One thing Jin Scheef believes to be true is that many people make up one psyche. They believe life is the constant exploration of every version of you. we pass through new ideas of the self and art is the tool in which we use to peal back all of the layers of the self.

With every way of thinking there is a way of doing. At a young age they obsessively explored makeup, costumes, and magic. As they aged the overbearing imagination never left and their self expression overflowed, they quickly found drawing and became obsessed with documenting the different people they wanted to be. But what pushed them to be an artist professionally, what gave them that faith to commit, was a professor at Montclair State University. Estefania Velez Rodriguez is a painter and professor based in Brooklyn. She taught Scheef about the contemporary art world in New York and the massive community of people overflowing like them. To this day She is one of Scheef’s biggest inspirations along with the painters Christen Rex Van Minnen,  Blaire Whitford and designers like Nusi Quero. 

Now self expression is rather vague but what they enjoy is encapsulating the feelings they felt in that moment and making it theirs to share forever. Jin has a deep fascination with making things that out live them. Through this they found ways to cope with negative memories and understand other people’s perspectives. When they went to college they were welcomed by a community of queers and began doing friends' makeup for parties. The painters steady hands made them a good makeup artist. They had always loved doing their makeup and lived by never repeating a look but the fascination became stronger when they did other peoples makeup. Scheef began connecting with other expression’s of self by talking with friends and doing their makeup based on the discussion, this led to them making multiple body paint pieces like “LLIA”, and “Rayano My Flower”. 

LLIA was their biggest project as they did nine portraits over the course of one month. LLia was inspired by the concept of armor and self defense. Each subject was asked about themselves and their relationship with their outer shell. Through this process each piece emerged rather naturally. Lia seeks to bring each soul’s to fruition through makeup. The models were asked an array of questions, some were strangers, some were loved ones. The questions aimed to understand the person's current state of being, what was going on in their life and in their head. 

As time progressed Scheef began exploring print making and became less focused on research based concept creation when they began two printmaking courses. Creating became a far more inward process again and discussion stopped being a part of the process. Without a set direction art again became an outlet for the artist to express internal battles. “Electric Fish” was born with the cross of a manic episode and an excessive amount of printmaking. Many layers of the same pattern with multiple different mediums were put into this piece from screen printing, to stamping to free hand painting over and over. This piece never aimed to cover a specific topic but spoke out on many in the end. The two figures float far from each other in the same pool, one is accessing a portal that is altering their physical form and pulling them in. The energy exchange is so intense its spreading electricity throughout the water. We see the figure on the right trying to swim to the surface desperately searching for air while the fish attempt to escape as well. 

Art is and continues to be the only way to run away without leaving home for Jin Scheef. The best way to process feelings that would otherwise be pushed away. Through their Art practice Jin continues to use art as a means of self soothing during hard times but also of celebration during triumphant ones . They never intend on stopping and they don't believe ever can, when art is exploring yourself it's impossible not to make it.