LOST ON A COUNTRY ROAD SERIES
LOST ON A COUNTRY ROAD SERIES
Although my mission involves capturing an old barn not only in an oil painting but also in an essay, which explains either the history of the barn or something historic related to the area, I’ve made an exception in this series.
Thanks to my friend Vincent Loveall, the originator of the Facebook site, Round Barns of America, I decided to delve into Facebook – mainly to search for round barns, my current project. In doing so, I began posting on several sites, including one called “Lost on a Dirt Road,” a fairly new page, started in 2020 by Coshocton County, Ohio, photographer Jack Hunt. He maintains a studio in historic Roscoe Village and his photographs speak for themselves.
When I finally figured out how to send a message on FB, I “messaged” Jack, asking him about the county where a particular barn I liked – in his photo – was. His reply intrigued me, “Bob I really don’t know. You see, I get in my truck, start driving on roads – some dirt, some paved, all rustic – and then I stop when I see a good composition. I don’t usually record where I was when I took the photo.”
Yes, that startled me, one who likes to know exactly where the barn scout and I were when I liked a composition during a barn tour. And, I like to chat with the owner, inspect the inside of the barn, and write an essay, which sometimes takes longer than making the barnwood frame and doing the painting. But then it occurred to me that maybe I need to get lost on a dirt road once in awhile – as barn scout Nyla and I have done in Hocking County’s Appalachian hills.
Then, as I continued to look at Jack’s work, one of his photos stirred my artistic side – a lovely winter scene with a road winding towards a small gray barn with a tiny house deep in the woods, its orange roof peeking through the snow-clad trees. I told him I had to paint it. And so I did, launching this series, which I’ll continue when I get time – in the midst of the round barn project. Though there won’t be any essays, I’ll hopefully know the counties that barns are in and I will give credit to the FB photographer, whose image I used as a photo reference.
Although my mission involves capturing an old barn not only in an oil painting but also in an essay, which explains either the history of the barn or something historic related to the area, I’ve made an exception in this series.
Thanks to my friend Vincent Loveall, the originator of the Facebook site, Round Barns of America, I decided to delve into Facebook – mainly to search for round barns, my current project. In doing so, I began posting on several sites, including one called “Lost on a Dirt Road,” a fairly new page, started in 2020 by Coshocton County, Ohio, photographer Jack Hunt. He maintains a studio in historic Roscoe Village and his photographs speak for themselves.
When I finally figured out how to send a message on FB, I “messaged” Jack, asking him about the county where a particular barn I liked – in his photo – was. His reply intrigued me, “Bob I really don’t know. You see, I get in my truck, start driving on roads – some dirt, some paved, all rustic – and then I stop when I see a good composition. I don’t usually record where I was when I took the photo.”
Yes, that startled me, one who likes to know exactly where the barn scout and I were when I liked a composition during a barn tour. And, I like to chat with the owner, inspect the inside of the barn, and write an essay, which sometimes takes longer than making the barnwood frame and doing the painting. But then it occurred to me that maybe I need to get lost on a dirt road once in awhile – as barn scout Nyla and I have done in Hocking County’s Appalachian hills.
Then, as I continued to look at Jack’s work, one of his photos stirred my artistic side – a lovely winter scene with a road winding towards a small gray barn with a tiny house deep in the woods, its orange roof peeking through the snow-clad trees. I told him I had to paint it. And so I did, launching this series, which I’ll continue when I get time – in the midst of the round barn project. Though there won’t be any essays, I’ll hopefully know the counties that barns are in and I will give credit to the FB photographer, whose image I used as a photo reference.
Green Gothic
When I found this posting on Facebook, I loved the variation of green-gold colors on the barn’s rounded roof. Cracks in the metal, exposing boards underneath, hinted that the barn would not last much longer.
But, after messaging the owner, good news: he planned to dismantle it and move it across the state line from Arkansas to his property in Missouri. What a great way to preserve this green gothic-roofed gem.
When I found this posting on Facebook, I loved the variation of green-gold colors on the barn’s rounded roof. Cracks in the metal, exposing boards underneath, hinted that the barn would not last much longer.
But, after messaging the owner, good news: he planned to dismantle it and move it across the state line from Arkansas to his property in Missouri. What a great way to preserve this green gothic-roofed gem.
Autumn in Arkansas
Another Facebook gem. This one will remain unknown ...
Another Facebook gem. This one will remain unknown ...
“Jack’s Gem”
Jack Hunt maintains a FB site called, “Lost on a Dirt Road,” where he posts marvelous photos of rural America, mostly around Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties in Ohio. Intrigued, I send him and message, asking for the location of a particular barn. Eventually we chatted on the phone and he told me that he sometimes gets in his truck and just drives through country roads, not paying attention to where he is, stopping only if he sees a good composition, taking photos, and then returning to his studio in Roscoe Village. There he spends time in Photoshop, making the photo even more attractive.
