As an artist, Lin Onus invented his own visual language. In depicting scenes of the Arafura swamp and Barmah Forest, he took an unusual vantage point by painting scenes below the surface of the water, while also capturing reflections. This dual perspective sets up an engaging tension for the viewer that makes ingenious use of stenciling and painterly special effects. An appreciation of his methods for capturing a particular time of day and for depicting fish is enhanced through a comparison with the ways other artists have handled the same subjects.

As an ambassador for Aboriginal rights, Onus kept busy throughout his life. He served on boards, organized exhibitions, coordinated a cartoon workshop for Aboriginal artists and spent many years trying to set up an organization that would protect Aboriginal copyright. This work culminated in an agency, named Viscopy, that opened the year before his death.

Out of concern for Aboriginal artists whose images were all too often appropriated for commercial purposes without permission, an agency named Viscopy was founded and Lin Onus was asked to be its director in 1995. Viscopy handles requests from publishers, museums and commercial ventures to illustrate Aboriginal art in any way. Designed to protect Aboriginal artists from copyright violations, it remains an active agency with an office in New York that has approved all the requests to illustrate the images seen on websites like this one.