Artists We Heart Ed. 162: Meet 20 New iCanvas Creators

Sarah Caudle captures the serene beauty of Hawai’i with her breathtaking artwork, inspired by the coastlines, ocean waves, and tropical flora that surround the islands. Living in Honolulu deepened her passion for painting, leading her to create works that reflect nature’s elegance through sculptural lines and soothing neutral tones in oil paints. Named one of USA Today’s “10 Hawaii-based artists who can bring the tropics to you,” her art has been featured in Modern Luxury Hawai’i and Hawai’i Magazine, as well as on NCIS Hawai’i and HGTV’s Tiny Paradise.

Diana Levin blends the enchanting beauty of nature with the dark allure of macabre horror, creating intricate pieces that are both haunting and captivating. Inspired by fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and the natural world, her work brings otherworldly visions to life with detailed pen and ink artistry. Diana’s creations invite viewers to explore the mesmerizing balance between elegance and the eerie, making her a standout voice in imaginative art.

Eve Anderson finds beauty in the everyday, drawing inspiration from vintage illustrations, nostalgic packaging, and forgotten objects. Her hand-drawn artwork often features “collections” of items, from food and drinks to everyday treasures, using vibrant colors and intricate details to tell a story or deconstruct an idea. With a talent for transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary, Eve’s art invites viewers to rediscover the charm in life’s small, overlooked moments.

Sue Johnson’s artwork celebrates the beauty of shapes, color, and pattern through a playful and intuitive process. Inspired by the details, forms, and textures she observes in the world around her, Sue often incorporates collage elements from her painted and printed papers. Working on found surfaces and paper ephemera, she creates harmonious compositions that blend unexpected marks, textures, and shapes into a captivating visual dialogue.

Daryl Rainbow brings a bold and dynamic touch to the art world, blending classical and romanticist influences with modern urban themes. Inspired by London’s urbanism, film, pop culture, and football, his striking illustrations reimagine famous Neo-Classical works with a contemporary twist. His ongoing series, Neo Neo Classical Hackney, depicts urbanized scenes in Hackney through a vibrant lens, earning accolades like the LONDONR Magazine Illustration Competition award and a shortlist spot in the World Illustration Awards. With an impressive client list including Adidas, Netflix, Arsenal FC, and The Times, Daryl’s work stands out as a captivating blend of tradition and modernity.

Michael McSwiney’s art delves into memory, nature, music, and literature, brought to life through layered mixed media on canvas. Often described as “post-expressionist” and “atmospheric,” his work channels contrasts of light and dark, decay and freedom, and the tactile dualities of oil and water. His creative process is intuitive and subconscious, with images emerging through the layering, removal, and reapplication of materials like tar, pigment, and earth. The result is mood-driven paintings that evoke raw power and elusive beauty, offering hauntingly captivating portraits of nature’s sublime essence.

Charlotte Hardy’s art is a celebration of color, pattern, and decoration, inspired by a childhood love of drawing and an appreciation for outsider and folk art, historic interiors, and lush gardens. Her playful yet refined style transforms still-life objects into ornamental treasures, balancing abundance with a pared-back approach. Using sketchbooks to map out compositions, she layers paint to create depth and texture, bringing her vibrant observations to life with expressive energy and rich detail.

Chantal Custeau’s art is a serene exploration of minimalist design, inspired by her passion for enhancing spaces and the timeless beauty of Wabi Sabi aesthetics. Her self-taught approach embraces the imperfections of nature, meticulously crafting texture with organic fibers and natural pigments. Driven by her design philosophy, Chantal’s work invites tranquility and intentionality into any environment, creating pieces that celebrate simplicity and the beauty found in imperfection.

Jennifer Patzer’s art bursts with bold colors and an energetic graffiti-inspired edge, creating abstract statement pieces that demand attention. Having explored painting as a hobby throughout her life, she found renewed passion during the pandemic, channeling her creativity into vibrant works on canvas. Influenced by the dynamic spirit of street art, Jennifer’s pieces bring a fresh and contemporary flair, making them perfect for anyone looking to add boldness and energy to their space.

Sylvia Colasacco’s art brings whimsical, melancholic scenes to life, capturing children in heartfelt connections with wildlife, pets, and nature. Inspired by childhood memories and her love of animals, Sylvia illustrates tender moments that reflect the comfort and companionship animals provide in an imperfect world. Drawing since she was young, her artistic journey was nurtured by her mother and shaped by the vibrant inspiration of Ann Arbor’s annual Art Fair. Her creations evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder, perfect for those who cherish the beauty of innocence and the natural world.

