FENG JIN
Sculptor

Born in Harbin, China, of Korean descent, Jin grew up as the son of a machinist. His creativity came from early childhood. The young Feng Jin often played in his father’s work place and fell in love with hand tools, old gears and other bent metals. After graduating from high school, Jin went to the Central Academy of Fine Arts of China, Beijing, putting in five years of studying and creating sculptures.
Although most of the Art Academy in China did not cover metal sculpture at that time, Jin was encouraged by teachers to move forward into metal sculpture’s design and production. Due to the limitation of tools and materials, producing metal sculptures proved to be difficult and challenging for a college student. Jin often needed to lean on his father for use of metal welding and fabricating equipment in the government-owned machine shop. The materials he used were mostly scrap metals and parts from some machines. Since then, Jin has self trained in metal work and being more interested in abstract sculpture making.
After graduating from college, Jin became a professor teaching sculpture and art history in the Fine Arts Department of Xuan Wu Hong Qi Vocational University, Beijing. Three years later, he decided to come to the U.S. to continue refining his style and improving production techniques in metal. Jin works in a variety of metals: bronze, steel, stainless steel and cast iron. His work represents a variety of styles and subjects, with forms ranging from realistic bust/figure sculptures to large abstract metal forms                                                                                                                                                            


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hearts on Fire, 2008

Through line mastery in expression, Dimitri Kourouniotis paints with gestures of swirls, arcs and loops. "I strive for capturing the essence and spirit of a moment." Inspired by how life and consciousness flows within and around him, Dimitri paints in dominant colors that touch and energize. "The painting is complete when I am surprised with what is coming through the depth of the work."
Born in Athens Greece, 1965, Dimitri Kourouniotis has lived in both Europe and the United States. After finishing his Masters degree in Operations Research and business studies in the UK he spent the next 12 years as a management consultant. He currently lives in California, having decided to pursue the course to his true happiness, becoming a full time artist in 2001.
His influences include Rothko, Picasso, Da Vinci, Kline and many Japanese Zen ink painters and calligraphers. His paintings are created as he relates the energy and momentum of the present into color, intention and emotion. He creates art with oil, ink or charcoals on canvas or paper.
"In creating art I understand more about how I relate to the world and to myself beyond the physical." The loose and confident gestural forms are dynamic and enthusiastic, giving a sense of immediacy, boldness and presence. "My art is about the passion of living joyfully."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Enchantment, oil on canvas, 30" x 40"

• Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts / Baghdad / 1999

• Diploma in Fine Arts - Graphics / Baghdad / 1994

• A Member of the Iraqi Plastic Artists Association

• A Member of the Iraqi Artists Association

• A Founding Member in the Assembly of Artists

• Teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts / Baghdad