Lowis Farms has been in my family for over 150 years. Generations of labor have shaped both the landscape and the people who tend it. My love for our land and agricultural practices guides my art’s focus on time, memory, and family heritage. Working on the farm taught me the value of hard work, a discipline paralleled in my painting practice. This series celebrates the work a generational farm requires and the beautiful memories it provides.
My paintings capture the unplanned moments that unfold in the rhythm of farm work: cleaning bins, stacking straw, moving augers, or changing tires. Every day, tiresome tasks create unexpected compositions full of light and shadow contrasts. Texture, motion, and fleeting moments are prioritized, which is inspired by Impressionism. The swipes of a palette knife are quick, but intentional. My process combines plein air studies that connect directly to the land, as well as studio work for more refined details, like a complex organization of color and the addition of figures.
The tasks depicted in these paintings have been done over six generations in my family. While some commercial agriculture technology has evolved, we continue planting, harvesting, and hauling. Family-run farms play a critical role is sustaining local economies and global food systems, producing grains that become significant commodity exports for the United States. Unlike most professions, farming relies on the environment. Without predictable weather patterns, rich soil, and natural resources, there is no income. It is essential to recognize the work of these agricultural careers, rooted in generations past but vital for generations to come. Thank God for farmers and thank God for July rain.