Wanjin Gim is a South Korean artist based in Seoul, known for his intense drawings of the human body built from layered hatching and shifting colors. He studied animation at the Korea National University of Arts, then taught himself painting, slowly shaping a style that feels both physical and emotional. Since 2016 he has shared his work online, where many people follow his progress and technique.
“I’m interested in expressing body temperature and skin smell.”
His focus is the human figure. He explores how a body can move from being a simple subject to something that feels alive in the space around it. He often works on kraft paper, using oil pastels and colored pencils. Because the colors are limited, he overlaps them again and again to create tones that feel warm, layered and imperfect in a natural way.
Gim’s drawings show hands, arms, feet and torsos surrounded by loose lines and soft washes. These marks pull the figure into a wider field, giving each piece a sense of motion. His inspiration includes Lucian Freud, whose raw approach to the body pushed him to look deeper at skin, weight and presence.
He describes his process as a study of color and energy. Cross hatching, usually used in ink drawings, becomes something new in his hands. The strokes build texture and light, making even simple poses feel full of life.
His work appears often in online art features and continues to grow in popularity. Prints and originals are available through his website and store, and he shares new pieces regularly on social media.
“Even imperfect color can create a perfect feeling.”
Light moves warm across the skin,
holding stories deep within.
Lines that cross and colors stay,
shaping bodies in their way.