George Sotter, photo taken by Peter A . Juley and Son, courtesy of Carol Kinnier, James A. Michener Art Museum archives

Recent announcement of the results of the favorite-painting ballot at the Fall Show at Phillips Mill, brings a quick memory of George Sotter's embarrassment when, year after year, he kept winning this prize at the Mill Show. His fellow artists simply chuckled in deep personal affection for George and admiration of his magic, especially in his skies, the light shining through the skies in all of his landscapes --especially the light through starry night skies, falling on snow. - Constance Allen Ward

George W. Sotter was a well known landscape painter and designer of stained-glass windows. He was especially regarded for his winter scenes in moonlight and his landscapes with cloud-filled skies. While studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Sotter discovered Bucks County in 1902. That summer he studied with Edward Redfield, where he was the only male student. The two artists became life-long friends. Sotter returned to Pittsburgh to work as a partner in the stained glass studio of Horace Rudy. He also taught for nine years as assistant professor of painting and design at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Sotter moved to Bucks County permanently in 1919, and brought his reputation as an expert in stained glass with him. He accepted commissions for stained glass windows from churches and monasteries all around the country, and developed a staffed operation that fabricated his famous designs. His award-winning paintings hang in many private and public collections. Sotter consistently won the favorite-painting ballot cast by attendees of the Phillip Mill Art Exhibition.