The artist path was not something I actively sought out early in life. I used to draw my sticker collections of kittens and puppies when I was 6 years old and loved drawing and sketching animals with a pencil. In high school and in college, I took some classes here and there never having a serious thought or pursuit of it—only a fun interest. Then, after 25 years of not touching art, I picked up a pencil and started sketching and drawing for fun and to be honest, it was a way for me to heal myself emotionally at the time of great life changes and crisis. Art was and still is my spiritual practice, rejuvenation and truest joy. I had spent 20 years building a digital marketing career with my own agency today and  also, developed a tennis background with a collegiate tennis scholarship at University of San Francisco. My time away from art was not something I had even thought of consciously as I was busy building a different career and a different life.

In 2015, my mother told me after seeing my art, charcoal paintings, drawings, etc. that I should do something with it. I signed up for art classes at Martin Fine Arts in Encinitas, CA and am under training with a couple other professional artists such as Kathleen Carrillo of Carrillo Galleries, in Carlsbad Village, and Richard Hawk of Hawk Studio in Encinitas, CA. I also love the work of Wade Koniakowsky of Koniakowsky Gallery in Solana Beach, CA which is also an influence and adoring his work.

My divine inspiration comes from God, The Source, Universe or simply Nature. I tune in with my intuition and spirit to guide me on the style, feel and essence of the subject. It’s like what a friend said to me once which is I embed a soul into my charcoal face drawings or the painting of the ocean or anything I am seeing becomes alive… it is now looking back at you. My art is more than just a hobby and  a passion; it is a meditative state that I am in when I am alone, and it is really the feeling of being “in the flow.” I am free. I am real. I am myself and I am awakened. And I am happy to share my love and energy through this expression of oil, acrylic and charcoal.

My hope is that when you feel and connect with a specific painting, it is also choosing you. Each painting is looking and vibrating a healing energy for you to also reflect, love, meditate and feel…what are you feeling…what emotions does a painting elicit in you….has it transported you into another realm or offered a new perspective with a new set of eyes that you did not see before?

Art brings beauty, color, aliveness and soul into a world that greatly needs it today. It is one of the very few mediums that can touch your heart and open you in a way that you would not expect.

Thank you for reviewing, seeing and feeling my art.

Mahalo,

Judy Lin