Rio Schmidt

In my work, I seek to highlight the importance of agriculture — especially cattle — by combining my ranching heritage dating back to 1900 with a personalized artistic aesthetic. 

​​I fell deeply in love with the process of printmaking and what it represents. I spend hours and hours carving away at a block of wood. When the carving is finally complete, I coat it in ink, place a sheet of paper, apply pressure, reveal a print, and set the block aside. The print is the final product, and no one will ever see the block. It is eerily similar to what most of us experience in this life. We work diligently in the shadows for people to only ever see our trophies, leaving behind the carved blocks of toil.

​The geometric blocks found in many of my prints are reminiscent of building blocks. Just as building blocks come together to form a strong foundation, agriculture plays a fundamental role in our society. I hope my art can shine a light on the livestock that contribute so much to our lives.

​​​​​I believe in the importance of art to reveal beauty. Not all art is 'beautiful', but an artist succeeds when they create something that brings joy to the viewer. Those moments make art worth pursuing. I hope to do so by sharing the lifestyle I was raised in and have come to love.

​Cheers to chasing after those beautiful, joyful moments.