Artist Statement

Monica Walter Barnett

I was very young when I started drawing, with an interest in just about every subject. Now, as an accomplished artist, I am still excited when creating an image that is not just a line on a paper suggesting a certain form, but instead, a being beckoning the viewer to see and listen to what they are experiencing as they look at my work.

 I have an interest in just about every subject, but my true passion is the horse.

 The word horse, itself, evokes an image of beauty, an animal that is hard to resist at any stage of movement or rest. For centuries the horse has been a thing of reverence. Other than a delicate bird taking off in flight, the horse is hard to beat as the most exquisite creature on earth, seen in no other way but as its powerful, sculptural form, hooves beating the ground for us to hear its weight and power, a flowing mane and tail for us to see its ease of movement. 

I have been enthralled with horses my entire life: they have provided me with the joy of creating my artwork using their many images. I have made many lines, both with graphite and paint, to bring to life both their strength, their intelligence and curiosity.

 As I continue my journey as an artist, my goal is to strive to make every drawing an image that can be looked at and enjoyed, not only for the vision I have created with lines and brushstrokes but for the intrigue of that subject I have portrayed.