With his natural painting talent and such influences as Taiwanese folk art, the wan-sei style identified with the "Taiwan Exhibitions" sponsored by the Japanese colonial administration, and Western techniques of rendering from nature, he created a style of Taiwanese ink wash painting quite distinct from the styles of Japan and the Chinese mainland.
以個人才情，融會中國民間繪畫、日本台展風格及西畫寫生功力，林玉山發展出異於中原與日本水墨的獨特「灣製」風格，使得林玉山的水墨畫不論在哪一個時代，都備受肯定。