In Celebration

of another year enjoying amazing art and artists

Hello friends,

I am happily surprised it’s been more than a year since I started posting my art thoughts on Substack, and I’m still here sharing what I do. It’s been so nice to have the opportunity to bring you the how, what, and why of my art-making. Thank you so much for spending some time with me and indulging this new little writing habit of mine as I work to improve my skills and be more mindful of my process.

In looking back I am also reminded of my joy in sharing what other artists are up to and the amazing work they do (as with my “Paying it Forward” post from last year showcasing several of my personal favorites - please feel free to check it out again!)

Paying it Forward (link to 2020 list of favorite artists)

In that spirit, I thought I would share some of the amazing artists I’ve come across this past year who’ve inspired me in my studio. (Note: I do not personally know these artists, but hope only the best for each of them and look forward to seeing more of their work in the future!)

There are far more inspiring artists than I have listed here, but I hope you enjoy this short selection and find some new artists to follow too. Also - feel free to share some of your favorites by commenting on this post. (*BONUS - every commenter is automatically entered into my latest GIVEAWAY - details below).

2021 Inspiring Artists

Meet a few of the fabulous artists who have inspired me this year. I hope you’ll take a moment to follow the links and see their amazing work.

Holly Wong
This artist’s freeform work with various 2D materials is beautifully moving with its colorful yet ethereal qualities. I am constantly amazed at how she brings abstract shapes and pieced-together layers into mesmerizingly cohesive works of art. You can follow her on Instagram HERE.

Hannah Rae
I have recently run across some amazing textile artists as I have been exploring ways to work the medium into my paintings. All their work is absolutely amazing, but a few consistently stand out to me, one of whom is this artist. She uses thread and fabric to create beautiful, textural shapes and organic patterns in both landscape and abstracted forms. I love her color palette and use of stitches in her compositions. You can follow her on Instagram HERE.

Mirjam Gielen
Another textile artist favorite of mine, her work is stunning in its use of freeform stitches to create organic shapes which sometimes morph into crochet creations. I have been using her many tutorials to help me understand the art form better which you can check out HERE.

Talip Keser
As I struggle with the abstract form I find work like that of Talip Keser especially inspiring! His use of vibrant color and freedom of brush strokes and marks is fantastic. I love the movement and expression captured in each piece. You can follow him on Instagram HERE.

Emily Looman
I love the “quiet noticing” in Emily’s journals and books. They are soulful depictions of little moments meaningfully and thoughtfully captured. She inspires me to journal more often and be more honest with my entries. You can follow her on Instagram HERE or join her Patreon HERE.

Amelia Rizky of Watercatlor
This is my guilty pleasure - following her funnily adorable watercolor paintings of cats in all kinds of awkward cuteness. On Instagram, she posts her painting and the cat photo inspiration with each post. I find it so fun to see how her watercolor is based on real life. It reminds me of when I used to draw pictures from animal photographs in Ranger Rick and I would have to look for the images that were most likely to be believable in a drawing. Because you know, animals get into all kinds of weird, unbelievable poses!

James Wyper
I was originally drawn to James’ work by the repeating patterns of shapes using a rainbow of color while deftly creating a layer of texture within each color spot. His work has continued to develop into more abstracted forms and organic shapes which I find mesmerizing. His work is a great reminder of the skill it takes to artfully create within simple shapes and design. You can see for yourself by following on Instagram HERE.

Khalif Tahir Thompson
The piece that originally drew me to this artist was “Happy Little Land”. Something about the woman situated in front of a grand piano really brought me into this piece and intrigued me. I can look at this piece again and again and find something new to capture my attention each time. Their portraits are moving and beautiful within a patchwork of warm colors to wrap around your soul. I love every one. You can see for yourself by following them on Instagram HERE.

With Gratitude

My best to you and yours this December and thank you for supporting artists and the work they do this month and all year long! I look forward to hearing who has wowed and inspired YOU this year!

Cheers,

Jennifer

"Hope Precedes the Transformational Journey Ahead"

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*Comment on this post for your chance to win 1 of 3 Giveaway prizes! 1 entry per person. Drawing to take place December 12 at 1pm PT on Instagram LIVE. You do not need to be present to win. Details can be found at JenniferLommers.com

Note: Edited 12/4/21 to correct a typographical error and add the above image; Edited 10/31/2022 to correct pronouns.