My drawings are with Ink (Winsor & Newton Fineliner) and Prismacolor Markers (Grey Scale) on Strathmore paper. An iPad is used for the reference images, and drawing occurs in ink without any pre-marking, pencil or changes being made. There is a time elapse Video on Vimeo of how this is done.
A number of these drawing are part of a series of barns that are located around where I live. I’ve tried to pick out the most interesting ones. Many of the names for them can be how they are related to “Time”. As in time, from time, of time, etc.
Defiant – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This was my first barn drawing. I’ve done some other studies of old buildings but this is the first in my barn series. Found this barn in the northern part of Madison County, NC while checking out fly fishing options. Loved the design and shape of this barn as it had an A-frame type of design to it.
Sentry – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located on the far side of the French Broad river that splits Madison County, NC.
It’s a very old barn as it’s a log barn that predates many of the other barns in the county. It was stained dark from time and had very few features which attracted my attention. It’s also located right next to the road which made it striking.
Big Creek – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in the northern part of Madison County, NC along the drainage of Big Creek.
Found this barn when scouting the Big Creek area for wild trout fishing. Nice creek and terrain. For this barn it’s the trees to the left that caught my eye, almost like they where waiting for the barn to open.
Opened – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located just outside of Madison County, NC.
This barns has as it’s foundation, now failing, a log barn. A new barn was built on top of it for drying tobacco. You can tell by the internal drying racks that are now failing on the bark. It’s this opened look that makes this barn so interesting. Almost like a patient where you can see it’s bones.
Feed Me – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in the town of Mars Hill in Madison County, NC.
These barns are mostly still being used, just not for tobacco. This is being used for hay to feed the cows and, as typical, with a pass through.
MH Rice – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This is of an old local store that used to dot each of the rural towns in these hills. They sold staples to the locals before the highways and freeways appeared. This is only a few blocks from my house.
Smith Farm – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in the town of Mars Hill in Madison County, NC.
This is part of the Smith Farm that Mars Hill bought and is preserving. A true tobacco barn with lots of internal rafters for drying tobacco leaves.
Sliding – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located just outside the town of Marshal in Madison County, NC.
I was driving back from fly fishing on the Big Laurel river (no luck) and knew this barn was just off the road down a slope on the way back. I had not seen it from this angle but it turned out to be a very nice barn to draw. Not a drying barn for tobacco but a work barn for containing things.
Also got my first COVID vaccine shot on this day.
Pinocchio Waits – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is one of the barns on the Smith Farm in the town of Mars Hill, NC.
Flag Pond – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This is an old RICE country store located in the town of Flag Pond, TN. It’s just north of the NC border and on the way to Rocky Fork State Park, which is one of our favorite hiking and pocket water fishing areas.
3 Gates – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
House Of Ajax – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 7. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
Forest Street – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 5. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
The Barn – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 7. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
Bailey Barns – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 7. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
Parked – Barn Series 2022
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 7. This barn is located in Mars Hill, NC.
Big Branch 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 8. This is an old church on the Big Branch road on the way to Rocky Fork State Park in TN. Just loved the old outhouse in the background.
Hidden – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn was hidden on the other side of a small stream behind a number of trees in winter. The multiple structure shapes and worn down aspect of the siding is what inspired me to draw it.
Endless – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This came from a photo I found and then drew by freehand. Liked the multiple layers of trees as you progress in the distance.
Gateway – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 9 x 7. This is on Mars Hill University campus looking through the trees to the old amphitheater. I Liked the look of the trees acting as an (bar?) to entry.
Long Time Past – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 7 x 9. This an interior view from one of the barns on the Smith Farm in Mars Hill. Just like the light coming through the loose boards and detritus left inside.
First House – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This is the cabin in the park in Barnardsville. It’s in the “Dog Trot” style and been restored and furnished for viewing. Kind of a must see.
Long Ridge – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located close to my house on the Long Ridge road just outside the town of Mars Hill in Madison County, NC
More a typical style of barn on a slope whose care has been lacking. Still strong but in need of care.
River Mill – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is part of the barn tour in Mars Hill in Madison County, NC.
Not so much a barn but an old mill next to a creek. Just seems so quaint and restful now compared to how it must have been when it was running.
Smith Barn 2 – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in the town of Mars Hill in Madison County, NC.
The old Smith Farm was bought by the town to 1) preserve it and 2) provide trails and a gathering place. There are 3 barns and a number of trails up the mountain behind it.
Hill Side- Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located just outside of the northern section of Madison County, NC at Devils Fork trailhead on the AT.
The slope of the hillside and the barn having a sense of falling slowly down the hill give a unique feeling to this drawing. Not a large barn but a unique one.
New Day – Barn Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located in the northern part of Madison County, NC.
Called New Day because it looked like it could use a new day in it’s life. Located along a stream with a small bridge to it, it waits for each day.
River Side – Barns Series 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 8 x 10. This barn is located just outside the town of Mars Hill in Madison County, NC.
This barn is on the southern border of Madison County next to the Ivy River where I sometimes go fly fishing. Not an old or large barn, just interesting next to the river and on rock pilings.
Rooted 2 – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 4 x 6. This is a barn just outside the town of Mars Hill, NC. Done in a small size and vertical format. Used negative space drawing for the tree trunks in the drawing and was highlighting the Rooted trees and Barn also being rooted to the ground.
Riverwood – 2021
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 8. This is an old building somewhere in the town of Dillsboro, NC.
Two Barns – 2023
Ink and Marker, Approximately 5 x 8. This is a set of barns on Forest St. in Mars Hill, NC only a few miles from the house. The barn in the right no longer exists as the farmer tore it down last year.
Todd Blackley 