Artist and published author Robert Kroeger returns to the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, to demonstrate his palette knife and impasto technique of painting portraits of historic barns across Ohio, during the Loudonville Free Street Fair.

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.

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. 

Doors will open at 12:00 pm with the painting demonstration progressing until approximately 3:00, when Kroeger will share stories of his barn painting journey and end with a book signing for those interested.

Please note that the painting demonstration is not lectured, and simply an opportunity for visitors to view his work in progress. Guests are welcome to come and go throughout the day as they wish. Parking is limited due to the Street Fair and guests may wish to arrive early to provide ample time to find parking. Paid parking is available at St. Peter's Catholic Church behind the museum.