Creating the America250PA Liberty Bell for Greene County

In August, I got some news I absolutely wasn’t expecting. The selection committee chose me to create Greene County’s Liberty Bell for the America250PA Bells Across PA project. I had submitted the design way back in 2022 and, honestly, by August 2025 I had assumed the project had gone to someone else. So, when America250PA emailed me out of the blue saying they had chosen my design, found a sponsor, and would deliver the bell soon, I just sat there staring at my inbox in total shock.

The entire process actually started in July 2022 when I first developed the design. I pulled together the landscapes, history, and wildlife that make Greene County feel like home. I submitted it, made one small tweak they asked for in 2024, and sent it back in again. Then everything went quiet for a long time.

The bell arrived the first week of September and seeing it in person was a whole different experience. Photos do not prepare you for standing in front of a blank three-dimensional canvas that size. It was exciting and a little intimidating in the best way.

Before any paint could go on, I sanded the entire bell. Then I primed it, gave it another sanding, and got the surface as smooth as possible. After the primer cured, I washed off all the sanding dust and started transferring the design section by section. This part felt like laying out a giant puzzle. And it definitely got tricky. The original design was drawn flat, but the bell curves in multiple directions and the top flares out into the lower section. Adjusting for perspective and making sure every detail still looked good on a rounded surface took some time and patience. Most of this work took place during September, under a small canopy to keep the bell safe from the weather.

To keep the bell safe and out of the elements we moved it to our covered porch. (Because it was too big to even fit through our doorway to get it into my studio!) Once the lines were in place, I started blocking in the base coats using outdoor acrylics. The first layers always look rough but are important for setting everything up for the stronger colors and details.

After the base coats dried, I worked my way around the bell, adding more layers, more depth, and more color. During this time, the bell moved to my in-laws' garage, as the weather was making painting outside impossible! Each pass brought the fields, mountains, and sky to life. When the whole design was established, I went back in for the best part, the details. Tiny highlights, texture, shadows, all the little touches that make a piece feel finished.

The last detail I added ended up being my favorite. A turkey vulture gliding across the top of the bell in the sky. It felt like the perfect nod to the wildlife I love and a reminder of how much the natural world is tied to our history here. Once the last brushstroke dried, the bell was officially ready to go out into the world as part of this statewide celebration.

The bell was picked up by Matt Cumberledge, GCHS executive director, and his friend Ben, and taken to the Greene County Career & Technical Center for an automotive clear coat that will keep the paint looking vibrant during its time outside. From there, it went to its final home at the museum.

The Greene County Historical Society hosted the unveiling on November 1 and the bell will be on display there for the next year. Local and state representatives came, along with America250PA staff, and even local and Pittsburgh news showed up. It was a wild, exciting day. Here’s a bit from my speech at the unveiling:

“As an artist from this area, being able to paint our county’s Liberty Bell feels incredibly special. It’s a chance to celebrate both our history and the creativity that continues to thrive here. I wanted my design to reflect Greene County’s spirit, our deep roots, our hardworking communities, and the beauty of the landscape that connects us all.

This project reminds us that art doesn’t just belong in studios or galleries. It’s part of how we tell our story as a community and as a nation. I’m so proud to have had a hand in that story. Thank you to America250PA and everyone who made this opportunity possible. It’s truly been an honor.”

Video from the bell's unveiling on November 1.