Lancaster artist Constantine "Gus" Kermes died Tuesday morning at the age of 86.

Kermes was well-known for his paintings of the Amish and in more recent years his painting of abstract water colors.

A native of Pittsburgh, he moved to Lancaster in 1955 to work in the design department of the former New Holland Machine Company (now New Holland North America), where he stayed for 30 years while also painting and exhibiting his work in New York.

News of his death came from a spokeswoman from Lancaster Museum of Art, where Kermes is the subject of a retrospective called "I Hear America Singing II: Paintings 1952-2008," which closes Sunday.

RELATED ARTICLE: A new retrospective for Kermes
RELATED VIDEO: Sitting down with Kermes