Crystal Shin: Artist and Instructor

Biographical sketch



Born in Korea, Crystal Shin moved to Seattle in 2013. Discovering a passion for botanical art, she took classes with Kathleen McKeehen at the Gage Academy of Art, and the Center for Urban Horticulture before completing the Natural Science Illustration certificate program at the University of Washington. From 2015 to 2018, Crystal worked as a primary botanical illustrator on the second edition of “Flora of the Pacific Northwest” at the University of Washington Herbarium. For this project, she generated 882 new botanical illustrations in pen and ink, gaining a thorough knowledge and understanding of botany. Crystal has undertaken freelance illustration for botanists describing new species for their research, and has illustrated fossils for paleontologists at the UW Burke Museum.

She is also an established teacher in botanical drawing with colored pencils. Crystal has taught numerous virtual art classes for groups that include Gage Academy of Art, Winslow Arts Center, Washington Native Plant Society, Bellevue Botanic Gardens, Seattle Tilth Alliance, Amazon Expressions and the Pacific NW Botanical Artists. 

Crystal is drawn to capturing the luminous color and intricate details of natural subjects, with a delicate but vivid touch.

She hopes her work opens people's eyes to appreciation for the authentic beauty of nature. As an instructor, she cares about the students’ growth in their artistic techniques, and delights in each person finding their unique expression as an artist. Her students praise her intuitive understanding of color and her ability to broaden their own insight, as well as her excellent examples and solutions to their questions.