Zin Lim
Born in Seoul, South Korea, it was clear to Zin Lim from an early age that he wanted his life to be all about art. Knowing this, and with his passion for drawing at heart, Zin prepared for a university entrance exam.
He majored in industrial design, and more specifically in environmental design at Hong-Ik University (Seoul), an institution located in one of the most cultural areas of the city. This was, among other factors, one of the most influential for him when it came to directing his artistic career in such a broad and inclusive way.
With the restless mind of an artist, the Korean moved to the United States, where he studied 3D Animation at the Academy of Art University. It was while training in different areas that he realized that most of his artistic interest lay in the figure of the human body.
In 2006, Lim completed his MFA with honors at the aforementioned Academy of Art University in San Francisco, winning a multitude of awards of both national and international stature. Since then, he has not only taught drawing and painting courses at the Graduate School of Fine Art / Illustration at Academy of Art University, but also conducts numerous workshops around the world, while creating his own work in his studio in Alameda, California (as listed at the end of this article).
As he sees it, art is the best way to express, through a completely visual message, the human body and its feelings and thoughts.
ZIN LIM'S STYLE AND PRACTICE
As mentioned above, the main theme of Zin lim's work is the human body. However, it could be said that his works are somewhere between representation and abstraction. As we will see below, his brushstrokes are loose and his palette is full of bright colors. In terms of medium and technique, Zin Lim uses oil on canvas for his paintings and charcoal on paper for his drawings.
ID (IDENTITY) SERIES
“ID (Identity) series is to transparently portray a person who I know, sympathize, love and/or remember through my experience that includes the moments I paint the person on a canvas”; this is how Lim himself describes this series.
ID #37
Oil on Canvas
Size: 11x11 inch
ID #28
Oil on Canvas
Size:18x14 inch
ID #18
Oil on Canvas
Size: 30x24 inch
NOMAD SERIES
In Zin Lim's own words, “Nomad series is an answer to the question, 'who' of ID series. It is visualize comprehensive human being as a traveler who practice unexpected life journeys in land”.
In addition, this series is illustrated by a text by Josseline Nayade Jeria:
"We humans are peculiar beings.
At our core, we all aspire to be and find beauty in genuine authenticity. We desire to be authentic not merely for our own sakes, but also for each and every person.
We are bothered by fake displays of our personhood and our lives. However, we can be troubled by displays of the human experience that aren't 'happy' or 'perfect'. Or, we get angry at others for having disparaging opinions or ideas to our own. There are a multitude of reasons why this may be the case. No one theory will be the generalizable to the entire population.
Rather, I think it is important to take a sceptical approach. Question yourself, why do I feel this way towards X (situation/event/idea etc)? We often just stop at the level of emotion, block it out or let it fuel your responses. But question yourself - why do I feel this way? What are the thoughts that come along with that emotional response? Often the resulting behavioural response is avoidance.
Avoidance was an evolutionary behavioural trait that developed to protect ourselves from harm. However, it can also function as a double-edged sword - disallowing us to expose ourselves to uncomfortable emotions, thoughts and situations. We may avoid because it makes us feel bad, angry, or uncomfortable.
These feelings can be related to deeper complex cognitive biases and patterns that emerged in response to situations/events that had a significant impact on your sense of self and/or your understandings of life and the world around you. Facing them head on can be excruciatingly difficult and painful, but facing them head on is the first step towards gaining a better understanding of yourself and of others lives and their circumstances.
We shouldn't hide away from sharing ourselves for all that we are, including our experiences. Now, this need not mean it is required of us to go into detail, because all of the conglomerate of our circumstances are different. However, how we respond to them aren't necessarily as different as we may think."
NOMAD 9
Oil on Canvas
Size: 20 x 16 inch
Created in 2016
NOMAD 3
Oil on Canvas
Size: 20 x 16 inch
Created in 2015
NOMAD 1
Oil on Canvas
Size: 30 x 20 inch
Created in 2015
ALLEGRO SERIES
The 'Allegro' series “is a temporary life event, carnival. Rhythm, melody, tone, bit motion and impromptu with the most primitive medium, charcoal or monochromatic oil rush.
