“I was born and raised in London, England, and have been residing in the Bay Area for 30 years. Painting is my passion and I paint full time in my San Jose studio. I strive to simplify and capture the essence of my subject using complex layers, which I create using acrylic paints and collage papers. I enjoy searching for papers that have interesting text, images, and textures, and then incorporating them into my work. My love of texture, pattern, shape, and color is reflected in my work. A large amount of my recent work is focused on semi-abstract San Francisco cityscapes and the figure. My goal is to capture the essence of my subject or idea using minimalism. Working on a painting is like trying to solve a puzzle, it can be challenging at times, meditative, and extremely satisfying when the puzzle is solved.” Belinda Lima’s paintings have won numerous awards and she has been accepted in both national and statewide shows including The Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA; The California Watercolor Association, Walnut Creek, CA; and the International Society of Acrylic Painters Walnut Creek, CA. She is an active member of several art associations including Allied Artists West and is a signature member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters.