Interview: Qin Tan’s Virtual Realism

Artist based in Jersey City, NJ

Qin Tan

Tell us about yourself, what's your background?

I was born in Beijing and immigrated to the U.S. with my family as a teenager. My first exposure to art took place in the dimly lit basement of a Chinese scientist’s home, where a group of us kids were introduced to the splendor and history of Renaissance painting. We studied classical techniques of masters like Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Pontormo…etc. I still look fondly back to that experience as the time I spent learning those painting skills.

I realized I wanted to become an artist after college. I had explored different creative paths, but I kept returning to fine art because it gave me the most freedom to express myself. I was especially drawn to painting as a way to tell personal stories and reflect my evolving identity.

Left: Hidden Games, 2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches. Right: Flower Boy, 2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches

“I’m working on a series of paintings that merge my classical training with the visual language of video games and virtual environments. I’m fascinated by the idea of creating a world where the figures I paint feel like sentient beings, living in a space that is not entirely digital and not fully rooted in reality. This body of work is part of a creative exploration I call "virtual realism.""

Snake and Tree 2, acrylic and oil on canvas, 36 x 36 inches

What are you currently working on and where did the inspiration for it come from?

Right now, I’m working on a series of paintings that merge my classical training with the visual language of video games and virtual environments. I’m fascinated by the idea of creating a world where the figures I paint feel like sentient beings, living in a space that is not entirely digital and not fully rooted in reality.
This body of work is part of a creative exploration I call "virtual realism." It allows me to blend traditional painting techniques with layered and surreal aesthetics inspired by digital spaces, resulting in scenes that feel both familiar and otherworldly.

Left: A World Within (Lime Green Halo), 20 x 20 inches. Right: A World Within (Pink Halo), 20 x 20 inches

Innovation does not only happen in the field of technology — it occurs everyday in a creative practice. What do you do for inspiration?

Traveling is a major source of inspiration for me, especially when I’m moving through a beautiful landscape while doing something active. Whether it’s skiing, skating on my Onewheel, or simply driving with music playing, those immersive moments often spark new ideas.

Spending time outdoors is especially important to me, since I’m naturally a homebody. Painting can be deeply isolating at times, so being in nature helps me reconnect and recharge. I remember one summer weekend skating with friends near Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey. The sky turned a soft pink, the air was crisp, and we explored the entire island with the sunset right beside us. Experiences like that stay with me. They fill me up emotionally and often become the mood or memory I try to express in my paintings.

Our Favorite Place to be, acrylic and oil on canvas, 52 x 63.8 inches

Suspended, 2025, 22.5x30cm

Where do ideas start for you?

My process usually begins with a small sketch. It might be a view from my balcony or a landscape I saw during a long drive. I’m captured by the emotional experiences of those small beautiful moments. I continue to develop the sketch by collaging different elements, including photos from my phone, screenshots from video games, or images I’ve collected over time.

This collage process helps me transform the original sketch into something more layered and dreamlike. Light and color are central to my work. They shape the mood of each painting and bring an emotional atmosphere to the scene. I spend a lot of time thinking about how light affects tone and how shadows can create both depth and feeling. This helps me build a dimensional relationship between the real and surreal elements in each piece.

In progress painting

How do you make your work, does it start with a sketch?

In progress painting with reference photos

Many artists live by their routines, what does that look like for you?

My studio days usually begin with sketching or researching an idea I want to explore. It often takes me some time to feel fully ready to paint, but once I start, I tend to fall into long, focused sessions.
Over the years, I’ve found that I’m most productive in the late afternoon and evening, when everything feels quieter and more still. I listen to a wide variety of playlists while I work. Sometimes it’s music, and other times it’s podcasts about AI, new technology, or archaeology. These painting sessions often become moments where I can explore new ideas and learn something unexpected along the way.

Studio view

Who are your biggest influences?

I’m inspired by artists like Robin F. Williams, Kyle Dunn, Matthew Wong, Maja Ruznic, Daehyun Kim (Moonassi), James Ulmer, James Turrell, Kandinsky, and Rothko.

Are there books or films that are an important source of inspiration?

The Case Against Reality by Donald Hoffman has been especially impactful. It questions how we perceive the world and aligns with many of the philosophical ideas I explore in my work.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Think about how light lives in your paintings.

What is the best advice you would give to other artists?

Take breaks.

Portrait of the artist

Stay up to date with Qin Tan
Website qintan.net
Instagram @qinntann