Hannah Lim, a senior at The University of New Mexico, has been awarded the Reggie Behl Drawing Award. This accolade is presented to an undergraduate student who demonstrates excellence in drawing. Lim, who will graduate this month with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Studio and a minor in Management, submitted a portfolio featuring five detailed images to secure the award.
The Reggie Behl Drawing Award honors Regina "Reggie" Behl, an artist and educator known for her contributions to drawing education at UNM and globally. Lim expressed her inspiration from John Singer Sargent's watercolor paintings for her submission. "I take a lot of inspiration from John Singer Sargent’s watercolor paintings for the work I submitted to the Reggie Behl," said Lim.
Lim's artistic process involves using photographs taken during travels between the United States and South Korea as references for her Snippets series. She explained, "By using the photos as a reference for my paintings, I’m using them for their original purpose of reminiscing but also engaging with them in a more meaningful way than just swiping through my phone."
Her preferred mediums include digital art and watercolor. "In digital art, I feel more open to experimenting... In watercolor, I focus a lot more on color palettes," she stated. Despite these preferences, she also works with graphite, ink, markers, and is exploring oil pastels.
Lim plans to use the prize money towards pursuing a master's degree at Ewha Womans University in South Korea. Her classes at UNM have played an important role in shaping her artistic identity. "I found that in a lot of my classes at UNM there was an openness to various creative voices and ideas," she shared.
Drawing has been central to Lim's life since childhood. She remarked on its importance: “It feels wrong if I don’t draw at least something once a day." Her work will be displayed at the John Sommers Lobby at the UNM Art Museum from January 26 through February 8 as part of the annual undergraduate juried show.
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