15 Modern Creatives We Admire

As modern creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners, it’s easy to get lost in our own work. After all, you have clients to serve, deadlines to meet, and families to support. 

By the end of the day, you just want to kick back and press play on your latest Netflix binge. (Sometimes.)

But other times, looking outward can refuel your creativity. Surrounding ourselves with creatives who turn ideas into art remind us why we embarked on this journey in the first place. 

That’s why every few months, we compile and share a list of creative entrepreneurs who inspire us. From artists and designers to photographers and makers, these people share their talents from all around the world. 

We hope their art inspires you, too!

Introducing the Modern Creatives We Admire

Kate Handling

Kate Handling helps creative entrepreneurs build cohesive, standout brands with Canva. We love her bold yet minimalist designs and how she uses Canva to make design more approachable. Everything Kate does feels super intentional, making her an excellent resource for creatives who want to take ownership of their brand and elevate their online presence—without wasting hours or money. 

Related: Creating a Strong + Memorable Brand Identity

Ben Taggart

Ben Taggart creates miniature replicas and portraits of homes and historical buildings. His impeccable eye for detail goes beyond replication and captures the heart and stories of each building. Ben’s work uniquely blends architecture, history, and art. 

Willow Cottage Quilt Co.

Andrea, a former veterinarian, turned her love of quilting into a thriving business. Willow Cottage Quilt Co. creates unique textiles and charming home decor. Her story is a great reminder that following creative passions can lead to unexpected and fulfilling career paths.

Emily Winslow

Emily is the talented watercolorist behind Watercolor With Emily. She discovered her passion for watercolor during a 30-day challenge suggested by her husband. Day by day, she fell in love with the medium. Now, she offers prints, custom commissions, and live wedding painting. 

Refinery Floral 

Freelance painter and sculptor turned floral preservation artist Deanne reimagines wedding bouquets as heirloom art. Her team at Refinery Floral uses a unique process to seal the flowers, preserve the colors, and incorporate memorable pieces from the day. 

Diane Hill

Based in London and inspired by 18th-century Chinoiserie, Diane Hill paints intricate, nature-inspired designs on silk with gouache. We’re obsessed—her work is stunning. Diane’s artistry and her message to never give up on your passion make her a must-follow for creative inspiration. 

Knit Collage

Amy at Knit Collage creates whimsical yarns and patterns. Her playful designs highlight her mission to reconnect makers with their authentic selves through the act of simply creating. We might take up knitting so we can cozy up in one of her sweater patterns! 

Heidi Caillier Design

Heidi Caillier’s dreamy interior designs are the perfect blend of nostalgia and modern comfort. We love her use of rich patterns, antique accents, and layered textures. BRB while we go create a brand mood board inspired by her East Hampton project. 

Kristine Rose Photography

We rarely make it past 8 PM most nights, but we love living vicariously through Kristine Rose’s stunning nightscape photography. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she spends her night running around in the pitch black, looking up at the stars—which reminds us to look up for inspiration, too. 

Jordan Quinn Photography

Jordan Quinn is the talent behind brand photos for Jenna Kutcher, TONIC Site Shop, and many other creative small businesses. As a wedding photographer, she saw a gap in the photography industry: creatives needed beautiful brand photos, too. Now, she combines strategy and artistry to capture brand stories that connect with the right people. 

Related: The Best 15 Stock Photo Sites for 2024

Hillary Butler

Hillary Butler’s art is a color lover’s dream. This English teacher-turned-artist has an eye for vibrant color palettes that might just inspire your next branding or interior design project!

Rachel Pohl Art

Rachel Pohl’s colorful paintings of natural landscapes inspire us to let our imagination run wild. We love her celebration of living colorfully as a reminder to embrace your creativity, curiosity, and sense of adventure.  

Cember Studio

Cember Studio creates brands and websites with art-worthy allure. Throughout the year, Kelsey and her team reveal a curated collection of “passion projects” for business owners who want to preview the brand aesthetic and pass off the creative control. Each reveal feels a little bit like Christmas. 

Bärbel Dressler

Bärbel Dressler is a surface designer and pattern historian who creates gorgeous patterns that feel truly reminiscent of the past. She also teaches aspiring surface pattern designers through History Repeating. Can we wallpaper our whole home with her patterns?

Ashley Ozmint

Ashley Ozmint’s neutral, impressionist landscape paintings are just our style. Based not too far from us in Asheville, North Carolina, her art is inspired by slow living, strolls in the woods, and the kind of beauty that makes your soul hum. 

Conclusion

These 15 talented creatives remind us there’s no one “right” way to express your art. Their stories and work inspire us to lean into our passions, explore new ideas, and continue growing as creative entrepreneurs. We hope this list sparks your imagination and inspires you to create.

Which creative inspired you most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!