Jin Liu
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
Jin Liu, featured in AQ Volume VI, is a painter from China. She received a Bachelor's in Fine Art from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2021.
She is interested in surrealist art and is influenced by Maxfield Parrish, Gustave Doré, and Jheronimus Bosch because of their exquisite painting technique, the narrative quality of their imagery, the use of color, the rendering of environmental atmosphere, and the control of compositional balance.
Liu was selected as a winner in American Illustration 43 and 44, and she has been featured in multiple publications, including AI-AP American Illustration, Artistonish Magazine, Spotlight Magazine, Divide Magazine, and Artist Portfolio Magazine.
https://www.instagram.com/________jin________/
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
The desire to express myself through creation is the main reason that drives me to become an artist. Among various creative mediums, painting is the one I am most skilled at for fulfilling this desire.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
The inspiration for my work comes from dreams, imagination, and the visuals I see during hypnagogic states. My latest piece was created for a friend, as a way to express my support and encouragement as she begins a new chapter in her life.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
They serve as an important guide in my creative process. Exploration and experimentation often emerge in layered, intertwined ways. The shift from uncertainty to surprise is one of the things that continually fuels my passion for painting.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
I believe life is full of in-between states, where real things often appear in unreal ways. I use realism to express the surreal, the unclear, and the irrational. For me, this is the most natural way to process and understand the world.
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
There’s a line from an old comic I’ve loved since childhood: “The real struggle is only just beginning.” This quote has always given me the courage to step into the unknown with greater confidence.
