Jalapeño Harvest

Jalapeño Harvest

8x5, soft pastel

                                                           
This little painting started out much more abstract...but after fiddling with it, it took a turn towards realistic (which I was trying to avoid).  I'm not sure what to think...so, it's finished (for now). Thank you Stephanie Gerhardt-Matkovich for the inspiration!

A Shady Spot

A Shady Spot

9x18, soft pastel

A right of passage for a prospective bride on a wheat farm is to see if she has the stamina to withstand the rigorous days and nights of harvest. This scene was during my daughter's first harvest working beside her future husband. Harvest days are long, hard working, dirty and typically hot. At lunchtime when you're in the middle of massive wheat fields, you don't run down to the air conditioned corner cafe for a bite to eat...you make due. A grain truck provides just enough cool shade for a quick lunch with the crew...then it's right back at it until well after dark.