Anza Phantom Artist Unmasked and Named Featured Artist for HeART of the High Country June Art Show

Over the past several months the community of Anza has been blessed with hand-painted equestrian-themed signs mysteriously appearing as if a creative ghost in the middle of the night decided to illuminate our roadways with interesting art.

With much provocative debate over who the Anza Phantom Artist is, we have finally unmasked her and her talent. Meet Dr. Susan Eyer-Anderson, local veterinarian and western-themed artist. Susan has lived in Anza for a few years and was inspired to produce several road signs depicting horses, sunsets and other images to designate roads and locations throughout town.

Once discovered, she was invited to join the Anza Valley Art Club and has been designated the “Featured Artist” for the June 10 Spring show at the Community Center.

The Anza Phantom Artist’s first road sign.

Although she’s been painting and drawing since a child, she painted her very first road sign at the end of her own driveway so that in-home healthcare providers could find her place. When her mother, in advanced age, was living with her and required home care visits, the nurses had difficulty finding her address. So instead of constantly repeating a description of her driveway she decided to paint a sign with the road name on it so she could just tell them the look for the sign. Once that one was in place, she created the sign designated Cary Road, and an idea was foaled! Having her husband Dave to help with the heavy lifting and inspiration, she began painting new signs and installing them quietly around town: Bautista Road, Hill Road, Terwilliger and the VFW and KOYT signs were born. She said that sometimes she and her husband were in broad daylight putting the signs up and still no one seemed to notice them doing it.

However, the congregation of Calvary Chapel of High Country was on the inside track because she openly painted the outside of their church. We all see it sitting back from the 371 with the huge “Jesus Saves” mural on its side.

The Anza Phantom Artist painted this mural at Calvary Chapel on Highway 371 in Anza.

She noticed that Cary Rd didn’t have a good sign, so she created one there. “I was pleasantly surprised that so many people liked it and appreciated it. I wanted to contribute to this town, but I wanted to remain anonymous. I just felt like it didn’t matter who painted them, and it seemed a bit ostentatious to claim it was me. The recognition didn’t matter and it almost felt like a tithing to the town. But then it became fun being dubbed the ‘Phantom Artist’.“

Born Susan Eyer in Los Angeles to Gilbert and Nina Eyer, she spent many years in Los Angeles and Tustin. Although Susan has not received a formal education in art, both of her parents were graduates of Pasadena’s Art Center. They were graphic designers by day and fine artists by night. Not only did she inherit the talent, she was exposed to it every day growing up. “Dad worked for a mean man during the day so he learned to decompressed in the evenings by painting in oils. He had an easel set up in the garage and I spent a lot of time watching him paint very realistically. His focus on realism seemed to make him more calm. I yearned to impress him with my own talents. Mom was a watercolorist and more loose and impressionistic with her style. I was very fortunate to learn from both of them.”

Susan revealed, “Because all the animals I had growing up either died or dad just treated them himself, I decided early on to become a veterinarian.” She attended Santa Ana College, Central Washington University and eventually Washington State University for veterinarian school. Following school she moved to Northern California for a few years and discovered a love for endurance horseback riding.

“I loved horses growing up and I’ve always had a horse since I was 7 or 8 years old, which has led me to love drawing and painting horses all my life. Because I wanted to impress my Dad with my art skills I was always working hard to draw and paint them correctly.”

Susan’s dad passed away 30 years ago and never really saw how she’s excelled as an artist. But to this day, concentrating on her skills with both animals and art, she’s still working to gain his blessings.

Inspired by her love for animals Susan’s passion has always been about horses, specifically Mustangs and eventually became aware of the plight for wild horses. The Kiger Mustang is a strain of Mustang horse located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. These Mustangs are thought to be one of the most pure herds of Spanish Mustangs existing in the wild today. Most wild horses are of mixed breeding while the Kiger Mustangs possess all of the characteristics of the Spanish Barb from which the Spanish Mustang came and by today's standards the Kiger Mustang appears to be a pure breed.

This acrylic painting of Mestenõ represents Eyer-Anderson’s devotion to the wild Mustangs.

Dr. Anderson has recently adopted a Stone Cabin Mustang from a Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada. “ I was able to both pick him out and ride him. His name is Jagger.”

Dr. Eyer-Anderson riding her rescued Mustang Jagger in Anza.

Along with being a veterinarian and an artist, Susan has also been a recording artist in Nashville. She pursued her song writing and performance career back east and has had several songs published. Her goal wasn’t to become a star, but simply to be heard. However, she missed the West coast and moved back to Temecula in the late 90s.

Susan’s official Nashville recording artist photo.

In 1998, she and her husband Dave bought a home in Sage then moved up to the high country of Anza in 2013. She exclaimed, “ I just love the trails, horseback riding and the people in Anza. I’ve been fortunate to meet other riders who love endurance riding and have become involved with them.” Eyer-Anderson is currently planning and hosting Anza’s first American Endurance Ride Conference sanctioned ride. Named the Iron Horse Challenge, it will take place September 23-24 in Anza on a trail that she created.

Dr. Eyer-Anderson at work.

You may remember the mobile veterinarian who would come to Anza. That was Dr. Eyer-Anderson. She now works for the Ramona Humane society, the Small Animal Care Hospital in San Jacinto and Menifee’s low-cost spay and neuter clinic. She said it was a lot of driving so when asked if she’d ever consider becoming the local mobile vet again, she smiled and said maybe!

Acrylic is this artist’s medium of choice. She claims to be an impulsive painter and too impatient to wait for oil to dry. Acrylic is a clean and odor-free medium.

Eyer-Anderson is shown here working on a horse painting for the Spring HeART of the High Country Art Show.

About expressing yourself as an artist she stated, “There’s room for all of us to express ourselves, whether it’s a hobby or for a living if you are inspired to be creative then you should create.”

When asked if there are more Phantom Artist signs in progress she replied, “You never know where one is going to pop up next!”

Come and meet your Anza Phantom Artist at the Annual Spring HeART of the High Country Art show on Saturday, June 10. The show will be from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Susan Eyer-Anderson is the featured artist along with other members from the Art Club. The show will be held in the Community Hall on Highway 371.