Artists We Heart Ed. 160: Meet 27 New iCanvas Creators

Oxana Lazari’s art invites you into a realm where nature and the cosmos collide in harmonious beauty. Specializing in acrylics, her work spans across animals, botanical elements, celestial landscapes, and underwater worlds, all brought to life through her signature pointillism technique. Lazari’s dot art weaves intricate patterns, blending colors and textures into captivating, cohesive images that evoke both wonder and tranquility. With inspirations drawn from the universe, flora, fauna, and psychedelic abstraction, her creations offer a mesmerizing escape into the unknown.

Zay Yar Lin’s photography transports you into a world where landscapes, culture, and human connection converge through captivating storytelling. With roots in painting, his self-taught journey has shaped a unique perspective that merges traditional techniques with a deep understanding of light, composition, and color. Lin’s work captures not just moments but the essence and emotion of the people and places he encounters, evoking a sense of wonder and curiosity in every frame. As a ship’s captain by profession, he explores destinations during his travels, drawing inspiration from renowned photographers and his passion for painting.

Esther Franchuk’s art is a vibrant fusion of abstract realism, where nature’s beauty and her cultural heritage come together in visually poetic expressions. Working with acrylics, oils, inks, and collage, she crafts dreamy, atmospheric pieces that tell intricate stories through color and texture. Inspired by the unique beauty found in nature and animals that hold personal meaning to her, Franchuk’s art transforms human experiences into shared moments of creativity and beauty.

Paula Such Sánchez’s art captivates with its exploration of abstract forms, brought to life through her intuitive drawing of flowing, rhythmic shapes. Using markers with meticulous precision, she creates intricate designs that invite viewers to get lost in the movement of her work. Inspired by the natural elegance of fluid forms, Sánchez translates this beauty into visually compelling pieces that feel both dynamic and harmonious.

Michael J. Harrell, a self-taught artist who began his creative journey in the first grade, has always been drawn to the beauty of natural light. Inspired by the works of Winslow Homer and other 19th and early 20th century artists, Harrell captures seascapes, landscapes, and architecture, often with a mid-century flair. His process involves detailed pencil sketches that evolve into layered watercolor or oil paintings, showcasing his versatile approach.

Jean Paul Courchia’s art draws you into the peaceful light and serene landscapes of Provence, where the color blue plays a central role in his exploration of light, shadow, and the connection between worlds. Inspired by Fauvism and Impressionism, and influenced by artists like Matisse and Cézanne, Courchia blends these classic styles with modern elements to create works that evoke a deep sense of calm. His paintings often feature windows, symbolizing the transition between the inside and outside, capturing the essence of Provençal houses and terraces.

Hyesoo Han’s art captures the essence of nature and the ocean’s waves through a stunning blend of traditional Korean coloring techniques and contemporary themes. Mixing mineral pigments with animal glue, she creates shimmering, vibrant colors that bring her subjects to life. From tranquil seascapes to reflective still lifes, Han’s work draws viewers into the natural world, while also exploring social issues through a deeply thoughtful lens. With each piece, she pushes the boundaries of her art, weaving together tradition and innovation.

Seamus Dao’s art is a captivating fusion of nature’s beauty and human emotion, where the fluid gradients of sunsets, flowers, and oceans meet the subtleties of personal experience. Working with acrylics and ink, Dao breaks traditional boundaries by merging colors, materials, and shapes to create thought-provoking visual journeys. Deeply connected to environmental and social causes like climate change and equality, his work intertwines the natural world with the human spirit.

Melissa Findley’s photography captures the raw beauty of the natural world, celebrating the intimate moments found in the landscapes, wildlife, and people she encounters on her travels. Inspired by nature’s powerful wonder, her work invites viewers to explore the unique stories of each place and its inhabitants, evoking a deep connection to the earth and its treasures. With every image, Findley aims to foster appreciation for the environment, a passion she furthers through her support of 1% for the Planet.

Carrie Goller’s art is a dynamic blend of mediums, including alcohol ink, acrylic, encaustic, and oil, each reflecting the depth of her rich inner world. Inspired by dreams, nature, and the beauty in life’s everyday moments, Goller’s work ranges from whimsical creature paintings to thoughtful still lifes. Her impressionist oils capture a tender passion for daily life, inviting viewers to find joy in the ordinary. A signature member of Artists for Conservation, she merges her love for art with a commitment to environmental advocacy. After a brush with mortality, Goller embraced her artistic path with dedication.

