Bowen Family Barn

Located in central Orange County near Paoli, Indiana, this barn's home features rolling hills, small streams and historic mineral springs. It is one of the oldest and one of the most unusual barns in the state.

Carved trim and extra decoration throughout testify to the fact that this was intentionally built with beauty as well as function in mind. A tree-ring expert, or dendrochronologist, dated the logs used in construction to 1847 or early 1848. The timbers are very stout and hand-hewn.

The interior layout is very unusual. A passageway across the front side of the barn allows access from both gable ends. One entry is visible in the painting. Centered on the side of the barn is a large wagon door that leads into a central pass-through. It is shown in the painting. Inside this pass-through is a very heavy-duty framework incorporated into the barn's frame. Some experts suggest it may have held a hay press.

I was so enthralled by the beauty, uniqueness and age of this barn. It took several trips to decide when and at one angle this barn could best be represented. Finally in October 2015, the time was right. The late afternoon light warmed the west end. Colors glowed within the shadows and the gold hues shimmered in the light. I set up my easel and created an 18 x 30 inch oil painting.

All the barn paintings are for sale.  Please contact Gwen to find out if the painting(s) you are interested in are sold or available.