The barn quilts of Ashe County have transformed the countryside into a work of art. The bright colors and interesting patterns of the painted “quilts” add a delightful touch to many otherwise unremarkable outbuildings. From large ramshackle barns along the rural back roads to small storage type buildings in town limits, these creations have given Ashe County yet another unique aspect for residents and visitors.

Two local artists were fascinated enough with the barn quilts to create paintings and drawings of them, and the results are on display through Nov. 7 at Broomfields Gallery in West Jefferson.

“Barn Quilts of the North Carolina Mountains: Two Distinct Visions” is just what the name describes. Artists Ramona Lampell of Jefferson and Elliot Coatney of Blowing Rock have pooled their talents to create a two-person show at Broomfields, which kicked off at the Oct. 9 Gallery Crawl in West Jefferson.

The idea came from gallery owner Julia Bishop, who wanted an exhibit that would showcase these beautiful works of art in different ways. “I was intrigued by the idea of bringing together two very different people and two very different styles,” Julia said. “It has been rewarding to see Ramona and Elliot weave their distinct visions together.”

Ramona’s is a folk art style, using colored pencils to draw highly detailed pictures that remind one of childhood artwork. The feeling is one of simplicity and innocence.

“All my life I’ve wanted to do something creative with my hands,” Ramona said. She operated fine art galleries in New York and California. With her husband, Millard Lampell, an Academy and Emmy award winning screenwriter and author, Ramona co-authored the amazing O Appalachia: Artists of the Southern Mountains all about folk art. Her love of folk art led to an extensive museum-quality collection, that has been featured on national television shows, and a desire to create some herself. She favored pencils over the more traditional acrylics, and her first piece was included in an exhibit in Florida.

Coming to Ashe County three years ago, Ramona noticed the barn quilts and started drawing them. “I just love them,” she said. “You go around a corner and all of a sudden, there’s this incredible barn with this incredible barn quilt with all this spectacular color. It’s wonderful. It’s one of the things I love most about this area.”

Elliot Coatney’s artistic style uses acrylics to create a soft almost abstract view of the barn quilts. His colors are deeper and lines indistinct with a focus on contrast and texture.

The style he paints is called “loose” Elliot said, with fewer details that a “tight” style. “I paint pretty loosely, with a lot of energy,” he said. “I don’t think about what a painting is saying or meaning; I just like the unique effect that paint on canvas can have on a viewer.”

Elliot said he has been painting “seriously” for about three years, but “making art since I was a little guy.” He had a breakthrough a few years ago with a Canadian artist that he said put him on the path of a stronger focus on his art with more confidence and determination. He’s participated in a number of juried shows around the Southeast in the past year, but the exhibit at Broomfields Gallery is his first real show, and he is happy to be included in this unique idea.

“This is a great concept,” he said. “It is bringing full circle this arts project of putting art in a public space and we make art of that and bring it back to the traditional setting of an art gallery. Barns really seem to connect us to place in a profound way and the barn quilts are one way of highlighting that. All of a sudden, it’s not just a barn by the road but identified by its particular quilt.”

A different aspect of Elliot’s work has been honored this month with a Best in Show at the “Best of the Blue Ridge” exhibit at Ashe County Arts Center.

Broomfields Gallery is located at 414 East 2nd Street across from the West Jefferson Post Office. Call 846-4141 or go online to broomfieldsgallery.com.