Subtitle, (Spiccato) is a technique of violin playing which is similar to my way of holding tools and the way of stroke”.
Allegro NO. 152
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24 x 18 inch
Year of Creation: 2017
Allegro NO. 170
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 17 x 14 inch
Year of Creation: 2020
Allegro NO. 162
Charcoal on Paper
Size: 24 x 18 inch
Year of Creation: 2018
ZIN LIM AT MAA - WORKSHOP
After having reviewed Zin Lim's career, let me tell you something else: the artist will be at the Madrid Academy of Art from July 26th to 30th. Would you like to join us and see how Zin Lim works? Sign up!
ZIN LIM'S RESUME
WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR / PERFORMING ARTIST
Lecture and demonstrations of various visual art courses. (December 2018 –Present)
- Expressive Portrait Drawing.
- Expressive Portrait Painting.
- Expressive Figure Drawing.
- Expressive Figure Painting.
- Composition for Oil Painting.
- Composition for Charcoal Drawing.
- Plein-air Painting.
- Portfolio Development.
- Portfolio Review.
2020
PARIS, FRANCE. 2/8-9
LONDON, UK. 2/15-16
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. 2/22-23
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. 3/25
BERLIN, GERMANY. 2/29-3/1
OSLO, NORWAY. 3/6-7
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO. 3/11-14
SCOTTSDALE, AZ, USA. 3/16-20
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA 3/22
CUPERTINO, CA, USA. 3/23
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA. 3/27
LOS ANGELES, CA, USA. 3/29-30
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. 4/10
FLORENCE, ITALY. 11/3-7
2019
Denver, CO, USA. 11/1-3.
Vancouver, BC, Canada. 10/27.
Seattle, WA, USA. 10/25-26.
Tokyo, Japan. 9/20-21.
Changsha, China. 7/26-28.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/19.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/6.
Sydney, NSW, Australia. 6/22-23.
Launceston, TAS, Australia. 6/20-21.
Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 6/7-9.
Fresno, CA, USA. 5/17.
Toronto, ON, Canada, 5/5.
Boston, MA, USA. 5/4.
Alameda, CA, USA. 4/26-28.
Amsterdam, Netherland. 4/13-14.
Berlin, Germany. 4/7.
Barcelona, Spain. 4/5.
Dubai, UAE. 3/29-30.
London, UK. 3/23-24.
Scottsdale, AZ, USA. 2/16-17.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 1/12-13, 19-20.
2018
Tustin, CA, USA. 12/1-2.
London, UK. 11/3.
Lucca, Tuscany, Italy. 10/25-29.
Palo Alto, CA, USA. 10/13.
Houston, TX, USA. 10/6.
Atlanta, GA, USA. 9/29.
Montreal, QC, Canana. 9/15.
New York, NY, USA. 9/8.
Denver, CO, USA. 9/1.
Seattle, WA, USA. 8/25.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 8/19.
Taipei, Taiwan. 7/14.
Hong Kong, China. 7/7-8.
Seoul, South Korea. 7/4.
Seoul, South Korea. 6/22-23.
Seoul, South Korea. 6/15-16.
Valley Glen, CA, USA. 6/3.
Oakland, CA, USA. 5/26.
Fremont, CA, USA. 5/19.
Oakland, CA, USA. 5/12.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 3/24,31, 4/7,14,21.
Los Angeles, CA, USA. 3/10.
Burlingame, CA, USA. 2/3,10,17,24, 3/3
VIDEO CONTENTS CREATOR
Creation of art video demos, editing and management.
(January 2017 – Present)
- Zinlimpresent (YouTube Channel),
- Zin Studio (Vimeo Channel)
DIRECTOR / CONSULTANT
Responsible for building mission statement, bylaw and art curriculum and art critiques. (June 2012 – Present)
- Zin Studio at Co-Op Arts
ART COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR
Teaching MFA drawing/painting courses at Graduate School of Fine Art and Illustration Dept. (September. 2006 – 2017)
Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
- Directed Studies for seniors.
