I don’t quite remember how I stumbled on Jason Proudler’s work, but he is quite an elusive artist. All I know is that he’s based in Altlanta, Georgia and his website is down. I really dig how he adds so much life with crisp strokes — take a look at how he renders the facial features of his characters. It makes me imagine that their heads are aging way ahead of their bodies!

Good thing is that his shop is still up and running though, so if you’re a fan of his you can get some prints and originals over here.

Renee Nault’s work is an interesting mix of Japanese inspired imagery (she credits ukiyo-e paintings for this; see bottom) and modern watercolor renderings that produces emotionally provoking imagery. Atmospheric in nature, Renee manages to infuse her subjects with movement and grace — as seen via her character renderings that seem to be inspired by manga.

I love how she has taken the traditional concept of ukiyo-e and translated it into something refreshing and contemporary.

From Wikipedia:
“Usually the word ukiyo is literally translated as “floating world” in English, referring to a conception of an evanescent world, impermanent, fleeting beauty and a realm of entertainments (kabuki, courtesans, geisha) divorced from the responsibilities of the mundane, everyday world; “pictures of the floating world”, i.e. ukiyo-e, are considered a genre unto themselves.”

She is a frequent illustrator for The Los Angeles Times, and you can purchase her prints over in her Etsy shop.