Issue 9 Artist Spotlight | Anna Ruby Whitmire
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Anna!
ARW: I have many passions and interests, but the two things that have always stuck out to me are Art and Horses. The two have always intersected to some degree, as horses are my favorite thing to draw and paint, but only recently have I found a way to integrate them fully into a professional body of work. In addition to making art about horses, I love riding and working with them too. I find the practice of horsemanship deeply fulfilling and important to my artistic process. Outside of art and riding, I’m the type of person who is always busy doing something creative. I love to read, write, travel, and spend time outdoors.
2025 is a very special year because I am transitioning from an undergraduate student to a graduate student! I have just graduated from Converse University with my Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. This Fall, I will be attending Florida Atlantic University to pursue an MFA in Visual Art with a concentration in Painting.
C+B: Describe a time when you doubted yourself. Explain the scenario and how you were able to work through it.
ARW: During my junior year of college, I made the decision to try and include horses in my assigned artwork for a drawing class. I told my professor about my desired trajectory of becoming an artist that “does horses.” She was supportive of it, but as I was first creating the work, I realized that being an equine artist was going to be a challenge. I wanted to create “horse art” that was not kitschy or cliche, and was relatable to everyone, not just horse lovers. I had to develop a concept and a visual language that was more than just “I like horses. look at this majestic horse.” Plenty of doubt, failed work, and a couple of embarrassing critiques later, I was unsure if I should continue. To overcome this hurdle, I chose to look to my other interests beyond horses: architecture, nature, and dreamlike landscapes. Once I brought all of these things together, with a little help from my professors and classmates, everything just clicked!
C+B: Describe a time when you felt successful in your creative pursuits. Explain the scenario and what was so impactful for you.
ARW: As a result of that big switch in trajectory, I developed a body of work which includes the art being featured in Clover + Bee. I always knew that art would be a lifetime practice for me, but at the beginning of that journey, I did not believe that I had much of a place in the professional art world. However, as I was making the work during my senior year, everything started to fall into place. My professors and classmates were loving the work, so I proposed for a solo show through my university, and was accepted. I named the show “Hoofstep Odyssey” to represent the journey one takes to regain awareness and connection in a chaotic world, depicted through horses in otherworldly landscapes. I applied to many exhibitions and other opportunities, just to see what would happen, with surprisingly positive results. Two of my paintings were accepted to my university’s juried show, and one received best in show. I then used the work to apply to Graduate school, fully aware of the possibility of rejection. Two of the three schools I applied to rejected me, but one accepted. After my show was over, I chose to commit to Florida Atlantic University, continuing this fulfilling and exciting new journey! Creating Hoofstep Odyssey was so impactful because it allowed me to achieve things I never thought I could, and has taken my passion for art to new heights.
Find and support Anna here:
IG: @horseandherondesign
Website: horseandherondesign.weebly.com
(The Torchbearer, oil and acrylic on canvas, 10” x 10” ©Anna Ruby Whitmire)
Me in 3 words: I am an authentic, fanciful hippophile! I value authenticity because being my most genuine self in everything I do is essential not only to my art, but to my whole life. I am fanciful because of my active imagination, romantic view of the world, and fascination with dreamscapes and worlds beyond our own. And finally, a hippophile is simply a lover of horses!
My favorite artist of all time: My favorite artist right now is Walton Ford. I love how his animal paintings don’t just glorify the animals, but criticize how people have interacted with them. They are both beautiful and impactful. This taught me that it is possible to develop such a concept within my own work. I also find ample inspiration in the surrealism movement, from artists like MC Escher and Leonora Carrington.
A medium I’ve never tried but want to: I have wanted to try large-scale mural painting for a while now. This desire stems from my love for painting, which grew tremendously throughout my time in college, and how much fun I had creating large-scale paintings. Why not try doing something spectacularly huge, and seeing what happens? The only thing holding me back is a lack of materials and space to paint. Once I can locate the right materials, and an unsuspecting wall, I’ll be unstoppable!
Anna Ruby Whitmire
