I think it's also important not only for other audiences to learn about the stories and

to learn where our food comes from, but it's also for the farm workers to see themselves

in art, to have the feel of identity, of community, of belonging.

From Foodoro Media and PRX, it's Latino USA, I'm Maria Inohosa.

Today Narciso Martinez and his journey from seasonal farm worker to artist.

On a hot day in Long Beach, California, Narciso Martinez is taking the freight elevator

to his studio in a transformed industrial warehouse.

The 43 year old artist has thick, rimmed glasses and he wears all black.

Yeah, so we're in my studio right now.

You see a lot of boxes everywhere.

I have some flattened orange cartons, here's some grocery bags that I'm going to draw on.

If you're unfamiliar with Narciso's work, he says his studio may look like it's full

of trash.

Tangerine bags, containers.

Yeah, I collect a bunch of stuff.

It's on these discarded materials, using charcoal and white paint, that Narciso draws portraits

of farm workers and scenes of life in the fields.

I start by looking at the box, whether it's an interesting box, I like it, I don't like

it, I like the color.

I'm sure of the composition and of the drawing.

I use compressed charcoal.

His messy stains use hands and you're sure.

...