Smooth, cloudy and ethereal, they’re like dreams or extensive-missing childhood reminiscences. Joohyung Seo’s illustrations merge visual storytelling with impressionist spontaneity to carry out some of the most atmospheric artwork you will come across.
Seeking at her mesmerizing functions, it’s really hard to visualize that Joohyung has formally started out her creative vocation only very last yr. In this week’s On The Location, the Korean illustrator tells us much more about her path so considerably – and how it all started with robots and pyramids.
Wherever do you reside and what does your studio look like?
I stay in a very active port metropolis in South Korea, but luckily for us my neighborhood takes place to be in the quieter part. My studio is also my household, so the boundary among workspace and other “living spaces” is pretty blurry. It’s a modest, humble area with a messy desk, a lot of books (half of them comic books), and minimal souvenirs I gathered from all the areas I have visited all over the planet.
It’s a fantastic small area the place I can emphasis incredibly simply, nevertheless it would be even superior if I could also get a cat as a studio assistant!
How did you become an artist?
I formally started off out as a freelance illustrator very last 12 months, just after graduating from college. As a kid, I experienced a couple of distinctive desire jobs in intellect – one particular of them was a scientist (I wanted to construct robots), and a further one was an archeologist, as I have been fascinated with ancient Egypt archeology considering the fact that I was youthful.
Having said that, as the a long time passed, I recognized that what I definitely preferred undertaking was drawing the robots, and that I was especially really fascinated in the art of historic Egypt. And so I identified myself shelling out a ton of time drawing and portray, and believed it would be wonderful to be equipped to do this for the rest of my daily life. But even though I was experiencing making art, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make this operate as a profession. It took me a although to decide because of to fiscal worries.
Now, as you can see, the final decision has been produced. I just went for it and started out doing work as a freelance illustrator. I started off out with personal commissions, album handles, emblem layouts, and now I’m also running a print shop.
Do you paint every single day? What does your standard working day appear like?
I attempt to paint most days of the week, until I’m owning wrist discomfort. Right after receiving what I would argue is a healthier and realistic volume of caffeine in the early morning, I abide by the ideas I set up the former day. I typically commence the working day by carrying out rapid scientific studies or sketches, and the research subjects modify based on what I feel I need to improve on, whether that be anatomy, hues, etc. Then I start operating on any ongoing jobs and acquire care of my print shop orders, which contains functioning to the submit workplace on transport times.
When I have more totally free time, I like to commence the day by likely on extended walks incredibly early in the morning, commonly for about an hour or an hour and a 50 %. For most of the day, I draw and paint until finally the time comes to get all set for bed and plan out what to do the next working day. And the cycle proceeds!
You have a exclusive design and style. How did you produce it?
My style is vastly encouraged by the artwork of Georges Seurat. His drawings have a wonderful atmospheric excellent to them and I did a great deal of research of his do the job as perfectly as works inspired by his type.
I was also closely influenced by the town exactly where my higher education was positioned. There had been days all through winter season when it would get extremely foggy at night time, generating my environment search like fuzzy charcoal drawings. I took a lot of shots for reference and use them till this working day.
And right after I graduated from faculty, I bought a prospect to travel to New York Metropolis and expended a large amount of time in museums. Every day I would examine oil paintings and pastel drawings very intently and specifically referenced a great deal of impressionist paintings. I noticed there had been lots of subtle shade nuances even in a little something that appeared like a quite rough and easy stroke, and recognized there have been not often any flat pure colors in the paintings. There were at minimum a person or two other colours blended in into that a single stroke, producing the whole painting have a type of beautiful feathery and energetic search. Each time I start off portray I constantly try out to keep in mind this and include it in my personal operate. I was also motivated by the look of paints peeling off from outdated mural paintings as nicely as rust – I consider to bring that old, worn out, and mysterious top quality to my work.
Who are the characters you paint?
The two figures I frequently paint, who shall continue being unnamed for now, are best good friends who have been divided owing to situations further than their regulate. I developed the yellow character to be the embodiment of childhood and the other character who is normally painted with a darker shade (ordinarily purple) represents the changeover into adulthood.
What are your most significant inspirations?
Sometimes it is textbooks and films I relished, other moments it is the need to illustrate emotions I am having a tough time expressing by way of unique words and phrases. A large amount of the time it’s what I notice around me, like the shades of the sky and mild, as well as the atmosphere.
My biggest creative inspiration is, all over again, Seurat and his drawings. Some folks may possibly have seen I attract a large amount of figures in profile watch and that arrives from me watching Michelle Ocelot’s Prince et Princesses religiously as a youngster. I like the graphic top quality of his films and my memories of seeing Prince et Princesses likely creep in subconsciously into my perform.
If you could choose a person place on Earth to are living and paint, where by would it be?
I simply cannot think of any particular metropolitan areas or even nations, but I would certainly like to are living in a position with a cooler weather. I like going on long walks as it helps me distinct my head and distract myself from stress and anxiety, but executing that in the course of scorching and humid Korean summers has been tough for me. As somebody who is not very very good with warmth, a place with shorter summers would be terrific. The warmth right here can from time to time be unbearable and I would love to paint outdoor additional.
Do you have any other hobbies other than art?
I really like cooking and baking. I come across it very therapeutic and meditative, in particular when I’m preparing the components (for instance, cutting vegetables into good even slices) and observing their colours adjust as they prepare dinner. It assists me take it easy when I’m battling with my assignments, as well as I conclude up with some good foods to munch on! Aside from that, I also delight in looking through and observing films each time I have totally free time.
What are your creative options for the upcoming?
In terms of jobs, one thing I usually desired to do is creating far more narrative-based illustrations like e book illustrations and comics. I’m now incredibly fascinated in accomplishing ebook handles or variant covers for comics. In any other case I just want to hold producing much more artwork, even further produce my design, and experiment with more severe, darker tones.
Instagram: @jseojd_art
