As the world's economy has changed I have personally noticed a decline in family farms as high demand has driven corporate farming. With the wave of the Locavore movement, my works seek to highlight this movement, encouraging the viewer to

consider the importance of family farming, responsible urban living and the intersection of both, while incorporating scenes and objects from both.

I believe that people living and working in urban settings have the ability to save family farms, reduce effects on the planet, and

live healthier lives. By purchasing locally grown products they directly fund family farms. Furthermore by utilizing family farmers

as a source of fresh food the amount of transit time and wasted fuel is greatly reduced. Lastly, these products are often produced without the growth hormones that are common with corporate farming.

It can be a simple process with unlimited potential. Be responsible, save family farms, buy local. 

My work is influenced by my surroundings and an appreciation for Iowa and local farms. Bold brushwork and an unlimited palette characterize these paintings. The goal of each work is to challenge viewers to consider the positive and start Making Lemonade.  

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“The locavore movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to produce their own food, with the argument that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locally grown food is an environmentally friendly means of obtaining food, since supermarkets that import their food use more fossil fuels and non-renewable resources.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locavore#Locavore