Lisa Congdon, in her book Find Your Artistic Voice, recommends creating a list of artists whose work you admiire and who influence you. She recommends writing down what it is about the artists that inspires you. I created this list and I found it quite informative thinking about why I was struck by their work. It helped me focus on what I am trying to create in my art. Here's my list if you are interested:
A.J. Casson
Jean Haines
Hazel Soan
David Lobenberg
Mary Whyte
Charles Reid
Jonas Kunickas
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Edouart Manet
Ewa Ludwiczak
Jack Vettriano
Norman Rockwell
Linda Kemp
Rose Edin
Suzanne Valadon