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Born in South Korea, California-based artist Misun Holdorf is an oil painter whose emotionally rich landscapes come to life through bold palette knife strokes and rhythmic impasto textures. Her work is a celebration of nature—especially trees, forests, and sweeping vistas from around the world—captured in richly layered oils that seem to lift off the canvas.

Her journey as an artist began with an inner pull to express emotion through color and form. Settling into her rhythm as a painter, Misun discovered the palette knife as her tool of choice—favoring its ability to sculpt paint rather than simply apply it. The resulting works are immersive and deeply tactile, inviting viewers not only to look, but to feel.

Having grown up between cultures and environments—from bustling cityscapes to serene shores—Misun developed a profound appreciation for the natural world. Her paintings reflect that connection, often centering on trees as symbolic anchors: resilient, rooted, and quietly powerful.

With each journey she takes—whether through the rainforests of the Pacific, the golden fields of Europe, or the mountain ranges of Asia—she gathers inspiration that later bursts onto canvas in texture, movement, and light.

Largely self-taught, her work reveals a mature understanding of space, balance, and atmosphere. Influenced by Van Gogh and other masters, she pushes oil paint to its sculptural limits, building lush surfaces that invite close inspection and emotional reflection. Today, her paintings are held in private and corporate collections worldwide.

 

 

Artist Statement

“Nature is my constant companion and greatest teacher. I paint to connect—viscerally, immediately, and honestly. The palette knife is my voice, and the paint is my language. Through texture and gesture, I try to freeze a feeling, a moment, a breath of life. I don’t aim for perfection—I aim for presence.”