Eighth-grade art students were recently treated to a special visit and demonstration by renowned artist Ruth Barrett, who is the mother of Whitefield students Emily, and Ruby Barrett, and aunt to Elizabeth and Emmie Pridgeon. Barrett began drawing and painting at an early age, and at age sixteen developed a passion for landscape painting. She grew in her talent through private instruction and practice, and now uses a range of mediums and subject matter in her work.
Despite her interest in art, Barrett graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a business degree in accounting because her father indicated being an art major “was not an option.” After toying with the idea of becoming an attorney, she finally realized she wanted to be a career artist.
During her time at Whitefield, Barrett shared some painting techniques and encouraged students to pursue their natural God-given talents and find work that they love. Students also joined her in
by Ruth Barrettcreating a painting.
She also shared how she began to integrate a spiritual focus into her work after realizing her talent belonged to God. Barrett told students how she drew inspiration from her relationship with Him.
“Each time before I paint, I pray that God would use me as His instrument,” she said, adding that the emphasis of her current pieces is “divine inspiration.”
Barrett's paintings hang in well over 1,000 private and corporate collections