A lifelong entrepreneur and artist, Tammy Tappan has always had a knack for creating things. Starting in her college years while attending art school, she founded and ran a successful sign business, which led to a 30-year venture. Since making the transition to a full-time artist in 2016, Tammy now captures the emotion and spirit of horses through both sculpture and painting. Initially starting as a sculptor, Tammy worked in clay to create pieces that would eventually be cast in bronze. Her collection now includes over 30 molds that range in size from 6” to 8’ tall. With the foundry process taking anywhere from 6-12 months to complete, Tammy started painting in between projects. With over a decade of successful art sales, Tammy has developed a signature style to her work that is immediately recognizable.
What Does the Creative Process Look Like for Painting?
Tammy’s signature painting process was developed almost entirely by accident. Her illustration background from art school had trained her to be precise and exact. She found herself caught up in the meticulous details, creating work that felt, in her own words, “static and boring and not truly representative of what I was trying to accomplish.”
The breakthrough finally came during a moment of distraction. While working in her studio at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina, visitors stopped by and she stepped away from her painting. To keep her acrylic work from drying out, Tammy misted water over the canvas before turning to engage in conversation. When she returned to finish her painting, she found a canvas dripping with pigment. “There were ghost images of what was. I was taken aback by ‘oh it’s free!’ So I thought maybe I could go back and enhance the pieces that are left. And that is where my style came from.”
That moment of surrender, of accepting what the paint wanted to do rather than controlling every aspect, unlocked something essential. Contrary to her self-proclaimed Type A personality, she found peace and freedom in the lack of control to let the paint move according to its own nature. This dripping technique quickly became her signature, creating work that’s instantly identifiable as a Tammy Tappan original.
Inspirations
Tammy’s artistic identity has always been centered around horses, but her interest goes far beyond aesthetic appeal. While she has been surrounded by high competition venues such as Tryon, NC; Fort Worth, Texas; Las Vegas, NV; and now the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, FL, she is not a competitor herself. “I wanted to be able to communicate through art the emotional connection and relationship that I have with a horse. A familiar feeling for many equestrians.”
Most Challenging Aspect?
Given Tammy’s goal to communicate the emotion, her greatest challenge lies in that very pursuit. “It is very difficult to try and convey something you feel rather than see,” she explains. “When you force it, you lose it all together. So I think the pieces that are most effective come as a surprise.” Simply stated, “The tension between having to control everything and letting yourself just be, that is where the good art comes from.”
When it all goes right in the studio, the pieces come easily, and the conversations around them are impactful, it’s as if all the dots have been connected… and finally, the artwork chooses its collector.
“There is definitely something going on with a handful of pieces,” Tammy notes, mentioning works like “Window to the Soul” and “Gypsy Soul.”
Tammy rarely gets attached to her own pieces, but about two years ago, she painted “Purpose”. While on the easel, she was surprised by her own response to the piece; apparently, it had chosen her. Instead of it being largely shown to the public, it now lives at her house. “There is something in his eye and the way he’s running that speaks to me and where I’m at in life,” she explains. “I can’t define purpose for you, but I know that it is out there.”
Two Hearts
How does an artist who works in two very different mediums find the harmony that connects them? We may find the answer in Tammy’s latest piece, “Two Hearts”. This sculpture represents a significant breakthrough for the artist, marking what Tammy describes as “the first time that working in clay was more like working in paint.” This piece is the first one where the freedom I have with paint is also reflected in clay.” Ultimately, getting her one step closer to her goal of a unified, artistic identity.
Leap of Faith
“Leap of Faith” is a painting that got its inspiration from Tammy doing just that—taking a leap of faith. In the spring of 2025, she decided to make a big transition and move from Tryon, NC, down to Ocala, FL, to start a new venture and further her artist career. After a few months of both preparing and settling into her new home, Tammy got back in her studio, and this was the first piece she made. It represents a new phase, capturing the exhilaration and terror of jumping into the unknown.
Living the Dream
Reflecting on her life as an artist now, Tammy’s contentment is clear. “I feel like I don’t really have a job anymore,” she says. “I feel like this is something I will keep doing until I’m unable to do it.” This isn’t work in the conventional sense, and it’s become a lifestyle.
Tammy deeply appreciates the people she’s been able to meet and the places she has traveled thanks to her art. “The creative process is who I am, not just confined to what I do,” she explains.
Looking towards the future, Tammy has a distinct dream in mind that captures where horses and art intersect: “Some people dream of living on a beach, some people dream of having a beautiful house in the mountains. Mine would be to have a barndominium where the whole lower level is a studio with airplane hangar doors and stalls at one end with living quarters upstairs. My horses would be able to wander in and out of the studio at liberty while I worked.”
The Artist Behind the Work
When asked what flavor of ice cream she would be, Tammy’s answer is as complex as her art: “This is a complicated question because I would probably be Superman because there’s so many colors, but I don’t like the taste of it. But one day I’m red, one day I’m yellow, one day I’m blue. I’m not just one thing.”
It’s a perfect answer for an artist who embodies contradiction: the Type A personality who finds peace in chaos, the businesswoman who’s most herself when creating, the sculptor who paints and the painter who sculpts. Like Superman ice cream with its swirls of different flavors and colors, Tammy Tappan refuses to be just one thing.
Art That Lives Where You Live
At Equine Instincts, we don’t just showcase art, we create experiences where collectors can connect with pieces that speak to who they are and how they live. Tammy Tappan’s work embodies authenticity, emotional depth, and the courage to trust the process even when you can’t control the outcome. Explore more of Tammy’s artwork online at equineinstincts.com or in person at our pop-up gallery outside of Indoor Arena 2 at the World Equestrian Center.
For life-long equestrian Susan McClafferty, photographing horses isn’t just a job. It’s the intersection of everything she loves and is most passionate about. During the week, Susan works as a consultant, bringing innovation, problem-solving, and technical expertise to a large healthcare system.
For life-long equestrian Susan McClafferty, photographing horses isn’t just a job. It’s the intersection of everything she loves and is most passionate about. During the week, Susan works as a consultant, bringing innovation, problem-solving, and technical expertise to a large healthcare system.
2026 is off to a full gallop at Equine Instincts. January has been an exciting and incredibly busy start to the Florida season.
