Rising Stars: Meet Chen Jin of San Gabriel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chen Jin.

Hi Chen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My life used to feel very routine. Most of my time was spent taking care of my kids and going back and forth between work and home. Things started to change when I began skiing, surfing, running, and painting. These experiences slowly changed the way I see life and the world around me. Movement and painting brought my passion back and encouraged me to try new things outside my comfort zone.

Outdoor sports heighten my senses and turn into inspiration for my paintings. Sitting on the board while waiting for waves, running through trails puts me into a meditative state and gives me time to think and reflect.

I started studying oil painting more systematically at 4C Gallery. I’ve loved drawing since I was young, but my understanding of color was quite limited before. Learning color fundamentals helped me notice more subtle variations, and I’ve become more confident using color to express myself.

With the guidance of my teacher Cui, painting became more than just a visual practice. It became a way for me to reflect on life and explore my inner world. I’m not very good at expressing myself with words, so painting feels like a more natural way for me to express.

With my teacher’s encouragement and support, I ended up having my first solo exhibition, where I shared my work from the past two years—something I never imagined would happen to me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle was time management. Luckily my family was very supportive

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have very vivid dreams, and I believe they reflect a deeper part of myself. Through the skills I gained from painting lessons, I’ve been able to recreate those visions. Every painting has a story behind it, but I also love seeing how other people respond to the work. It means a lot to me that my art can offer different perspectives to different viewers. I also enjoy experimenting with different media as ways to express myself..

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I’m not a professional artist. Passion is what drives me do what I do. I’m not trying to be successful, I just love what I’m doing.

Image Credits
Lisha Chen