Kathryn Merrill’s life and art are deeply rooted in the Western lifestyle—shaped by working cowboys and cowgirls, ranch rituals, athletic horses, and a lifelong commitment to hard work and artistic excellence. The Oklahoma artist brings authentic ranching scenes and horse portraits to life on her easel. She’ll take on a new challenge at the Art of the Cowgirl main event, February 24-28, at Rancho Rio in Wickenburg, Arizona, as one of six featured artists in the Fourth Annual Quick Draw. It will be her first Quick Draw, and she plans to select an equine subject that reflects both her passion and her heritage.
Merrill’s connection to Western culture began at a young age. Raised in central Montana, she spent her childhood on her grandparents’ ranch. Her family lived and worked there until she was 9, then moved to Lewistown, about 80 miles away. As a teenager, she returned to the ranch as often as she could until her family moved to California for her father’s job. Her experiences left a lasting impression, and cattle, horses and wide-open spaces became ingrained in her identity.
After high school, Merrill finished the cosmetology program she’d begun in California during her senior year, earned her license, and moved to Oklahoma to live with her grandmother, who had sold the ranch after her husband passed away. As she pursued her beauty career, Merrill also painted for enjoyment and found herself fully immersed in the Western community she loved once again. Horses were always an important part of her life, and she had opportunities to show in ranch horse versatility and cow horse competitions.
Art held another piece of her heart, and she dreamed of a professional art career. Encouraged by teachers and mentors, along with a supportive family, she excelled in art classes throughout school and continued developing her skills in her late 20s through workshops, local classes, and years of practice. Over time, she gravitated toward colored pencil as her primary medium, drawn to its precision, depth and vibrancy, but she also works in oils and pastel. Her paintings portray honest depictions of everyday slices of ranch life and portraits of working ranch horses.
Merrill has balanced her artistic pursuits with a 37-year career as a hairstylist. She owns her own salon, located in the same building as her art studio and office—just across the driveway from her home outside of Kingfisher, Oklahoma. While she describes herself as naturally introverted and shy, decades in the beauty business have helped her develop strong people skills.
“I dreamed of an art career, but it was part of God’s plan to put me where I needed to be to get the skills I needed to be successful,” she says, adding that interpersonal skills have helped her confidently share her art with collectors and curators at shows.
Merrill’s art career gained momentum when she began exhibiting at the Rusty Gables Spring Stampede in Oklahoma City. That led to invitations to prestigious Western art exhibitions, including Cowboy True, the Bosque Art Classic, Trapping of Texas, America’s Horse in Art Show & Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show & Sale and Small Works, Great Wonders at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Recently, her painting “Swappin’ Stories with the Traded Help” was selected for the Denver National Western Stock Show’s 120th-anniversary commemorative scarves and neckties, produced by Rockmount Ranchwear.
For the past two years, Merrill has taught drawing workshops at the Art of the Cowgirl Gathering in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Being invited to the main event’s Quick Draw is a meaningful addition to her repertoire.
“I love the mission of Art of the Cowgirl and everything it represents,” she says. “I’m so honored to be in the quick draw with the other talented women artists.”
As she prepares to step into the Quick Draw arena for the first time, Merrill brings not only decades of artistic growth but also an intimacy with the moments she faithfully portrays. See her and her fellow artists in the heat of action at Art of the Cowgirl on February 24 and 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The finished paintings will be auctioned during the event, and awards will be given.
