Shirley Lin Kinoshita is an artist and teaching member of the Sumi-e Society of America. She is also a Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society member, formerly served as Fine Arts Commissioner of the city of Cupertino. She has taught Sumi-e and Chinese Brush Painting in several school districts, and at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festivals. She has taken part in art exhibits & demonstrations at many local community events and hopes to move soon to national and international art competitions.

Ms. Kinoshita comments, “My goal is to bring appreciation for the blend of the best of Western and Eastern art. The vibrancy and transparency of watercolors and the bold graphics of Asian brush techniques suit my inclinations and talents. I take inspiration and spiritual enrichment from my Asian heritage and the beauty of nature around me.”

You can access the artist’s thoughts at her blog, sumieblog.wordpress.com or go to her Facebook page, American Sumi-e.

Ms. Kinoshita was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a retired Library manager. She has a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of California at Berkeley, CA and an Associate of Arts degree in Fine Arts (summa cum laude), from De Anza College in Cupertino, CA.