Leon Grossmann’s art transforms vivid emotions and the beauty of nature into striking visual expressions. Specializing in abstract works, his pieces often carry a sense of movement and emotion, with some resembling landscapes that spark the imagination. Recently, he’s embraced geometry as a focus, blending clean lines and shapes with the dynamic energy of his style. For Leon, painting isn’t just a craft—it’s a vital way to channel feelings and bring his inspirations to life on canvas.

Pattie Horwitz discovered her talent for painting later in life, and it quickly became a meaningful way to share joy and positivity with the world. Overcoming personal challenges, including living with rheumatoid arthritis, has deepened her perspective and inspired her to celebrate resilience through art. Her colorful, bold, and loose paintings bring vibrant energy to everyday subjects like food and animals, turning simple moments into cheerful works of art. Through her creations, Pattie aims to inspire warmth and happiness, capturing the beauty in life’s small, meaningful moments.

Inspired by her mother’s artistic legacy, Isabel Crause channels her passion for creativity into vibrant works that celebrate the beauty of nature. Her contemporary botanical pieces are infused with life and energy, brought to life through expressive brushwork, bold colors, and dynamic compositions. Drawing joy from the natural world, Isabel’s art captures the movement and vitality of her surroundings, offering uplifting creations that brighten any space. 

Inspired by a family legacy of artistic excellence, Naoko Paluszak blends abstraction and figurative elements to create evocative works filled with mystery and drama. Influenced by masters like Milton Avery and Paul Klee, her art bridges bold color palettes with introspective moments, stirring strong emotions and memories in viewers. Educated at the Nihon Designer Gakuin in Tokyo, Naoko’s award-winning style has been showcased in galleries and exhibitions across the U.S., earning acclaim for its probing depth and vibrant compositions.

Julian Bauer channels his love for music, nature, and artistic exploration into immersive, semi-realistic digital paintings. With a passion for crafting worlds others can experience and explore, his creations blend detailed textures with a dreamlike quality. Using a variety of digital tools, Julian’s art invites viewers to step into his imaginative realms, where each piece offers a unique perspective on beauty and creativity.

Lene N Jensen pours layers of feelings and life experiences into her captivating mixed media and paper collage artworks. With a lifelong love for creativity, she combines materials like paint, typography, and paper to craft pieces that resonate with emotion and depth. Each artwork reflects her journey, blending textures and elements to create evocative visuals that invite viewers to explore their own interpretations.

Olesya Izmaylova’s art exudes harmony and emotion, reflecting the calm solitude of her life in a small Finnish town. Painting with acrylic on canvas and paper, her works blend contemporary realism with a focus on light and shadow, creating cozy, honeyed atmospheres that evoke a sense of nostalgia and tranquility. Inspired by everyday objects and the interplay of light, Olesya’s pieces tell personal stories and invite viewers to connect with their own inner worlds. Through subtle details and a balanced color palette, she masterfully conveys mood and atmosphere, making each artwork a visual meditation.

R A Langley creates art with a dynamic blend of calculated structure and vibrant chaos, drawing inspiration from iconic artists like Picasso, Motherwell, Basquiat, and DeKooning. Infused with energy and bold color, Langley’s work seeks to enhance spaces and enrich the lives of collectors with unique, expressive imagery. His pieces balance intentional composition with a sense of unrestrained creativity, offering a visually captivating experience that speaks to both the abstract and the emotional.

Claire Newman-Williams brings a unique perspective to her abstract mixed-media art, drawing inspiration from her career as a photographic artist and the hidden beauty of layered history. Her creative journey began during the renovation of her centuries-old home, where uncovering layers of paint and plaster sparked a fascination with textures and patterns shaped by time. Using a mix of acrylics, household paint, ash, and vintage paper on canvas, aluminum, or wood, Claire crafts intricate compositions that blend spontaneity and intention. Her work celebrates the interplay of color, texture, and form, inviting viewers to reflect on the beauty of both the past and the present.

Laura Obon’s journey as an artist has been shaped by the vibrant landscapes of her native Tenerife, the structured discipline of technical drawing, and a liberating discovery of abstract art. A graduate of Sheffield Hallam University and Central Saint Martins, her work celebrates intuition, color, and emotion through her dynamic collages. Inspired by the transformative power of art, her creations serve as a tool for healing and connection, blending bold shapes and hues with a sense of joy and freedom. Her commitment to art therapy and her collaborations with hospitals underscore her belief in art’s profound ability to uplift and inspire, making her works as meaningful as they are visually compelling.