My art work began as early as elementary school. I started receiving compliments from my teachers, and my artwork was constantly displayed on the school’s wall. I was always told that I had a special talent when it came to my paintings. As I progressed through junior and high school, my art work continued to receive praise. I attended art school in Korea for 4 years, where I learned to sketch statues, basic oil painting, and other Asian techniques.
After completing school, I sought out different artists to give me additional training. My first real world training was with a portrait artist I met through my uncle’s business. This training later led me to a job working at an army base officers club in Korea, where I’m originally from. My job was to paint portraits for the customers of the club, which usually meant that I was painting portraits of their family members. I always enjoyed seeing their photographs and learning about their family members.
My work has been selected for juried competition at the Bay River Art Guild in Daphne, Alabama several times, and at the Eastern Shore Art Center’s juried show in Fairhope, Alabama for five-years in a row. I have been a proud member of the Portrait Society of America for four years. I am also a member in good standing of The Watercolor and Graphic Art Society of Mobile Alabama and the Mobile Museum of Art.
Some recent recognitions of my work include:
- 2009 – Best of Show in a contest by the Bay River Art Guild, Daphne Alabama for a painting entitled “Still Life with Lemons”
- 2009 – Members Choice Award in a contest by the Watercolor and Graphic Art Society of Mobile Alabama for a still life painting.
- 2009 – Honorable Mention in a contest by Bay River Art Guild in Daphne Alabama for a oil portrait.
- 2008 – 1st Place in a contest by the Watercolor and Graphic Art Society of Mobile Alabama for a pencil sketch of a small child.
- 2007 – Honorable mention for an oil painting named “Resting Redeemer”