Given a pen, illustrator Jordan K. Gaza can tap into a fundamental human dread. Her work is organic and whimsical, often with a dash of body horror. Imagine Dr. Seuss having a bad mescaline trip in a field of Venus flytraps. Her figures’ soft edges belie a terror that looms in the foreground, ready to penetrate if we let our guard down. She can draw a damn good looking piece of pizza too. A freelance artist in Grand Rapids, Gaza is a true talent who’s had art featured at the UICA, Glitter Milk Gallery and more. Keep your eyes peeled for a graphic novel down the pipeline, or any project from her for that matter. With a signature blend of comfort and unease, her work takes lodge in your mind, and you’ll want it to stay. 

Artist, musician and multi-business owner Jared DeMeester was born and raised in Grand Rapids. He works as a freelance designer under the moniker I Tried My Best and is a founder of Stovetop Coffee Roasters, which is opening a café on 944 E. Fulton St. this fall. Over the past few years, DeMeester has started eight companies, played in multiple bands and become an award-winning package designer for Stovetop. But for DeMeester, this is all just the beginning.

A painting is never really done for Jean Stevens.

The Kalamazoo-based artist said she’ll sometimes take down a painting hanging on the wall of her Park Trades Center studio and add a few more brush strokes of color to it.

When you hear the word “embroidery,” you might not immediately think “artform,” but for Carrie Burch of Stitch Folks, embroidery is just as much a medium of art as painting or sculpture. An Ohio native, Burch is a graduate of Biola University in Los Angeles and a five-year resident of Grand Rapids. Her embroidery company, Stitch Folks, has been featured in Magnolia Journal and Better Homes and Gardens. The success of her online Etsy shop continues to grow month to month, bringing in dozens of new orders, each one as exciting as the last.