Every few months, we come together at Arts to Hearts Project with a question that always feels a little exciting: what should the next 101 Artbook be about?

With every edition, we have the chance to open our doors to artists from different backgrounds, different corners of the world, and different creative practices. We get to see what they are making, what they are thinking about, and the stories they choose to tell through their work. And somehow, every time, the response reminds us why we started this series in the first place.

101 Artbook: 101 Colors Edition marks the 12th edition of the 101 Artbook series.

Twelve editions feels like something worth pausing for.

What began as an idea to create more opportunities for artists has grown into a beautiful collection of books filled with hundreds of creative voices. Across these editions, we have had the privilege of discovering artists, sharing their work with new audiences, and creating something they can hold onto as part of their artistic journey.

And, perhaps most importantly, we have wanted every edition to communicate one simple message to the artists who take part: your work matters to us.

Over the course of the 101 Artbook series, we have awarded more than $5,000 in cash awards to artists. These awards are one of the ways we celebrate the artists whose work stands out to us, but they also represent something bigger. They are our way of acknowledging the time, thought, vulnerability, and dedication that goes into making art.

We know that behind every finished artwork is a person who spent hours creating, experimenting, questioning, starting over, and believing in an idea enough to bring it into the world. Being able to recognize that effort and contribute to an artist’s journey, even in a small way, is something we are deeply grateful for.

That spirit is at the heart of every 101 Artbook.

About The Project

The 101 Artbook series was created as a space for artists to be seen, discovered, and celebrated. Each edition begins with a theme, but the artists are what truly give the book its character.

We invite artists to interpret the theme through their own creative language, without asking them to fit into one particular style, medium, or way of thinking. The result is always wonderfully varied. One artwork might make us stop because of its color, another because of its story, and another simply because of the feeling it leaves behind.

That variety is something we treasure.

For us, the 101 Artbook is not only about putting 101 artworks between the pages of a beautiful book. It is about creating a record of the artists who contributed to it and giving each of them a moment in which their work can take center stage.

Over twelve editions, we have watched this little idea grow into a series that continues to bring artists together through shared themes and a shared love for making. Every new edition gives us another opportunity to meet artists we may never have discovered otherwise, and every submission adds another perspective to the larger story we are building together.

And now, for our 12th edition, we found ourselves drawn to something that has always been an essential part of art: color.

But color means something different to every artist.

For some, it can hold a memory. For others, it can create movement, emotion, atmosphere, or contrast. It can be bright and joyful, quiet and contemplative, unexpected and experimental. It can speak before we even begin to understand the artwork itself.

That is where the journey of 101 Colors Edition begins.

Our Theme: When Color Becomes Meaning

Color is everywhere, but in art, it can become something much more. It can carry a memory, create a mood, tell a story, or express something that words cannot quite capture. A certain shade can remind us of a place we once knew, while another can make us feel warmth, nostalgia, calm, or even a little unsettled. Sometimes, color is simply beautiful. Other times, it becomes a language of its own.

For Colors Edition, we wanted to explore that language. We wanted to see how 101 artists would take something so familiar and make it deeply personal. There was no single way to approach the theme, and that openness is what made it so exciting. Each artist brought their own palette, perspective, memories, and creative instincts to the page.

Together, these works remind us that color does not have one universal meaning. It becomes meaningful through the eyes of the artist who uses it and the person who experiences it. In this edition, we celebrate those many interpretations, from the bold and unexpected to the soft and quietly beautiful, and everything in between.

What Our Artists Have to Say About Color

Before you turn the pages and meet the 101 artists featured in this edition, we wanted to begin with a few conversations that bring you a little closer to the people and creative journeys behind the work.

A Conversation With Our Cover Artist, Ian Davenport

We are especially delighted to begin with Ian Davenport, the artist behind the cover of our Colors Edition. His work gives this edition its first visual impression, inviting us into a world where color feels expressive, layered, and full of possibility. In our conversation with Ian, we talk about his artistic journey, his relationship with color, and the ideas and experiences that shape the way he creates. It is a lovely introduction to the artist whose work welcomes us into this edition.

