Artists We Heart Ed. 161: Meet 30 New iCanvas Creators

Nibera Visuals brings a distinct retrofuturistic vibe to her mixed-media art, blending analog and digital techniques to create work that feels both nostalgic and visionary. Inspired by nature, history, and environmental issues, her creations reflect a powerful fusion of past, present, and future. Her pieces are often infused with elements from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, explore humanity’s evolving relationship with the planet. She uses her imaginative landscapes and cosmic scenes to spark reflection on the delicate balance between human progress and environmental preservation.

Anna Speirs brings the beauty of Australian flora and the essence of human connection to life in her work, capturing still life, wildlife, and portraits with a heartfelt realism. Her art delves into the delicate dance between light, form, and color, using tone and contrast to infuse her subjects with authenticity and depth. Beginning with drawing and composition, Speirs builds her pieces through layered oil paint, her favorite medium, blending realism with an expressive touch that makes each subject feel alive.

Sara Lee’s art takes viewers on a journey through the emotional landscape, weaving together digital media, colored pencil, and oil painting to express the depth and complexity of human feeling. Inspired by early memories of watching her mother paint, Lee’s pieces blend vibrant geometric patterns with soft, organic forms, creating a unique interplay between structure and fluidity. Her signature rosy cheeks, amoeba-like shapes, and bright hues offer a striking yet intimate contrast, inviting viewers to connect with the nuanced layers of the human spirit.

Adrian Sykes’s art opens a door to a world where imagination reigns, bringing a whimsical charm to cityscapes, landscapes, and purely inventive scenes. His work is marked by playful distortions of scale and perspective, often blending humor with hints of isolation in surreal landscapes. Growing up in the industrial North of England, Sykes developed a love for storytelling and a vivid imagination, enriched by his travels and studies in fine art across Liverpool and Bath. Fascinated by the “alchemy” between artist and viewer, he creates pieces that invite diverse interpretations.

Anato Finnstark’s art is a captivating journey into dark fantasy, where bold silhouettes and vibrant, evocative colors bring haunting visions to life. Influenced by music, nature, nightmares, and pop culture, his compositions are layered with symbolic meaning, blending the macabre with unexpected beauty. Finnstark’s dynamic brushstrokes and rich textures create a tactile, raw energy in each piece, a testament to his passion for capturing the spirit of imagination without the interference of AI. His work invites viewers to interpret his intricate, shadowed worlds.

Jacquie Gouveia’s art radiates with a joyful energy that brings the beauty of nature into every piece. From the moment she could hold a crayon, Gouveia felt the call to create, drawn to the magic of color and its power to uplift. Her minimalistic landscapes and seascapes showcase the harmony of vibrant hues, transforming simple compositions into powerful expressions of positivity. With colors that seem to pulse and vibrate, her work captures the boundless beauty of the natural world, inviting viewers to feel the kindness and joy that she pours into each piece.

Cansu Rossi’s art radiates with the joy of life’s simple pleasures, transforming everyday scenes into vibrant celebrations of color and warmth. A self-taught artist with a background in architecture, Rossi’s attention to detail and clear, expressive style shine through in her work, where each piece becomes a “happy place” filled with positivity. Her mixed-media compositions capture still life, food, animals, and cultural moments, inspired by memories and the beauty of the ordinary.

Jonna Hyttinen’s art transports viewers into a realm where nature’s creatures and mythical beings come alive, each piece radiating a sense of timeless beauty and enchantment. With a lifelong love for art that reignited a decade ago, she now fully dedicates herself to capturing the spirit of wildlife and fantasy, blending the familiar with the fantastical. Her work invites us to explore a world where legend and reality harmonize, celebrating animals both real and imagined. Deeply passionate about animal welfare, Hyttinen has given a loving home to rescue cats, a reflection of her compassion for all creatures.

Hanna Beisang’s art captures the beauty of nature and the stories woven into our favorite places, celebrating the meaningful moments that bring us closer to the world around us. Growing up in a family of creatives, with her father as her first art teacher, Beisang has always felt a deep connection to art. Her mixed-media pieces blend wildlife, seasonal landscapes, and thoughtful quotes, each infused with bold colors and striking scales. She brings elements of history and culture into her work, complementing the natural world with touches of human experience.

Cecelia Cheung’s art is a serene exploration of nature, introspection, and personal journey, reflecting her experiences as a mother, woman of faith, and Chinese Canadian. Rooted in abstract expressionism, her large-scale works bring together vibrant colors and rich textures, creating spaces of calm and contemplation. Her journey in art deepened during the pandemic, as painting became a way to find healing and peace in uncertain times. From early creative pursuits to evening art classes while practicing law, Cheung’s artistic path has been one of continuous growth.