- Expressive Drawing.
- Expressive Painting.
- Portrait Painting.
- Figure Drawing.
- Figure Panting.
- Chiaroscuro.
AWARDS
2013
- Best of Show, Peninsula Art League Annual Open Show
2010
- Best of Show, Coleman Fine Art National Juried Exhibition
- Best of Show, Fiesta de la Paloma National Juried Art Show
- Honorable Mention, Santa Cruz Juried Show; Go Figure
2009
- Best of Show, Midland Art Association 2009 National Juried Show
- 2nd Place, in Oil/Acrylic, Midland Art Association 2009 National Juried Show
2008
- Best of Show, Emerald Spring National Juried Show
- Honorable Mention, American Splash 2008 National Juried Show
- Portrait Award, American Splash 2008 National Juried Show
2007
- Hoffman Trust Award, 49th International Award Exhibition
- Special Recognition, 9th Annual Realism International Juried Show
2006
- Best of Show, Salon International 2006
- Exceptional Merit, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition 2006
- Award of Excellence, Oil Painters of America, 15th National Exhibition
- Second Place, Expressions West 2006
- Portrait Award, American Splash National Juried Show
DEGREES
- 2006 MFA (Fine Art), Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
- 2003 BFA (Fine Art), Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
- 2000 BFA (Industrial Design), Hong Ik University, Seoul, South Korea
MEMBERSHIP
- 2006- OPA Signature Member, The Oil Painters of America
JURIED/INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
2013
- Peninsula Art League Annual Open Show, Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor, WA
- Cumberland Society National Exhibition, Richland Fine Art Gallery, Nashville, TN
- 2D-3D Works: National Art Competition, LH Horton Jr Gallery, San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, CA
- Return to Simplicity, Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
2010
- Coleman Fine Art Juried Exhibition, Fine Art League at Coleman, TX
- Go Figure, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA
- 2 Person Show, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
- The Great American Figurative Artists, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2009
- Oil Painters of America 18th National Juried Exhibition, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
- Salon International 2009, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, San Antonio, TX
- Artist Association of Northern Colorado 18th Annual National Art Exhibition, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
- Midland Art Association 2009 Spring Juried Art Show, Museum of the Southwest, Midland, TX
- The Great American Figurative Artists, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2008
- The Great American Figurative Artists, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
- 7th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Addison Gallery, Boca Raton, FL
- 2 Person Show, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
- Figurative Beauty, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
- PaperWorks National Juried Exhibition, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Hamilton Field, CA
- Bay Area Influence, Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
- Emerald Spring National Juried Show, Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR
- American Splash 2008 Juried National Show, Old Post Office Museum & Art Center, Graham, TX
2007
- Oil Painters of America 16th National Juried Exhibition, Whistle Pik Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
- The Great American Figurative Artists Show, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
- 49th International Award Exhibition, Museum of Living Artist, San Diego, CA
- 9th Annual Realism Juried International Exhibition, Upstream People Gallery
- Small Painting Annual Show, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2006
- Salon International 2006, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, San Antonio, TX
- Portrait Society of America, 8th International Conference, Dallas, TX
- Oil Painters of America 15th National Juried Exhibition, Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
- Expressions West 2006 Juried Exhibition, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR
- American Splash 2006 Juried National Show, Old Post Office Museum & Art Center, Graham, TX
FEATURED
- The Artist’s Magazine; Annual Competition Winners
- The American Art Collectors Magazine, New Paintings of Zin Lim
- The International Artist's Magazine, Master Showcase-The Art of the Portrait
- The Southwest Art Magazine, The Grand Prize Winner of Salon International
- The Portrait Society of America, International Portrait Competition Winners
- The World Link, Award Winners of Expressions West 2006
- The International Artist's Magazine, Award Winners of Competitions
- The New York Elite Magazin, Artist Interview
- The Saatchi Art, Artist Interview