Hansheng Lee

         Art                 Food                 Garden               ACI

The Art. The Technique. The Truth.

Welcome to the art blog—a space where I pull back the curtain and share more than just finished pieces.

 

This is where I talk: process, materials, inspiration, and the tangled journey of making art as a working artist. Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it’s cathartic. Sometimes it’s just me showing you how many layers it took to get a cloud just right. Here, I document what fuels each series—from cultural roots and political resistance to grief, dreams, memory, and the quiet power of nature. I believe that art doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it lives and breathes through the stories we carry, the tools we reach for, and the choices we make while creating.

 

You’ll find thoughts on medium shifts, how I build symbolism into a piece, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and occasional deep dives into technique. Whether you’re an artist yourself, someone learning, or just someone who’s curious about what goes into a finished work, I welcome you into this part of the process. This blog is as much about transparency as it is about connection.

 

Thanks for being here—there’s always more to explore, and more stories waiting to be painted.

Sometimes, life moves in sprints~ and sometimes, it moves in layered waves that crest and dip, all at once. Right now, I feel like I’m somewhere in the middle: not standing still, but not quite sprinting either. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface, and I wanted to take a moment to share a bit of what’s happening behind the scenes.
 

For those who don’t know, I’ve been deep in the process of building up Art Collective International’s online education platform, ACI Skool, while simultaneously updating our main website and vendor tools. I’ve also been working on blog content for ACI’s collective and myself on there, writing course materials, managing backend logistics, and putting plans in motion for future classes and outreach. It’s been a full-time job with overtime, but one I truly believe in.
 

And while that’s taken a lot of my time and energy lately, I’ve still managed to find some surprising new creative outlets.
 

One of the most exciting updates? I’m now a guest food blogger for American Olive Farmer~ a role I never really saw coming, but one that feels like such a natural fit. Those who know me well know that food, flavor, and storytelling are deeply woven into my life, and getting the opportunity to write about artisanal olive oils, food pairings, and sustainable farming practices is a dream come true. (And yes, there will be recipes. Of course, there will be recipes.)
 

This kind of collaboration reminds me why I do what I do: because everything~ art, food, writing, teaching~ is connected. And whether it’s a watercolor class or a blog post about sustainable shrimp, it all comes back to telling stories that connect people to beauty, intention, and care.
 

Outside of work, I’ve been balancing life with a lot of tea (unsurprisingly), stolen sketchbook moments, and planning for the upcoming garden season. Creativity might not always look like painting in this phase, but it’s alive and well in every decision I make~ from class layouts to community outreach to planting seeds for the next thing to grow.
 

Thanks for sticking with me through all the phases. I’ll have more to share soon~ including the first of the American Olive Farmer blog and recipe entries and a few sneak peeks at upcoming projects. For now, just know I’m still here, still creating (in a slightly different way), and always grateful for the support.
 

—Hansheng