Fine Art Prints, Sculptures, and Paintings of Horses

About Equine Artist Ann Reynolds

Hi! My name is Ann Reynolds and this picture is of me riding Ibn Erka (Son of Erka), a purebred Arabian gelding that belonged to Congressman John Slack of West Virginia. Erka and I showed the "circuit" as Western Pleasure and Costume Class. The costume Erka is wearing was an authentic saddle and harness that was the last piece of business conducted before the Iranian embassy closed. The costume I am wearing was custom made for me to my color specifications.

Erka and I won almost everything we entered including Costume Class at the International Horse Show in Washington, D. C.  Dream Chaser and Rhinestone were both modeled after the Arabian type.

My love of horses seems to have come from a great, great Grandfather, who raised horses before the Civil War. My desire to pursue art came from my father's side of the family: an Uncle showing his art in the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, DC. Painting horses is a natural expression of my inherent abilities and loves.

I have a degree in Art Education and adopted sign painting as a vocation. My first public showing of my carousel and unicorn art work was at the Burlington Carousel Festival in Fall 1998. The festival was hosting the National Carousel Association convention. My art work was well received garnering many new friends and admirers of Dream Chaser and Rhinestone.

When I was 10 years old, our next-door neighbor in northern Virginia gave me some clay so that I could form whatever I wanted.  She was a working artist and sculptress.  She said she would fire my figures in the kiln.  Well, now, I did three sculptures (all horses, of course) and did my best to get all the "bubbles" out of the clay.   She said if I didn't get the bubbles out, then my pieces could explode in the extreme temperatures of the kiln.  Only one piece made it through "alive."   I was stunned that the other two horses didn't make it!

My mother had kept that one piece for many years.  In 1999 she gave the little horse to me along with some family heirlooms that she thought I should have.  That one precious little clay horse head (with its now broken ears) renewed my desire to sculpt.  But I still didn't want to work so hard on something (and some of us also "bond" with our works of art!) then have it "explode" in the kiln.

I was "discovered" at the craft store where I worked (played) part time.  A lady had seen my original painting of a carousel horse displayed there and asked if I had ever tried sculpting.  I told her that I had but it had been years ago.  She gave me the name of a man who was looking for carvers or sculptors.  I called the gentleman to inquire of his needs and explained that I wish I knew a substance that would not "explode".  If I could find that substance, I would try again and would let him know if I could indeed still sculpt.  He immediately gave me the name of that substance.  I purchased some from the craft store where I worked.  My mother had been ill and had been staying with me.  While we were having a casual conversation at the dining room table, I picked up a ball of clay and began to shape it as I talked with Mother.  Dream Chaser was born!

This original piece didn't make it however.  My inexperience dealt it a deadly blow.  The second Dream Chaser is even more handsome than the first!!

The gentleman I was referring to is Mr. Jim McDaniel of PJ's Carousel Collectibles.  I sculpt for him and I sculpt for my own business.   Mr. McDaniel reproduces each piece in a quality resin called Gemstone.  His resident artist then painstakingly hand paints it.

My Fantasy Series carousel horses are totally from my imagination, but I love each one as if it were a real animal.  The pieces from PJ's each have a fine heritage from "real life" operating carousels around the world.   These beautiful figurines are destined to become cherished family heirlooms inherited by children and grandchildren.

The works you are viewing are only the beginning expressions of my lifelong passions - horses and art.   I hope that I can also continue to create the horses for PJ's that have helped to preserve warm memories for their patrons over the years.

For more information about my work, please contact me by e-mail at themerrygoround2@yahoo.com