Meet Lina Kimbap of Turtle Heights: Bringing Joyful Art to Life, One Whimsical Design at a Time 🌿✨
Say hello to Lina Kimbap, the creative heart behind Turtle Heights, a dreamy art brand that celebrates color, curiosity, and the quiet beauty of nature. Originally from Korea and now calling sunny San Diego, California home, Lina infuses her digital illustrations with cultural warmth, lush patterns, and a spark of joy that feels like sunshine in art form. Whether she’s capturing whimsical characters or the serenity of leafy greens, Lina’s work invites you to pause, smile, and explore the playful corners of her imagination. Let’s dive into her world! 🎨🌈
🎨 What is your Maker, Artist, or Store name?
Turtle Heights — an art brand that reflects Lina’s love for nature, intricate detail, and the gentle joy of slowing down 🐢✨
🖌️ What form of Creative Medium do you use?
Lina creates her artwork using digital illustration, primarily in Adobe Photoshop, where she brings together expressive brushwork, thoughtful textures, and bold color palettes to build her signature whimsical world 💻🎨
🌸 How would you describe your design style, art, or genre?
Joyful, colorful, and nature-inspired! Lina’s art is a blend of Korean cultural influence, botanical beauty, and imaginative storytelling, with a dash of humor and plenty of heart 🌿🌞
🛍️ What type of products do you make/offer?
Turtle Heights offers:
- Digital illustrations & art prints
- Custom commissions & creative collaborations
- Upcoming merchandise that channels Lina’s dreamy, plant-filled aesthetic 🌸💌
💬 Share your Maker Story: How/why did you start?
Lina’s love for art was sparked by her aunt, a talented artist who inspired her as a child. Her creativity later found a digital home when she taught herself illustration, leading to an unexpected breakthrough: a commission by Google Korea to design a “Gangnam Style” t-shirt. That early success gave her the confidence to keep going. Inspired by the natural beauty of San Francisco’s urban gardens, she began drawing plants, then playful creatures, and eventually built Turtle Heights — a brand rooted in wonder, creativity, and quiet joy 🌱🎉
🌟 What are your proudest achievements or milestones?
Creating a mass-produced design for Google Korea was a proud “pinch-me” moment. But the true milestone? Launching Turtle Heights and seeing her work bring happiness to people around the world 💖🌍
💪 Have you faced any challenges, and how did you overcome them?
Without a formal art education, Lina had to navigate the digital art world solo. But she leaned into online tutorials, supportive artist communities, and her own resilience. Her advice? You don’t need credentials to create magic — just commitment and heart 🌸💫
🔮 What are your future plans for being a Maker?
Lina dreams of growing Turtle Heights into a full creative studio, expanding into merchandise, exhibitions, and collaborations that connect her whimsical world to even more people — all while continuing to celebrate the gentle pace and joy of her signature style 🌞🌿
💡 What tips/advice would you share with other Makers?
“You don’t need to go to art school to become an artist. Keep practicing, keep learning, and trust your instincts. The internet is full of generous artists sharing their wisdom—soak it up and let your art evolve with you!” 💖
📲 How can the community connect with you?
Follow Lina’s artistic journey over on Instagram for sneak peeks, new projects, and plant-filled joy. You can also connect through her website and portfolio for commissions and creative collabs 🌐💌
📍 Country:
Based in San Diego, California, USA, Lina’s art radiates across the globe — bringing smiles and serenity wherever it goes 🌎💫
Step into the soft, whimsical world of Turtle Heights and let Lina Kimbap’s joyful art bring a touch of imagination and calm to your day. 🌿✨
Hashtags:
#TurtleHeights #LinaKimbap #DigitalIllustrator #WhimsicalArt #PlantLoverArt #KoreanArtist #SurfaceDesign #MeetTheMaker #WomenWhoCreate #AdobePhotoshopArt #PlayfulIllustration #NatureInspiredDesign #ArtWithJoy #SanDiegoArtist #CreativeJourney #SlowLivingArt #JoyfulDesign #SelfTaughtArtist #SupportSmallArtists #ArtThatHeals