About me
I am an artist born in 1991 in Kouvola, Finland. Horses and art have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, although when I was younger my subjects revolved more around dogs—I was a huge fan of Silver Fang. At some point, however, I became completely fascinated by horses. At first I mostly read about them and filled notebooks and sketchpads with drawings of horses.
I love doing anything related to them: I enjoy riding—especially trail riding—the most, but I equally value simply spending time with horses and observing them. They teach you to be present and to slow down.
Fun fact: I still remember my very first Google search! The year was probably around 1998, and the search word was unicorn (I had to ask my big brother how to spell it). One particular image of a unicorn seemed to me like the most beautiful picture I had ever seen in the world. From that moment on, a small, light unicorn obsession has stayed with me.
(The image in question is Forest in the Light by Sue Dawe.)
The unicorn symbolizes beauty, wonder, and carefree joy to me. Perhaps that’s why I paint them so often: a small part of me wants to bring that same feeling from my childhood into today’s fast-paced world—a moment where you can pause, breathe, and let imagination and wonder carry you away.
My art carries a message about a slower way of living and the importance of focusing on real life rather than social media and other “distractions.” It aims to bring peace of mind, compassion, and the courage to pause and sit with yourself for a moment—without hurry, without noise, just being and being present. At the same time, it encourages listening to your own thoughts, allowing them and your emotions to come and go, and being with yourself just as you are.
My art also encourages you to look around and find beauty in small things that are often taken for granted, such as the tops of pine trees glowing in the evening sun or a misty lake on an October morning. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate quiet, peaceful days—you tend to long for them especially when life is stormy. In those moments you might wish for nothing more than an ordinary day. Now I want to notice those days here and now and appreciate them through my art as well.
—Anna
The horses shown in the photographs are not mine. But they're indeed excellent trail companions!
