Capturing Iowa’s Beauty: A Farm Kid’s Journey to Becoming an Artist

Jenna Lueck holding one of her commissioned Iowa farm paintings, capturing a cherished Midwest homestead.

I’m sure plenty of kids don’t look forward to getting on the school bus each morning.

I was never one of them.

For me, the 30 minute ride from my family’s dairy farm near Balltown to school felt like magic.

Especially when I snagged a window seat.

The bus would wind along the road, and I would sit with my nose pressed against the glass, watching. Waiting, for the breathtaking views of the Mississippi River valley below.

There would be nothing to see but thick patches of fog until suddenly – POP. There it was.

A world of color would appear where the fog lifted momentarily, revealing a farmstead.

Red barn. Silo. Old farmhouse. Rolling green hills surrounded by blazing orange, red, and yellow fall trees.

These were the types of farms most people only see in the movies. But I got to see them almost every day.

It was beautiful.

Even as a kid, I knew I had a view that no one could take for granted.

And, it’s these exact farms and landscapes that would eventually inspire my rural Midwest artwork.

Hi, by the way! My name is Jenna Lueck. I’m from Balltown, Iowa.

You might miss it on the map, but tourists flock to this part of the country every summer and fall to drive along The Great River Road, one of the most scenic byways in the United States, and soak in the spectacular views of the Mississippi River bluffs and valley below.

‘The Overlook’ – a sweeping landscape painting of the scenery near Balltown, Iowa, along the Great River Road.

I can see why.

I am enchanted by this area, too. I always have been.

I grew up a farm kid. Actually, even in my early 40s, I’m still a farm kid. That’s not something you just outgrow or leave behind. No matter how far from the farm life takes you, it’s still a part of you.

The animals, the old buildings, the sunrise over the barn during morning chores, the birds flying home at sunset. I feel so lucky to have grown up close to these things. So lucky, in fact, that I decided to raise my own children here.

There is no place I’d rather be than on my front porch with my dogs, watching an Iowa sunrise.

Or hitting the brakes on the gravel road I'm driving on because I just discovered another old windmill, and I have to witness its silhouette against the deep blues and purples of the sunset.

Or at the river fishing with my son or walking along its banks with my friends.

What I’m saying is … living in the Driftless Area of Iowa came naturally to me.

But becoming an artist? That path was less straightforward!

‘Chores Can Wait’ – a glowing sunset painted behind a weathered barn in Graf, Iowa.

I left the farm and went to college, like we do, planning to earn a degree in graphic design. To my dismay, I discovered that I would be required to take art classes as part of my curriculum. I thought this was going to be all computers!

Ok, I told myself, you can do this.

I’m a 4H kid. A farm kid! I rolled up my sleeves and got to work figuring out how to use a paintbrush.

‘The Old, Rustic Barn’ – a Midwest landscape painting inspired by an old barn in Marengo, Iowa.

Fast forward.

I’m back home, living in the countryside with my husband. Now, it’s our three kids who ride the school bus.

I’ve been trying to capture the beauty of Iowa with my camera for years, but the photos never entirely do justice to the colors and emotions I experience.

So, with my mom’s encouragement echoing in my ears,

“Jenna, you’ve always been an artist.”

And thinking of that time when my husband picked me up when we were still dating, noticed my painting hanging in the family dining room, and exclaimed,

“Oh, wow! Who’s the artist?”

I dusted off my college paintbrushes and decided to paint Iowa how I see it.

Vibrant. Colorful. Alive and dancing with light and joy and emotion. Quiet and deep and wise and full of old stories. I couldn’t help but re-create the vibrant Midwest skies and farms as landscape paintings that reflect the beauty of rural Iowa.

This was over seven years ago. I’m still painting today.

I started painting because of the land. Because I wanted everyone to know how beautiful this part of the country is.

But I’ve continued painting because of the people.

When I go to art shows, people you’d never expect—dare I say it, even city folks—stop in their tracks and become filled with emotion.

‘Afterglow’ – a vibrant Lake Michigan sunset painting near Pentwater, Michigan.

They hold my paintings and say things like:

“This brings me back to a place I loved visiting as a kid,”

as they are captivated by a vibrant Iowa-inspired landscape painting that evokes fond childhood memories.

“This reminds me of that one vacation we took to the lake growing up,”

while admiring a Midwest skyscape painting that features a colorful lake reflection.

“I feel so peaceful when I see the sunrise like this,”

when drawn to the warmth and beauty of a Midwest sunrise skyscape that has been captured on canvas.

“This looks exactly like how I remember my grandparents’ farm,”

while admiring their newly created custom farm painting.

‘The Family Farm’ - a cherished farm painting proudly displayed in a modern dining room.

Close-up of antique tractor painted in ‘The Family Farm’.

Close-up of farm truck detail in ‘The Family Farm’.

Speaking of farms, as I write this to you, I just finished a commission farm painting for a family whose farm is no longer here. Today, that cherished land is all developments.

But with a painting, their farm can live on, not just through memory or old photographs, but as a personalized landscape painting that is a conversation piece on display in the dining room for everyone to remember, share, and talk about together, from grandparents to great-grandchildren and all generations between.

Barn and silo closeup from ‘The Family Farm’ painting.

Cozy farmhouse & garden detail from ‘The Family Farm’.

‘The Family Farm’ – a custom farm painting preserving a family’s legacy.

I continue painting because of the people I meet who love our Midwest skies, farms, and landscapes as much as I do.

Living in Iowa, surrounded by the Driftless Area’s breathtaking views and rural farms and vibrant landscapes, has brought so much peace, joy, and happiness to my life. I want to give that to everyone who sees my paintings. I want them to talk about their summer vacations and the farm they grew up on and have a piece of art that holds those memories close.

‘Rise, You were Meant to Shine!’ – a sunrise skyscape painting over farm fields inspired by a view in Marshall County, Iowa.

Each painting I create is more than just a landscape—it’s a connection to the land, the people, and the stories that make the Midwest so amazing to me.

Iowa is home. It is a gift.

The least I can do is share it with others.

Author’s Bio:

Jenna Lueck is a Midwest landscape, skyscape, and farmscape painter from Balltown, Iowa. Her vibrant rural artwork captures the beauty of the Driftless Area, Mississippi River valley, and the Midwest countryside. To date, her original paintings, art prints, and custom landscape paintings are displayed in over 700 homes and galleries across the country. Explore Jenna’s vibrant paintings or schedule a visit to her personal studio in Balltown, Iowa, by visiting www.JennaLueckArt.com.