7 Animation Artists Pushing Boundaries and Redefine Artistic Evolution

As artists, one of the challenges we face is where to find inspiration from. One of the methods of how I feed myself is to stay on the lookout for the works of my favorite artists and follow their artistic journeys and try to understand their creative processes or techniques. Witnessing their growth not only fuels my own creativity but also teaches me the diverse paths art can take, reminding me that artistic evolution is an ongoing, fascinating journey.

Here are 7 of my favorite animation artists that I’ve been following on Instagram for some years. Let’s have a look at them together!

1. Evan M. Cohen

Evan M. Cohen, based in Midwest, USA, is an illustrator, animator, and comic book artist. The reason I wanted to share his work with you is because he creates animations that are both simplified and emotionally charged, and the way he uses simplicity to create sensually complicated artwork resonates with me. Cohen uses a modern illustration technique with a striking color palette to create work that feels transformative and deeply grounded. His animations or illustrated mini stories are bursting with emotions, engaging audiences in mini journeys that are both intense and surprisingly personal to each viewer.

You can follow his Instagram here and find his website here.

2. Liv Lee

Liv Lee, primarily an illustrator, resides and works on Biripi Country in Australia. Her signature artistic style revolves around unconventional depictions of plants, flowers, and fruits, serving as an inspiration for joy and nostalgia. While not exclusively an animation artist, Lee ingeniously transforms her traditional illustrations into captivating stop-motion animations. In her bio on her website, she says that each frame, painted by hand, captures the essence of her local surroundings, embracing the textures, forms, and shapes of native Australian flora.

Find Lee’s Instagram here.

3. Tala Schlossberg

Tala Schlossberg defines herself as “an animator, writer, video producer and everything in between.” Using both analog and digital techniques, she makes trippy stop-motion animations that are not only quirky and cool but also full of unexpected surprises. Each moment in Schlossberg’s animations feels like a clever twist; I just can’t believe how someone can be so full of surprises yet so consistent. That’s exactly what I expect to see from an artist!

Follow Schlossberg’s Instagram account here and don’t forget to take a look at her website!

4. Loreta Isac

Loreta Isac, an illustrator and animator based in Bucharest, Romania, creates conceptual and colorful illustrations that transmit an emotional depth. The way Isac uses vibrant color pallettes incorporating both warm and cold colors with great balance has always been a big inspiration for me. Her animations are characterized by flawless motions and smoothly drawn lines, harmonizing digital precision while keeping the warmth of traditional artwork. Isac’s creativity and her ability to use genius transformations make her work one of a kind, and I always think that her definition “visual poetry” sums up her work pretty good. 

You can see Isac’s work on Instagram and you can learn more about her on her website. 

5. Alex Gamsu Jenkins

Alex Gamsu Jenkins is an illustrator, cartoonist, and animator from the UK. His work delves into satire, surrealism, and dark humor across various digital illustrations and animations. Using pastel colors, dark shadings and altered forms, he explores an often-gruesome style with unique characters or stories. Having collaborated with a wide array of brands and publications, Jenkins’s work is slightly unsettling, and at the same time it is amazingly captivating. He has had me and many viewers hooked with his ability to incorporate a sense of peculiar discomfort while still entertaining the audience.

You can follow his Instagram here and you can even enroll in his animation course here. 

6. Nata Metlukh (notofagus)

Nata Metlukh, is an animation artist based in California, who uses digital hand-drawn techniques to create visually stimulating works. Her animations are steeped in absurdity, yet they give fresh perspectives on everyday life. Through her work, Metlukh offers a nostalgic charm with relaxed lines and robust motions reminding of ’90s aesthetics, while simultaneously embracing a distinct modernity. Not to mention that her films were honored with awards at major animation festivals.

If you want to see these unique talent, go to her Instagram account or website.

7. TraceLoops by Matthias Brown

TraceLoops, an animation experiment by Matthias Brown, is centered around the creation and perception of motion, through hand-made physical animations. Utilizing various techniques and tools such as printer, laser cutter, paper, ink, and even flowers, Brown’s looping animations exhibit an ongoing series of impressive surprises. His creations, used by numerous renowned brands, showcase an incredible ability to continuously intrigue the audience. You will want to see what Brown will create next!

Follow Matthias Brown’s project here or go to the website through this link.

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Following these artists on Instagram not only provides a glimpse into their creative processes but it also serves as inspiration. It is mesmerizing to me how diverse and innovative the world of animation can be.

Are you also interested in creating animations? The best tools you can use for it are a combination of Photoshop and a Wacom pen tablet or a pen display. And if you want to see a simple animation trick, check out this article where I give a tutorial on how to make a flame animation on Photoshop.

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