I liked his concept of getting lost on a country road, which is opposite of what I do in documenting everything to a “t.” Sometimes we need to loosen the bonds of rigid schedules and get lost in the country, discovering places, some of which might not be around too much longer.
One photo, in particular, caught my fancy – a winter scene with a dirt road curving towards a small weathered barn, surrounded by trees painted with snow. In the background, but still visible, was a house across the road with a brilliant orange roof. So I captured it.
Judging from the size of the trees – essentially new growth – this land was once farmland, presumably cleared many decades ago by the original farmers. But then, for one reason or another, the farmers stopped farming and the trees took over. The composition richly deserves the title, “Jack’s Gem.”
Jack Hunt maintains a FB site called, “Lost on a Dirt Road,” where he posts marvelous photos of rural America, mostly around Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties in Ohio. Intrigued, I send him and message, asking for the location of a particular barn. Eventually we chatted on the phone and he told me that he sometimes gets in his truck and just drives through country roads, not paying attention to where he is, stopping only if he sees a good composition, taking photos, and then returning to his studio in Roscoe Village. There he spends time in Photoshop, making the photo even more attractive.
I liked his concept of getting lost on a country road, which is opposite of what I do in documenting everything to a “t.” Sometimes we need to loosen the bonds of rigid schedules and get lost in the country, discovering places, some of which might not be around too much longer.
One photo, in particular, caught my fancy – a winter scene with a dirt road curving towards a small weathered barn, surrounded by trees painted with snow. In the background, but still visible, was a house across the road with a brilliant orange roof. So I captured it.
Judging from the size of the trees – essentially new growth – this land was once farmland, presumably cleared many decades ago by the original farmers. But then, for one reason or another, the farmers stopped farming and the trees took over. The composition richly deserves the title, “Jack’s Gem.”
Treasure in Tennessee
This composition came from a photo taken by Rich Hall of northern Ohio and posted on Facebook. However, even though the barn sits far from Ohio – in Bland County, Tennessee – it presents an idyllic barn setting. The cattle in the foreground, their reflections in the adjacent pond, added some life to the scene.
This composition came from a photo taken by Rich Hall of northern Ohio and posted on Facebook. However, even though the barn sits far from Ohio – in Bland County, Tennessee – it presents an idyllic barn setting. The cattle in the foreground, their reflections in the adjacent pond, added some life to the scene.
Wood’s Wonder
I took this composition from a photo, posted on Facebook by Katie Boss. Unlike some who get lost on a dirt road, Katie was able to pinpoint the exact location of the barn in Wood County and even found the owner’s information. But a letter I sent in March, 2021, did not generate a reply. I'm still hoping to discover its secret since I'll do more events for the Wood County Historical Society.
I took this composition from a photo, posted on Facebook by Katie Boss. Unlike some who get lost on a dirt road, Katie was able to pinpoint the exact location of the barn in Wood County and even found the owner’s information. But a letter I sent in March, 2021, did not generate a reply. I'm still hoping to discover its secret since I'll do more events for the Wood County Historical Society.
Monroe’s Mystery
Sitting on top of a wooded hill, this barn, courtesy of a photo taken by James Griffin, is located in Monroe County, one of Ohio’s most scenic. The glacier movement never reached this section of Appalachia, leaving the topography to remain hilly, the roads curving, and the population sparce. Labeled “The Switzerland of Ohio,” a title it richly deserves, Monroe County is also home to the famous stone barn of the Kindelberger family, one I’ve visited four times, getting lost the first two times.
Sitting on top of a wooded hill, this barn, courtesy of a photo taken by James Griffin, is located in Monroe County, one of Ohio’s most scenic. The glacier movement never reached this section of Appalachia, leaving the topography to remain hilly, the roads curving, and the population sparce. Labeled “The Switzerland of Ohio,” a title it richly deserves, Monroe County is also home to the famous stone barn of the Kindelberger family, one I’ve visited four times, getting lost the first two times.
“Sinking in Minnesota”
This barn was apparently built in a low-lying area – at a time when the surrounding fields were dry. Quite possibly, over the years or decades, a natural spring erupted (Minnesota isn’t called “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for nothing). As you can see, the spring created a tiny pond, which is beginning to encroach on the barn. Now, it’s just a matter of time …
This barn was apparently built in a low-lying area – at a time when the surrounding fields were dry. Quite possibly, over the years or decades, a natural spring erupted (Minnesota isn’t called “Land of 10,000 Lakes” for nothing). As you can see, the spring created a tiny pond, which is beginning to encroach on the barn. Now, it’s just a matter of time …