Barns are going away, here and around the country. Since the advent of hay rollers, farmers don’t keep bales stashed in a loft any longer. They pile the rolls and cover them with plastic tarps, or simply leave them exposed to the weather. (Outer layers are spoiled by rain, but the inner hay remains okay.) Tobacco farmers are getting out of the nicotine trade, so drying barns are coming down. Some old barns are dismantled for the old wood, many others are left to the elements. Tragically, as I update my Web site on Nov. 21, 2021, four ancient barns in Buncombe County fell victim to arson, fortunately the hooligans/felons have been rounded up by the sheriff, so other barn owners can rest a bit easier. I don’t know (yet) if any of the one’s I’ve painted were torched.
For a painter, the old barns offer a great excuse to spend some hours in the countryside.
For more artwork, visit my Pinterest Page.