Pavel Oskin’s photography is a tribute to the breathtaking elegance of nature and the human form, capturing moments of beauty that often go unnoticed. Self-taught and deeply passionate about his craft, Oskin’s journey began in 2001, shaped by his studies with celebrated photographer Vasily Fetisov and a constant commitment to learning. His work reflects a belief that true artistry lies in appreciating fleeting, delicate moments – those rare instances of natural perfection crafted by Mother Nature herself. Each image invites viewers to pause and find tranquility.

Oluwafemi Afolabi’s art is a vibrant testament to hope, love, and the strength found in nature and spirituality. Deeply inspired by his mother, personal life experiences, and a love for the natural world—especially the calming presence of green and animals like the bat—Afolabi’s work resonates with themes of resilience and optimism. Blending fine art, pop art, realism, and abstract styles, he creates figurative and conceptual pieces that challenge and uplift, reminding viewers that there is always something good to look forward to.

IKARUNA’s art transports viewers into the enchanting realms of fantasy and imagination, drawing inspiration from sci-fi books, video games, legends, and folk tales that captivated her as a child. Specializing in digital matte painting and concept art, her work combines layered textures, intricate details, and 3D elements, creating immersive scenes that feel both otherworldly and profoundly inviting. Self-taught and always learning, IKARUNA honed her skills through years of dedication to books, tutorials, and endless experimentation.

Luise Ellerbrock’s art captures the beauty of emotions and the essence of everyday life through fluid, abstract compositions that invite calm and introspection. Fascinated by the visual language of color, light, and texture, Ellerbrock translates her inspirations into harmonious pieces using acrylic, ink, digital art, and mixed media. Her organic shapes and vibrant, balanced palettes bring a sense of movement to minimalist spaces, enhancing environments with a serene yet dynamic energy.

Victoria Coleman’s art brims with vibrant energy, capturing the humor and unpredictability of life’s everyday moments in colorful, layered compositions. With a background in prop making, she brings a unique perspective to her art, blending loose, sketchy lines with vivid layers that convey both whimsy and depth. Her work explores playful contradictions, tackling everything from still life to figurative scenes, even addressing themes like menopause with a refreshing dose of humor.

Henric Aryee’s art is a dynamic fusion of hip hop culture, street art, and classic painting techniques, blending the raw energy of the urban scene with the richness of Renaissance influences. Since childhood, Aryee has been captivated by the act of creating, constantly seeking new ways to express his artistic voice. His portraits and pop culture pieces balance the edginess of Art Brut with the refined detail of realism, capturing depth and character with a modern, vibrant flair.

Claire Bowen’s art captures the beauty and spirit of the natural world, inviting viewers into a vibrant realm filled with light and freedom. Fascinated by the colors, shapes, and hidden wonders of her surroundings since childhood, Bowen translates these inspirations into painterly abstracts using mixed media and collage. Her works, influenced by landscapes, seascapes, and seasonal shifts, come alive through her mastery of techniques like glazing, scratching, and scumbling, creating rich textures and depth.

Eran Fowler’s art invites viewers to step into a vivid, parallel universe where the boundaries between inner dreams and outer realities blur. Through magical realism, he explores human identity, civil rights, and the symbolism woven into our personal mythologies, crafting works that urge us to question assumptions and embrace our unique stories. Inspired by pop culture and his passion for advocacy, Fowler uses vibrant symbolism and imagination to create a connection between viewers and the worlds they carry within.

Jill Labieniec’s art invites viewers into the magical world of childhood daydreams, where animals, botanicals, and decorative elements come together in enchanting scenes. Inspired by the fantastical, limitless daydreams of youth, she blends traditional and digital techniques to create layered, textured visuals that transport the imagination. Each piece encourages a moment of escape, offering a whimsical respite from reality. A lifelong creator, Labieniec brings to life what she wishes to see in the world, crafting art that nurtures space for wonder and growth.

Azhmodai’s art dives into the mystical realms of fantasy, mythology, and horror, drawing viewers into darkly alluring worlds filled with symbolism and intrigue. Deeply inspired by horror stories and the mysteries of the human unconscious, his works evoke a sense of wonder and the unknown. Beginning each piece with pencil, pen, and ink, Azhmodai then digitally enhances his creations, blending traditional and digital techniques to create a distinct, layered aesthetic.

Shina Choi’s art captures the serene beauty of natural landscapes, revealing the harmony and subtle magic that exist within each season. Inspired by the fulfillment she finds in the creative process, Choi translates the images in her mind into Impressionist landscapes and abstract compositions using acrylic, charcoal, gouache, and ink. Her approach to abstraction is experimental, allowing her to explore the forms and colors of nature in new ways, creating pieces that feel both spontaneous and deeply intentional.

