A sheave is a bundle of grain stalks laid lengthwise and tied together after reaping. Bringing in the Sheaves shows a figure doing agricultural labor. The canvas, colorful and vibrant, is illuminated with sunlight. Family narratives and elements of faith find their way into Schmidt’s bold and expressive works. This work is rich with religious meaning according to Schmidt, a devout Jew. Schmidt writes, “In a tradition that observes the ordinary, an act of farming routine, the mere turning of a great machine can become a messenger of the innate holiness possible in daily tasks.”

Schmidt was born and raised in New Braunfels. In 1957, Schmidt took courses at the Institute of Art at San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. He earned his BFA from the University of Texas at Austin and his MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. From 1965 until 2002, he served as a professor of art at Texas A&M University Kingsville. He has also worked as an art critic and lecturer.