Debbie Feller paints pictures of historic buildings of Jim Thorpe on slate shingles removed from the Central of New Jersey Railroad Station to pass the time while she staffs the Carbon County Parking Lot booth.

It takes Debbie Feller twelve hours to complete a slate painting such as this picture of the Carbon County Courthouse.

Although Debbie Feller may be focused on painting on her slates, her easel shelf overlooks the Carbon County Parking Lot entrance so she can be out to greet visitors even before they stop at the booth.

Debbie Feller donated a painting of the Central of New Jersey Railroad Station in Jim Thorpe to the station where it is now on display. Feller hopes it will be viewed by people for many years.

From the Carbon County Parking Lot booth where she collects parking fees three days a week, Debbie Feller watched last autumn as workmen, as part of the renovation of the former Central of New Jersey Railroad Station in Jim Thorpe, remove slate shingles from the station’s roof.

 Feller, a self-taught artist that studied at the Carbon County Vo-Tech arts program, recognized the local historical significance of the slate shingles and thought they would be perfect surface to paint pictures of local historic buildings upon.

 She was given ten shingles from the renovation. She also received from another friend additional slate shingles that had been removed during the previous restoration. Already, she has turned several of them into objects of art.

 As winter is a slow season for visitors to Jim Thorpe and the Carbon County Parking Lot, Feller may only have twenty cars stop by her booth—especially on a snowy day. With so much time in between entering cars, in order to help pass the time, Feller set up a mini-art studio in her cramped booth.

 In a space no bigger than a closet, Feller uses the space as if it were many times larger. Since she staffs the booth through a normal lunch hour, she can’t go out to eat—nor does the booth have any cooking equipment. No problem! Feller heats her main dish on the radiator and packs her cold items in the snow outside her booth. Last seen, she had  hulupkis warming and garlic bread chilling.

 Feller set aside a shelf where she lays out her slates, paints and sketching materials. The shelf looks out onto the parking entrance so Feller can watch for cars as she paints. When a car approaches, she steps out from the booth to welcome the new arrival to Carbon County and to collect the parking fee. There’s even a “Welcome to Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania Carbon County” sign on the booth that she painted.

 Feller completed paintings of the Railroad Station and the Carbon County Courthouse. She donated one of the painted slates to the Railroad Station where it is on display. Four were acquired by Randy Smith – the Carbon County Administrator for himself and as Christmas presents for the Carbon County Commissioners.

 Feller plans to paint the remaining slates with pictures of the Old Jail, the Asa Packer Mansion, the Hooven Building, and the Jim Thorpe Mausoleum.

 To make a slate painting, Feller first acquires a interesting photograph of the building. She uses a copying machine to enlarge the photograph to the desired size. Then, she uses carbon paper to trace the outline onto an acrylic sheet. 

 Feller uses an ultrafine brush to copy the outline onto the slate. The painting is made using acrylic crafter’s paints. When the project is complete, Feller finishes it with a clear spray coating to preserve the paint and prevent scratching. A slate painting takes her twelve hours to complete.

 “I love doing it,” said Feller. “I find it relaxing and I enjoy showing people the finished work.” She is especially proud of the piece she donated to the Train Station. “I’m hoping that it will be displayed for years to come.”