Conversations That Take Us Deeper

Alongside Ian’s conversation, we are also bringing you conversations with Julia Green, Klone, and Allan Wilkie, three artists with wonderfully distinct creative practices and perspectives. Each conversation offers a glimpse into the stories behind their work, the ideas that keep them creating, and the ways their individual experiences have shaped their relationship with art and color. Together, these conversations invite us to slow down, look a little closer, and get to know the artists beyond what we see on the page.

Artworks That Caught Our Eye

Among the many beautiful artworks in this edition, there were three that stood out to us in a particularly special way. The works by Stephen Scrivener, Olga Ermol, and Kelly Twine each have a very different visual language, but all three show how powerfully color can shape the way we experience an artwork.

Stephen Scrivener’s Amazon 3 immediately catches your eye with its vibrant, grid-like patterns and bold use of color. Olga Ermol’s A Saturated Space I takes a completely different approach, using layers of cotton thread to create a rich, textured work that feels almost immersive. And Kelly Twine’s Distilled Waters brings color into a beautiful landscape, transforming a familiar scene into something dreamlike and atmospheric. These three works were a wonderful reminder of why we love putting these books together: there is always something new to discover, and every artist has a different way of making us look.

Our Cash Award Winner – Stephen Scrivener

Stephen Scrivener’s Amazon 3 is the cash award-winning artwork of the Colors Edition, and it is easy to see why it caught our attention.

Working with an acrylic pen on watercolor paper mounted on a floating panel, Stephen creates a vibrant composition inspired by the structural elements of a cardboard box. The work explores the folds, creases, and geometry of an everyday object, transforming something familiar into a striking abstract artwork.

What makes the piece so interesting is the way it plays with structure and color at the same time. The bright, repeated patterns give the work an almost rhythmic quality, while the cardboard box becomes something much more than a simple object. It becomes a way to explore form, design, and the possibilities of painting.

We are so happy to celebrate Stephen as our cash award winner and to have his work as part of this edition.

1st Runner Up – Olga Ermol

Olga Ermol’s A Saturated Space I is a beautiful example of how color can become an entire experience.

Created using cotton thread on canvas, the work is made up of carefully layered vertical lines in rich shades of red, purple, pink, yellow, and orange. At first glance, it feels bold and graphic, but the closer you look, the more you begin to notice the delicate texture and the way the colors sit alongside one another.

There is something very calming about the rhythm of the threads, even with such a saturated palette. The work invites you to slow down and spend time with it, discovering the small shifts in color and texture that make the whole piece come alive.

Olga’s artwork was a wonderful addition to the Colors Edition, and we are delighted to celebrate her as our 1st Runner Up.

2nd Runner Up – Kelly Twine

Kelly Twine’s Distilled Waters takes us into a completely different world.

The acrylic on canvas painting depicts a boat resting on the water, surrounded by trees and a beautiful landscape. But what makes the artwork so special is the way Kelly uses color to transform the scene. Deep blues, purples, and soft pinks create an atmosphere that feels both familiar and otherworldly.

The water, the trees, and the boat all seem to belong to the same dreamlike space, and the painting has a beautiful sense of movement and stillness at the same time. It is the kind of artwork that makes you want to keep looking, noticing something new each time.

We loved the way Kelly approached the theme and are so happy to celebrate her as our 2nd Runner Up.

A Book Full of Color, Creativity, and Beautiful Discoveries

Putting together the 101 Artbook: 101 Colors Edition has been such a lovely experience for us. Every artist brought something different to the project, and seeing all of their work come together in one place reminded us why these books matter so much.

We hope this edition gives you the same feeling we had while putting it together, the joy of discovering new artists, finding artwork that speaks to you, and being inspired by the different ways people create.

Whether you are an artist, a collector, an art lover, or simply someone who enjoys beautiful things, we hope you find something in these pages that stays with you.

Thank you to all 101 artists who made this edition possible. We are so grateful to have your work in our book, and we cannot wait for you to see it.

Shop the 101 Artbook: Colors Edition

If you would love to have this beautiful collection of artists and their work on your shelf, head over to our shop and get your copy. Created with a lot of love and care, this book is a celebration of color, creativity, and the artists who make the art world so exciting.

We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed putting it together.