Better Late than Never
Ruth Horning finally got back to her childhood love of art
April 27, 2009
By Lori Van Ingen
Writer for Lancaster Newspapers
When Ruth Horning was a small child, she didn't have crayons to draw with.
It wasn't until she reached school age that she was exposed to the art of drawing by her teachers at her one-room school, Chestnut Grove School in Rapho Township.
The small school had a music teacher come once a week, but she doesn't recall ever having an art teacher come in to help them learn to draw.
"We didn't have much extra things (at school) in those days. It just came natural that I was drawing. Drawing and reading are my two passions," Horning said.
Horning later learned that her mother, Ruth Landis Hess, also had a talent for drawing. She had won a prize for drawing when she was in school.
"My mother's family was very creative, but it was mostly poems by my aunts and mother," she said.
It wasn't until Horning was in her late teens &tstr; after she left her school days behind &tstr; that she began dabbling in tempera, oils and finally watercolor painting.
"I didn't think we had the money or I had the time. I was thinking only about dating," she said.
As she worked as a nanny/housekeeper at homes in North School Lane Hills in Lancaster, Horning noticed the beautiful watercolor paintings hanging in the homes.
"I thought they were prettier than oil," she said. "I wondered if I could learn to do that."
After she married Leonard Horning at age 19, she had six children in 7 1/2 years and no longer had the time to do any painting, other than a silhouette of her children when they were small.
Finally, at age 48, after her children were grown, Horning started giving her time to painting.
"My husband was so supportive," she said. "He knew in the early years of my life all I did was work. He had so many interests and hobbies, he thought I should do something besides housework. I'm glad to have another interest."
Horning began formal instruction with Lititz artist Al Taft. After several years of working with him, she started training with Fran Spangle of Lexington in 1985, and continues taking classes to this day.
"Some can be self-taught, but I found it helpful (to take classes). I would have wasted a lot of paper without having a teacher," the 77-year-old Denver resident said.
Horning prefers painting watercolors of people and animals, but has done flowers and other subjects.
"I love to see the outcome when I'm done. To see how close I can get it to the real thing. I don't like abstract art. I like realism," Horning said.
On average, it takes Horning about five to six months to paint each piece.
"The longer you do it, the more you improve," she said. "You learn with every painting."
Horning will publicly exhibit her watercolors for the first time at a show at Landis Homes, 1001 E. Oregon Road, Lititz, beginning with an artist's reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 5. The exhibit will be on display through July in the Harvest View lobby and galleries.
E-mail: lvaningen@lnpnews.com
© Lancaster Newspapers 2009
back | printer-friendly version
