Lady Life on the Prairie Painting

This work, peppered with allegory, is three-fold in its reasoning for coming to fruition. First and foremost, exploring the often forgotten-about world of women on the plains during the days of moving West to unknown lands, breaking ground to homestead, and doing both male and female work—running a plow, milking cows, and helping build sod homes—but also doing the work of a mother. Often with very little help from the husband. As a mother and wife, I know that I have been dealt a sweet hand in my style of living. My life is rural, on the prairie, but full of modern luxuries. It’s important to me that the history of these women doing such simple, but significant work is never forgotten. Children depicted facelessly represent children that die along the trail, or at home of unknown illnesses—and they are quickly buried, and the work continues. I depicted three young girls the same age of my own girls, and as I was painting their little fuzzy, out-of-focus bodies, tears came to my eyes. This reaction is one that I hope not only I have, but one that anyone who really connects with the work can experience. No men will be depicted in the imagery. A lone covered wagon heads away from the homestead. The allegory of the looming clouds and darkened horizon line can depict a myriad of things, but the two main thoughts would be that the man of the farm is dead—he’s left. Or he’s traveling out to buy supplies, as men often did. The woman is then left with the children and the work of the homestead. It’s a paradox—dirt on faces, torn clothes, unruly hair. But it’s all set against a beautiful Kansas sky, and while I’m painting, I’m finding that there’s an abundance of beauty in the small things. While dirty hands may not be the most luxurious accessory, they’re indicative of the ability to be free—to own land, to do your own work and take pride in what these women are helping build.

Painting:Oil on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:36 W x 48 H x 1.5 D in

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