Combine Washin’

Combine Washin’ is a palette knife painting that captures a moment in time that might otherwise seem uneventful or tiresome. Washing farm equipment is not exactly a joyful activity, but it is a necessary part of farm life. Through these kinds of tasks, my family has developed a strong work ethic, a willingness to help one another, and stronger family ties. I wanted to capture the beauty in one of these ordinary moments and show how even the less exciting parts of farm life can become meaningful when they are shared with family.

I was also interested in experimenting with color, texture, and the form of the combine in this painting. Using a palette knife allowed me to exaggerate the shapes and surfaces of the equipment while creating a more energetic and expressive painting.