From the glacier-flattened northwest to the Appalachian hills and valleys to the east and south, barns dot the Ohio landscape. Built with wooden nails and mortise-and-tenon joints and assembled with beams hand-hewn from nearby trees, some of these magnificent structures have witnessed three centuries. Many display the unique carpentry of masterful barn builders, including “mystery” wooden spikes and tongue-and-groove two-inch flooring. Sadly, a number of these barns, neglected for years, risk crumbling any day.

Join artist and author Robert Kroeger as he demonstrates his technique behind documenting barns in all 88 of Ohio's counties, with a demo painting and stories, followed by a book signing.

Dr. Robert Kroeger, a second generation artist, is the author of "Historic Barns of Ohio," including his personal paintings of barns from every county along with essays about them. Dr. Kroeger paints with a palette knife in oils and in thick impasto, a method that gives his paintings a luscious texture.  He also makes his own frames, using reclaimed weathered barn siding, often framing the painting in wood from that specific barn.

The event is free to attend with books available for purchase ($25) and raffle tickets sold for the opportunity to win the painting from the demonstration. Books and raffle tickets can be purchased in advance in our online store.

Kroeger will begin at approximately 10:00 am with the demonstration painting, followed by storytelling around 12:00 and a book signing at 1:00.  Guests are welcome to come and go throughout the day as they wish.