Paul Barnes’s art transports viewers to a world where the beauty of nature and the mystique of Scottish folklore intertwine. Growing up in rural northern Scotland, Barnes was inspired by the rich landscapes and tales passed down through generations, influences that now shape his timeless, dreamlike creations. Drawing from Italian frescoes and Dutch and Flemish Renaissance paintings, he layers plaster on wood panels, staining and sealing each piece before meticulously adding fine brushwork in acrylic or oil. Inspired by his grandmother, a self-taught painter, Barnes followed his early love for drawing into a lifelong passion.

Aliriza Cakir’s art invites viewers into a dreamlike world where marine life meets the cosmos, creating surreal scenes that celebrate freedom, beauty, and the mysteries of nature. Majestic whales, rays, and sea turtles glide through vast seascapes and cosmic expanses, embodying a sense of liberation and wonder. Inspired by the graphic novels and nature documentaries of his youth, Cakir weaves together elements of the ocean and universe, blurring the line between land, sea, and stars. A dedicated visual arts teacher, he aims to inspire his students with his recent creations, modeling how art can be both meaningful and impactful.

Rob van Hoek’s art captures the timeless allure of landscapes through an imaginative play of color, form, and perspective. Inspired by the ever-changing scenery and the solitary process of painting, van Hoek composes works that go beyond traditional depictions, blending landscape elements into unique, abstracted scenes. His use of simple lines, dots, and textured underpaintings with paint mixed with wax brings depth and a tactile quality to each piece. By shifting perspectives, he creates a sense of fluidity, inviting viewers to explore landscapes that feel both familiar and dreamlike.

Svetlana Aleynikova’s art invites viewers into surreal dreamscapes where reality and fantasy intertwine, revealing the hidden depths of the human soul. Through a variety of mediums, she captures complex emotions and universal experiences, using her art as a language to express what words often cannot. Her work explores the profound and uncharted layers of inner worlds, inviting introspection and a sense of shared understanding. For her, art is not just a creative outlet but a meaningful way to connect with others and leave a lasting impression on the world.

Coleman Senecal’s art captures the serene beauty of nature through realistic seascapes and open-water scenes, where light, shadow, and movement play harmoniously. Although she took a few art classes in high school and at Virginia Wesleyan University, her journey as an oil painter truly began during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Inspired by the sweeping drama of skies and the gentle, endless motion of water, Senecal blends realism and impressionism with a traditional touch, creating landscapes that resonate with the soul.

Patrick Quirke’s art invites viewers on a surreal journey, where vibrant colors and abstract forms come together to explore themes of truth, spirituality, and the whimsical absurdity of life. Driven by a deep-seated urge to express himself beyond words, Quirke creates psychedelic compositions that reveal fantastical worlds filled with humor and reflection. Inspired by the pursuit of understanding, his work is both motivational and meditative, encouraging viewers to find lightness in the complex paths we all navigate. From an early age, his parents encouraged his artistic talents, sparking a lifelong, self-driven journey into the creative realm.

Sophia Persephone Ambrose’s art delves into the profound depths of human emotion and expression, blending realism with a free-flowing abstraction that captures the essence of her subjects. After a long hiatus from painting, she reignited her passion at the age of 45, compelled to return to portraiture and explore the boundless potential of color and form. Her intuitive process channels a higher energy, reflecting her deep connection to spiritual awakening and the enlightenment of humanity. Her work, driven by a devotion to harmony and the expressive power of color, invites viewers into a journey of self-discovery and emotional resonance.

Tobias Roetsch’s art transports viewers to awe-inspiring realms that blend the surreal with the real, capturing the beauty of nature, space, and cityscapes in breathtaking detail. Inspired by a desire to create his own worlds, Roetsch’s work invites audiences to explore fantastical scenes that feel both otherworldly and grounded, evoking a sense of wonder and possibility. His ability to balance imagination with realism makes his work uniquely captivating, allowing viewers to lose themselves in vast, cosmic landscapes and ethereal city skylines.

Simona Puidokaite’s art is a journey into abstract minimalism, where simplicity and complexity coexist in harmony. Inspired by the geometric elegance of Barnett Newman and Robert Motherwell, as well as the modernism of the ‘60s and ‘70s, Puidokaite crafts compositions that strip away excess to reveal life’s essence amid chaos. Influenced by the bustling energy of cityscapes, architecture, and the layered intricacies of maps, she creates art that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own interpretations.