Lester Raymer and The Red Barn Studio
A Renaissance Man
The Red Barn Studio is filled with Raymer’s art and handiwork, from paintings and prints to ceramics and metalwork, from woodcarving to stitchery, furniture and jewelry. His work is influenced by his love for the world’s great painters, especially the Spanish and Italian masters, the Southwest and Mexico, religious symbolism, and folk art.
Lester's work bench
A Toymaker
Raymer considered painting and printmaking his most important work, which he studied at the Chicago Art Institute, but he worked in almost every medium. Each year he created a special Christmas gift for his wife, Ramona. These gifts included painted boxes, candlesticks, and other decorative items. In 1960, Lester began the tradition of making toys every Christmas for Ramona. He made 56 toys over a period of 30 years. Examples of these gifts and toys are on display at the Red Barn Studio.
Large Jack-in-the-Box (1971)
The Ultimate Upcycler
Much of Lester Raymer’s art and craftwork, including the Red Barn Studio, was made from recycled materials. Raymer took ordinary things, generally discarded and mundane objects, and transformed them into beautiful works of art and crafts, gifts, toys and decorative elements for the studio.
Lester working on the fire place on the east living room of the Red Barn Studio
The Red Barn Studio was restored and opened as a museum to the public in September of 1997. Hours are 10 AM-5 PM Tuesday through Friday, 1-5 PM Saturday and Sunday and also by appointment. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and greatly appreciated.
The Red Barn Studio
The Raymer Society
The Raymer Society was formed in 1988 when Lester’s Friends began to have concerns about the future of the Red Barn Studio and Raymer’s artwork. The mission to preserve the Red Barn Studio as a museum and to provide cultural programming.
"Chanticleer"