Jessica Wood’s art is a celebration of joy, inspired by simple, cherished moments from her past, like the flowers her grandmother lovingly arranged on her porch. These memories fuel her creative process as she reimagines traditional still life through vibrant, modern interpretations. With a no-rules approach to blending mediums, Wood creates colorful, imaginative works that radiate happiness and positivity. Having dreamed of being an artist since second grade, she now channels her lifelong passion into her craft.

Martin Elsner’s art is a bold and vibrant exploration of color, shape, and texture, deeply influenced by the graffiti culture and modern art from around the world. Working with acrylics, typography, and mixed media, Elsner merges fluid, organic shapes with bold geometric forms to create compositions that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant. His work strikes a perfect balance between spontaneity and control, inviting viewers to delve into the complexity of his textured, dynamic creations. Growing up immersed in urban life and graffiti culture, Elsner’s fascination with the colors and textures of his hometown sparked a lifelong passion.

Katy Neely’s art radiates with the vibrant energy of creation, blending impressionistic and abstract styles to capture a wide range of subjects, from animals and wildlife to floral landscapes, religious themes, and serene seascapes. Her unique use of color and texture breathes life into every piece, inviting viewers to experience the beauty she finds in the world around her. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Neely and her family are dedicated to serving their community, volunteering at a local nursing home to care for senior adults.

Cindy Kaufman’s art bursts with vibrant life, drawing viewers into a whimsical world where flowers, landscapes, and nature come alive with emotion. Her semi-abstract style, rich with bold colors and joyful shapes, evokes a deep connection to the natural world, as if the flora is leaping off the canvas. With a background in architecture and interior design, Kaufman brings an intricate attention to detail to her work, but art allows her to break free from structured guidelines and embrace pure creative expression. Inspired by the beauty and emotion of floral elements, her work immerses viewers in an environment full of life and energy.

Ronald Hunter’s vibrant artworks are a celebration of color and joy, blending the energy of graphic design with the beauty of cityscapes, landscapes, and portraits. Using acrylics as his primary medium, Hunter creates colorful, happy scenes that evoke a sense of optimism and positivity. His diverse techniques allow him to explore a range of styles, all infused with his unique perspective. Inspired by the visual language of graphic design, Hunter’s work invites viewers into a world where color and form come together to celebrate life’s simple pleasures.

Donna McKellar’s oil paintings, often described as romantic realism, beautifully capture the interplay of light and space across serene landscapes, architecture, and seascapes. Her tranquil scenes, often featuring gentle light and solitary buildings, evoke a quiet reflection on solitude and the beauty within stillness. Using a meticulous layering technique on fine linen, McKellar begins with an underpainting and builds up layers of oil paint to create depth and texture. Compelled by a lifelong passion for art, her work blends photorealism with a romanticized vision of isolation.

Kseniya Rai’s art is a celebration of positivity and tranquility, inspired by the spiritual essence of water and its ability to evoke peace in an ever-changing world. Blending realism with abstraction, her vibrant works are rich in color and technique, incorporating materials like oil paints, acrylics, and spray paint. A passionate diver, Rai draws from her deep connection to nature’s vastness and serenity, bringing that sense of calm to her pieces. Whether reflecting the fluidity of water or the emotional depth it symbolizes, her art invites viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their innermost feelings.

Cornelia Weber’s still life compositions beautifully capture the delicate balance between nature’s beauty and its imperfections. Inspired by the cycles of growth and decay, Weber creates floral arrangements using flowers she grows herself, placing them in timeless settings to highlight the unique character of each bloom. Her work masterfully emphasizes color combinations, textures, and movement, inviting viewers to appreciate the artistry found in nature. As a passionate member of the German slow flower movement, Weber combines her love for photography and sustainability.

Kenzo Ejiri’s photography captures the essence of life in its most candid and unguarded moments. With a photojournalistic approach, his work tells stories before the subject even notices the camera, offering an intimate glimpse into natural interactions and everyday beauty. Inspired simply by the act of breathing, Kenzo’s lens uncovers the narratives hidden in ordinary moments, transforming them into powerful visual stories. With a curious mind and a camera always in hand, he finds inspiration in life’s simplicity.

