Congressman Joe Pitts' Art
You can read more about Joe on the "Information" page of this website.
Symbol of Freedom
'SYMBOL OF FREEDOM' is an oil painting that Joe had almost completed on September 11, 2001 when the terrorist attacks occurred. He was in Washington, D.C. during session week and driving by the Pentagon when the plane crashed into that building. He saw them put the flag at half-mast that day over the Capitol and when he returned to his home in Pennsylvania that weekend, he painted the flag at half-mast in the painting and called the painting "Symbol of Freedom". The Capitol building was the target of Flight 93, the plane that was flown into the ground in Pennsylvania by the terrorists. The following week he painted the face of Lincoln at Lincoln's Memorial, showing his somber face, reflecting the mood of the nation at the time. The following month he painted a picture of Winston Churchill entitled "One Man Against Tyrants", again symbolizing our national mood.
"Symbol of Freedom" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
"Symbol of Freedom" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
Lincoln's Memorial
This is the second of three oil paintings Joe did around the 9/11 tragedy. The first was the one above titled "Symbol of Freedom", then after 9/11 he painted this close up of Lincoln's somber looking face from the sculpture at Lincoln's Memorial.
Joe thought that it captured the feeling of our nation after such a great tragedy that took so many innocent lives. "There was a very somber feeling in our nation as we contemplated this unprovoked surprise attack which amounted to an act of war," states Joe. "I'll never forget driving home from Washington that week, after having experienced the attack on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the struggle and crashing of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania as it was headed towards our nations capital, how the drivers on Route 95 were more courteous, the man standing on an overpass waving an American Flag back and forth on a pole, it was as if we were all in this together...it had been an attack on the family of mankind and we all needed to pull together. This was an attack on all of us, just because we were Americans. It was a somber feeling."
"Lincoln's Memorial" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
Joe thought that it captured the feeling of our nation after such a great tragedy that took so many innocent lives. "There was a very somber feeling in our nation as we contemplated this unprovoked surprise attack which amounted to an act of war," states Joe. "I'll never forget driving home from Washington that week, after having experienced the attack on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the struggle and crashing of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania as it was headed towards our nations capital, how the drivers on Route 95 were more courteous, the man standing on an overpass waving an American Flag back and forth on a pole, it was as if we were all in this together...it had been an attack on the family of mankind and we all needed to pull together. This was an attack on all of us, just because we were Americans. It was a somber feeling."
"Lincoln's Memorial" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
One Man Against Tyrants
This is the third of three oil paintings Joe did after the 9/11 tragedy. He painted this the next month from a magazine cover of U.S. News and World Report that he had saved for its' picture of Winston Churchill. He is another of Joe's heroes who was larger than life to him as Joe grew up after WWII and witnessed Churchill's leadership. Joe was actually able to see Churchill in England one time when he was 12 years old, standing on a balcony with his big cigar, watching the Trooping of the Colors on the Queen's birthday. "It was a grand parade," states Joe, "and I was always inspired by his speeches and his ability to articulate in such profound ways the need to stand against tyranny. He sometimes was alone in his leadership views, but he always had a strong resolve and provided leadership needed not only in his country, but by the rest of the world. So recalling his strength of character and his resolute leadership, I entitled this painting "One Man Against Tyrants," illustrating the resolve we needed in our war against terror and the attack that sought to enfeeble us."
"One Man Against Tyrants" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
"One Man Against Tyrants" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
Mr. Lincoln Looks Down
On the weekend before the first time Joe was inaugurated into Congress, he had his whole family in town and they visited the Memorials in Washington at night. They are lit up with spotlights and are so inspirational to visit and stand before and to read the inscriptions. Standing inside the Lincoln Memorial, looking up at Mr. Lincoln, this is what Joe sees.
"Mr. Lincoln Looks Down" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
"Mr. Lincoln Looks Down" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
Ol Abe Ages
This series of pencil sketches of Abraham Lincoln from 1860, when he was a candidate for President, without whiskers, to 1865 when he was assassinated, show the effect of the strains of office and of the war years on Mr. Lincoln's visage. Joe first sketched one for each year, but that made the picture too long, so he selected four and placed them side by side. From novice candidate, to war President, to visionary leader, to fatigued statesman, Abraham Lincoln shows the stress of age and public service during the turbulent years of the Civil War. Joe placed a humorous statement of Lincoln's below the panel. When accused by Senator Stephen Douglas of being two-faced during the Lincoln-Douglas series of debates, Mr. Lincoln responded, "I leave it to my audience to decide, if I had another face to wear, do you think I'd wear this one?" He used humor effectively to disarm his foes.
"Ol Abe Ages" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
"Ol Abe Ages" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
Ronald Reagan - A True Western Patriot
This oil painting was completed by Joe in 2010 after one of his political friends from Lancaster County requested he paint Ronald Reagan.
From his "Rendezvous with Destiny" speech for Barry Goldwater, to his "Mr. Gorbachev Tear Down This Wall" speech in Berlin, to his "Evil Empire" speech, and Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), Ronald Reagan, though considered a "cowboy" by his Soviet detractors, was a True Western Patriot. A modern day hero to many for his vision, his conviction, and his steadfastness, as well as, his ability to articulate this to the general public, Ronald Reagan will go down as one of our country's great presidents.
"Ronald Reagan - A True Western Patriot" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
From his "Rendezvous with Destiny" speech for Barry Goldwater, to his "Mr. Gorbachev Tear Down This Wall" speech in Berlin, to his "Evil Empire" speech, and Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), Ronald Reagan, though considered a "cowboy" by his Soviet detractors, was a True Western Patriot. A modern day hero to many for his vision, his conviction, and his steadfastness, as well as, his ability to articulate this to the general public, Ronald Reagan will go down as one of our country's great presidents.
"Ronald Reagan - A True Western Patriot" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag, and more, by going here.
Snow on the Capitol Dome
One of the scenes that Joe truly enjoys is the view of the beautiful dome of our United States Capitol building rising over the skyline. As he drives into Washington, D.C. each week for session, down South Capitol Street, it rises directly in front of him. At night it stands out in the darkness as it is lit up by spotlights against the dark sky and you see the birds and bats flitting through the air catching insects attracted to the light. In the wintertime, when heavy snow falls, covering the limbs of the trees and shrubs around the Capitol building, immediately after the snow fall, huge piles of fresh snow pile up around the dome on its base and its ledges before the wind has a chance to blow it off. It is a beautiful scene, so very few people get a chance to see. Thus Joe was inspired to complete this oil painting of this beautiful view of the Capitol.
"Snow on the Capitol Dome" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
"Snow on the Capitol Dome" may be purchased as a print, framed or unframed, on canvas, acrylic or metal, throw pillow, tote bag,
and more, by going here.
Cards
Cards are available by clicking here. They are customizable. The back of each card includes a description of the painting on the front. Watch for many more cards to come.