As an artist in the remote Mississippi Delta, social distancing is somewhat normal in my world. As much as I love the beauty of our farm and the southern landscape surrounding it, I realized during the pandemic how much I have taken this life for granted.

While I enjoyed sheltering in place to some degree, I began to realize just how blessed I am to live where I live. As I watched stories around the world where people were sequestered in their homes, my heart broke for those who longed for the spaces I was enjoying every day.

As I brought my plein air studies back into the studio to transform into larger paintings, I kept the faces of these strangers in my head. I painted in the hopes that as I posted my finished paintings on my website and social media, maybe I was bringing a bit of the peacefulness of our countryside to those who otherwise could not experience it. I also hope that as people view my work, it can bring more attention to the natural world and its importance overall well being.