When barns were vain II

This old barn is located at a nearby vineyard. Early farmers to this area took tremendous pride in the barns they built. Not so much anymore. Today it's strictly business, with modern barns having all the grace of a big metal box. The cupolas adorning the top tended to be very ornate, but primarily they served as a way to vent off the heat generated by fresh hay stored in them. When barns catch fire they rarely survive, as they burn like blowtorches.

The Forbidden Barn

I grew up about a mile from this barn. I wanted to paint it while in high school, but the mentally ill caretaker would shoot at trespassers will a shotgun loaded with rock salt. He's long gone, and the new owner was a combat surgeon in the 23rd Inf. Div. in Nam at the same time I was. He  gave me permission to paint there, and I saw no trace of a shotgun.

Pre-Civil War house

I painted this house in Madison Village as an alla prima piece. 8" x 10" on canvas board

The Store on the Commons

I painted this in the tiny village of Mesopotamia, Ohio that has a large Amish population. Many buggies came and went that Saturday morning, including children with pony carts.

Harpersfield Dam

I painted this last fall, but I went back in and added people, which were in abundance that day as it was the Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival that weekend.

Truck grave

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I painted this old Army truck a half-mile from my house. The property is loaded with derelict trucks, Jeeps, tractors, and cars from the 60's. I find beauty in strange places.

Whitstable Oyster Co.

I started this painting last summer and worked on it yesterday in the studio. It was a rainy day in Whitstable, England, an active fishing port and weekend resort for Londoner day trippers.