Sheree Smith’s vibrant paintings beautifully capture the essence of nature and the passage of time through playful abstract lines and bold, joyful colors. Inspired by the stunning landscapes of Jervis Bay and the changing seasons, her work explores the simplicity of mark-making to represent moments, memories, and emotions. Each stroke is a reflection of her connection to life’s explorations, etching experiences into the canvas. With a focus on health, well-being, and environmental care, her art practice serves as a mindfulness exercise, bringing positivity and self-care to both her and her viewers.

South Island Art’s work is a vibrant celebration of travel and nature, blending bold shapes and colors to capture the essence of a location in a specific moment. Influenced by the Impressionists, she combines geometric forms and hand-painted textures with digitally-drawn architectural elements to create dynamic, evocative pieces. Her art beautifully explores the contrast between nature’s organic forms and the precision of urban structures, reflecting the diversity of the environments she’s experienced. A childhood spent living in different countries across Southeast Asia sparked her lifelong passion for travel, and now her work brings those memories to life.

Sam Ashton’s work masterfully bridges the gap between nature and urban environments, capturing the essence of both worlds through his use of acrylic, collage, graphite, and pigment. With a tactile, experimental approach, Ashton explores the textures of seascapes, landscapes, and cityscapes, creating layered, intricate pieces that evoke a deep connection to our surroundings. His art, often crafted by hand and occasionally refined with digital editing, immerses viewers in the rich details of the natural and built environments. Having discovered his passion for art while making flyers for local gigs in London, Ashton’s style evolved through art school.

Alison Gilbert’s vibrant mixed media and acrylic creations are a celebration of the natural world, blending bold abstract shapes with intricate patterns and textures. Her expressive landscapes and decorative elements captivate from afar, while revealing rich detail up close, inviting viewers to explore the layers of her work. With a background in textile and interior design, Gilbert’s pieces reflect a lifelong passion for creativity. As the director of ‘SMart,’ an arts and culture community in the UK, she combines her love for artistic expression with a dedication to nurturing fellow artists and fostering creative communities.

Andreas Stoessel’s art is a meditation on mindfulness and reflection, inviting viewers to pause and connect with the present moment. Through a variety of mediums, Stoessel explores themes of health, wellness, nature, and the figurative, all with a focus on finding inner balance. Every brushstroke and line is thoughtfully placed to evoke calm and contemplation, offering a space for personal connection and growth. His work, much like his approach to life, is not fast-paced or loud but carefully observant, driven by a curiosity to understand and reflect.

Jody Ahrens’ oil paintings capture the rugged beauty of remote High Country meadows, lakes, and trees with a bold and distinctive style she calls “Edgy Impressionism.” Growing up immersed in art, with both parents being accomplished Impressionists, Ahrens developed a love for painting that blends the traditional with the contemporary. Her work is characterized by bold knife strokes and bright, imaginative colors, evoking the serenity and power of nature in a way that feels both familiar and fresh. Instantly recognizable, her landscapes reflect a deep connection to the natural world.

Josh Peters creates vibrant, abstract contemporary art that pulses with energy and emotion. Working with acrylics, mixed media, and oil paints, Peters begins each piece by “listening” for a color to guide him, believing that colors carry their own vibrations. His process is spontaneous yet harmonious, heavily influenced by mood, texture, and music. Embracing the freedom of painting without mistakes, every brushstroke contributes to the evolution of the final creation. His work has been featured in group shows across Brooklyn, Chelsea, and Soho, reflecting the healing and excitement he finds in art.

Amidst the chaos of today’s world, Shane Townley creates art that reflects this disorder in his striking abstract works, while his landscapes explore the impacts of climate change, with horizons that drip and melt across the canvas. Embracing abstract contemporary modern minimalism, Townley’s art features a unique mix of oils, acrylics, and even coffee, with many pieces drying under the desert sun in Joshua Tree, CA, adding a distinct essence to each creation. A lifelong artist, Townley has always been drawn back to his craft, no matter how far he ventures, embracing the journey that takes him and his work across the globe.