I love to think of Christmas as election season. In a market economy, how you spend money is as powerful (or more so... yeah bummer) than how you vote. Each year I reflect on the kind of world I want, and which places are most in aligment for me to spend money. If an Art World is part of your vision, these ten artists are a great place to start. I own a piece by each of them, I love their work, and know you will too.
1. Paula Nelson/ Whoa Nelson!

Number one on this list is the oldest friend on this list. I've known Paula since High School Art Classes. Watching her career explode has been such a treat. If you love dreamy renderings of everyday objects, landscapes, food, pop culture and more, hop over to her site and nab one of the few paintings left in her store. She gifted one of her gorgeous oils of lemons when my studio Lemon House closed last year, and visitors to our house always ask about it.
2. Gerardo Rodriguez/ GrZ1985
3. Sean Petrie/ Typewriter Rodeo
4. Amanda Hoxworth/ Spatterful Chaos
5. Dan Grissom/ Biscuit Press
Looking at Dan's screen prints make me feel the same way I feel in his presence... calm and tapped in to something cool. The way he sees the world shows up in his pieces, and the fact that he prints work himself in his garage studio makes it all the more special. This piece pictured: A Secret Place, is in our son's room. I also have his enamel Baller Pin on my bag, and people ask all. the. time... where I got it.
6. Lys Santamaria
Lys' work is the one exception on this list, I don't own any of her beautiful, hand-crafted pieces because alas... my ears aren't pierced. I've literally considered getting them pierced simply to own one of her beaded beauties (truly)! Her work isn't the mass-produced beaded stuff you see in many tourist shops. These are intricately hand-stitched and take hours to make. They are made to last and an investment in your jewelry collection for a lifetime.
7. Sari Shryack/ Not Sorry Art
Sari (pronounced Say-ri) has heard her name mis-pronounced enough times that "Not Sorry Art" was born. There's nothing "sorry" about her vibrant paintings (surely I'm not the only one to use this phrase). Her rubber tree paintings are a personal favorite, followed closely by her 80's mall series. These works are usually LARGE y'all. You'll find something for everyone in your life, poppy still-lifes, colorful neighborhoods, brilliant disco balls, and much more.
8. Connor Teseny
9. Elena Knapp