With his selection to the first Taiwan Exhibition, Lin was suddenly famous. He became a leader in the Chiayi art scene and was a lively member of the area's many art societies.
入選第一屆台展之後，林玉山聲譽鵲起，積極活躍於嘉義地區的「春萌畫會」、「栴檀社」、「鴉社書畫會」、「墨洋社」、「麗光會」等畫會，成為嘉義地區美術重要的領導人之一。