DCist Interview: Amy Lin

2008_0318_amylin.jpgAmyLinCoupled.jpg Amy Lin, known for her colored pencil dot drawings, is one of Washington’s most promising artists. The Virginia resident, 29, moved to the area to work after graduation from college, and is a chemical engineer by day. But Lin spends so much time on her art that she’s had a number of solo exhibitions in the past few years, including one at the District of Columbia Art Center, which was curated by Anne Collins Goodyear, Assistant Curator of Prints and Drawings at the National Portrait Gallery, and one last fall at Heineman Myers, the gallery with which she has signed. Washingtonian Magazine named her one of the “40 People Under 40 to Watch,” and Lin has a new show opening at The Art League gallery in Alexandria next month.

What are some of the ideas and themes that your work engages with?

For my next show, Interaction, each of the drawings is inspired by a memory or feeling from my childhood when I spent a lot of time with my mom in biology labs.

Looking back, I really appreciate the sacrifices she made in her career while she was raising me and my sister. Before I started these drawings I talked to her about her life back then. It was one of the first times I ever talked to her not as my mom, but as a woman who made a lot of tough choices in her life.

These drawings were sort of a catalyst for getting to know a different side of her. So I guess the “interactions” in these drawings exist on many levels – the interaction she and I had when I was little, the interaction we have now, and of course the interaction among the dots themselves.

Above: Coupled, Amy Lin, 29"x29" colored pencil 2007

Who are some of your artistic inspirations?

Bill Watterson. I like the idea of living in your own little world and doing your own thing even when people think you’re crazy. A lot of times I think of my dots as being my little friends.

How long have you been making art?

Since I was a little kid.

How long does it take to make a typical piece?

Each piece takes between 50-300 hours to draw.

About how many dots make up a typical picture?

It varies greatly. So far it's ranged from 10 to over 10,000.

Have you always worked in colored pencil?

I’ve been working in colored pencil for 4.5 years, and have been drawing dots for 3.5 years. Before that I worked in a lot of different media.

What do you see down the road artistically?

Once I’m done with my current series, I’m going to experiment with other media, including charcoal and mixed media sculpture.

Where have you shown recently?

I signed with Heineman Myers Contemporary Art last year and had my Silence show there in November/December 2007.

Do you have any upcoming shows?

My next show Interaction opens on April 10 at The Art League gallery in Alexandria. I’m really excited for this show because it was scheduled 2 years ago!