64 inches by 28 inches

Acrylic paint on hand-stretched linen canvas

In Collaboration with Kevin Erb, UW-Madison

 “As Above; So Below” was inspired by cover crops and their benefits to farmland. The availability and use of different mixtures of cover crop seeds are expanding. Many now include native plants and wildflowers. Not only do they benefit the soil, aid in water retention, and prevent erosion but they also create a habitat for birds, mammals, and insects. The goal of this painting was to represent the symbiosis between the different organisms depicted. I created this by pulling ideas from my life on the farm and my connection to the art world. I wanted to represent the importance of what happens below the surface – how the water flows down through the different layers of soil and rocks, animals that burrow down into the soil and live above, and especially the root systems that we don’t see. Another goal of the piece was to touch on the relationship farmers have with the land. My husband and I are always looking for ways to improve our relationship with the environment and how to better the symbiotic relationship. For this piece, I explored new techniques of applying paint, mixing colors, and painting semi-realistic animals and it taught me that I can do hard things and succeed.