OklahomaHorses Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

16 OklahomaHorses • November/December 2020 EQU I NE ART I S T S I became lost in the whirls of hair, braided rawhide and wisps of mane while viewing the microscopic detail of Kathryn Leitner’s pencil drawings of horses. It is no surprise that she is a sought-after Western artist whose drawings are made accessible through her run of limited-edition prints. “I didn’t like to draw attention to myself because I am shy and was unsure about calling myself an artist,” she says. “Over the years, I learned that we all have gifts that are to be shared with each other. My favorite thing is to share my art with others.” The artist’s studio in Kingfisher is next to her farmhouse. The studio windows offer views of her personal horses on one side and a vast Oklahoma landscape of farmland on the other. The room is filled with professionally framed drawings and paintings, each with a brass title plate giving them a sense of museum quality artwork. Oddly placed to the side in this room is a basin to wash hair because her studio space is also a beauty salon. “Hairdressing has been good to me over the years and brought me out of my shell,” she says. “I learned to listen to people and understand that everyone is going through something as I style their hair. I like to think that over the years I have helped people.” Whether Kathryn is coifing hair or drawing every hair on the horse’s body, she is a thoughtful person with an impeccable sense of detail, capturing the spirit of the West. The following is an interview that will take you into her journey to expressing herself through art. Q. WHEN WERE YOU FIRST DRAWN TO HORSES, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DRAW THEM? A. When I was young, my family lived on my grandparents’ ranch in northeastern Montana where the horses were used for ranch duties. I developed a love for the horses, and even though I was removed from them for a time, I never lost the passion for the horses or ranch life! Q. WHEN DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST? A. The horses and the art have both been a passion as long as I can remember. I was always interested in sketching and drawing, and most of my drawings included horses. My parents always encouraged me to use my Attention to Detail THE ARTWORK OF KATHRYN LEITNER WRITTEN BY: Jennifer Hustis “Noon Change” Kathryn Leitner