesting summer 2018. She had a mission in mind. A self-taught artist and a writer, she was going to combine these two. Weekly, she drove her car and small camper carrying her three-wheeled bicycle to towns from Lockport to Newark along the Erie Canal. When she arrived, she biked a few miles west and a few miles east to find her perfect destination. The bike basket held her easel, paintbrushes and paints. At the completion of this summer fun childlike adventure, she had brushed nineteen oil landscapes (16”x20”) in all and has written about them too. For the month of January they were on display in the front window of the Hearing Center on Main Street in Hornell, New York.

Upon the completion of this grand undertaking Priscilla says, “God had given me health and resources to have this fun and challenging adventure. Many of my peers are already battling the confining effects of aging. I recognize my abilities to do this was a gift.”

Some of the challenges Priscilla found along the way were the hot summer heat and battling the strong winds on a few of her painting days. She had to watch the weather each week to determine the best day to paint plein air on location. Popp said, “the heat was debilitating this summer.” After she went that first day, she realized all the “work” her summer dream would entail and she had to face her fears that she might not be able to accomplish it, but she never gave up! What made Priscilla go back was that, “riding the towpath of the canal had been a long-time dream.” She wanted “to see as much of the scenery along the way as she could and respond artistically to it.”

Priscilla is the author of After The Devastations, The Journey – a Christian allegory written in response to 9/11 (available on Amazon). Popp paints weekly with the Livingston Art Group meeting at the Chip Holt Nature Center in Vitale Park, Lakeville. She participates in the monthly writer’s group, “Warsaw’s Write Connection” that meets the second Tuesday of the month at Warsaw Public Library from September through May.

Priscilla is not interested in selling any paintings, but would be open to offers to display The Erie Canal exhibition for the public’s enjoyment, if any venue opens up like the Hornell Hearing Center display area did.