I was raised in a quiet environment in Korea. My parents are very calm, and before my brother was born, I spent my early years mostly with my mom. What we mainly did was read picture books together. For me, picture books were the way to learn the world. I could meet different types of animals and friends, I could go everywhere even to imaginary worlds, and I could hear their stories. However, as I started to go school and experience the real world, I naturally grew away from picture books.
When I decided to come to graduate school, I had a specific goal to work on picture books. I studied graphic design. It was an interesting subject to learn, but I felt something was missing. When I finished undergraduate school, I strongly thought that graphic design was not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And I started to ask myself, ‘What do I want to do?’ ‘How can I find my goal?’ ‘What makes me happy?’ Thinking about these questions, I suddenly recalled my old hobby reading picture books. I had a little nostalgic expectation that I might find my goal through them. However, the world of picture books did more than that. I was really excited to see all of the interesting stories and artwork that poured out of them. I found my dream there; I decided to make them myself. It was an undefined goal, but it was also the first time that I was eager to do something. I started to write stories and draw images. My family and friends were not interested with picture books at all and they worried about my reckless enthusiasm. Perhaps I needed to persuade them as well as myself, because I was also not sure about my potential. So, I chose graduate school as a place where I could learn, meet people and talk about my dream. I started graduate school in a foreign country. My brave challenge started with many moments where I felt frustrations and temptations of giving up, but the challenge definitely brought me closer to my dream. In my thesis year, I finally finished two picture books titles The Special Chair and Rooftop Lucy. I spent entire summer before thesis year thinking about stories. I am somewhat used to producing artwork, but making stories was totally new to me. I had no idea where to start. I just began to think about stories that I want to tell myself when I was a child. I was a introverted child, and I had difficulties building relationships. Consequently, I decided to make stories about relationships. For children, adults or even myself, I wanted to write about the importance of relationships and the happiness that comes from them.
The Day the Crayons Quit / 2013
I researched a large number of contemporary picture books. I found out that contemporary picture books tend to pursue entertainment more in comparison to the old ones. Moreover, rather than delivering morals and lessons directly, they give audiences an opportunity to think for themselves while enjoying books. Oliver Jeffers, Jon Klassen and Mo Willems are the good examples of the newest trend. The Day the Crayons Quit that Drew Daywalt wrote and Oliver Jeffers illustrated is one of New York Times bestsellers in 2013. The book is composed of many letters from different colors of crayons about their favors and complaints. By reading the letters from them, children could learn about diverse usages of colors and how to take care of their belongings. The 2013 Caldecott winner This Is Not My Hat, made by Jon Klassen, has a really simple story about a small fish that stole a hat from a big fish and its whimsical punishment. With a refined art style, it reminds audiences of punitive justice as a result of stealing. The book called Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! produced by Mo Williem has a steady sales record. This cartoon-style picture book let audiences participate in the story and make them think about the importance of promises and responsibility. I reflected the trend and developed my story in an amusing way while delivering a message which is the importance of relationships.
This Is Not My Hat / 2012
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! / 2003
Maira Kalman
There are a lot of great artists who inspire me. Among them, I especially like the picture book illustrators who have a contemporary, colorful, and painterly style. Maira Kalman is an American illustrator who works for adult as well as children. The features of her works are high-chroma colors, unexpected compositions, and amusing subjects. I think her freewheeling brush work and modern style is the reasons that her art is loved by the public. An Italian illustrator Valerio Vidali and an American painter Jennifer Uman collaborated on a book called Jemmy Button. The book is an excellent example of how to show diversity in one book that is composed of collage, pattern work, pencil drawing and painting. Also, the simple shapes, bright colors and diverse brush strokes of Chirstian Robinson add vitality in the book called Gaston that was published in 2014. One of the main concerns that I have had is ‘What is my signature style?’ Even today, I cannot clearly answer the question. I still want to have the signature style and I am in the process of finding it. However, while working on the two books, I realized that every story should have its own artwork style based on the story and that might be more important than having a signature style. I strongly believe that the diversity of stories and artworks is the attraction of picture books. The one thing that I wanted to keep for both books was providing the feeling of an intimacy in the art work.I believe that I found the proper voice for the both picture books.
Jemmy Button / 2013
Gaston / 2014
Chair Pattern Watercolor / 2013
Chairs have been essential objects in our lives for ages. As a symbol of status, an object of comfort and art that demonstrates innovation and creativity, chairs have been designed in greater variety as manufacturing technology has resulted in greater affordability and markets reflect society’s focus on the individual. Chairs are considered one of the most personal sorts of furniture. Last year, I made chair pattern for the pattern workshop. I researched various types of chairs, and I found out that there are a large number of people who is looking for the proper chair. It seems chair consumers think about cost and durability, yet no one really considers the person who sits in it. When I work excessively and spend a lot of time sitting, my body becomes stiff and sore. Interestingly, when I meet my closest friends or family, my sore body feels fine regardless of my sitting posture or the places where I sit. So it occured to me that, the more important matter might be whom you sit with, rather than the chair itself. My goal for the project was to write and illustrate a story for children about the loneliness that can’t be filled with material things and the importance of relationship between humans.
End Paper The Special Chair / 2015
The story begins with a grandfather who is always busy looking for the special chair for himself. He has one granddaughter, who wants to help him to find the chair. The first chair he buys is the highest chair in the village. He could enjoy the view and even touch the sky. But, when he needed to use the bathroom or wanted to drink some tea, going up and down from the chair was pretty tiring. He had to be extra careful on this chair as well, because should he nod off, he might fall! The next chair is a very expensive one. It was a handmade chair by a famous master craftsman, who designed the chair, cut the wood, carved and assembled the design, and finished this chair. Soon after the grandfather acquired the chair, he began worrying about things like ‘what if a dog scratches it?’ or ‘what if a tea cup leaves a stain?’ Eventually, he locked the chair in the room, and decided to never go inside! The last chair he tried was made of fluffy wool. He loved the soft texture, yet he started to feel guilty about the sheep that were shaved bare in order to make his soft chair. Every time he sat on it, he couldn’t stop thinking of sheep trembling in the cold. On balmy spring day, the grandfather was frustrated because no chair satisfied him. The granddaughter suggested to go chair shopping together, because she wanted to help him. On the way, the granddaughter found a park and insisted to go inside. He didn’t like that idea, but she convinced him. In the park, there were various people who are having a picnic, taking a walk and exercising with their family, friends and pets. The grandfather found out that they are having a great time and look happy. They also spent time together. After a while, the granddaughter found a tree stump and asked him to sit together. He didn’t want to sit on, but he did. He did not expect anything from sitting on a tree stump. Suddenly, he felt comfortable in a way he had never experienced on the other chairs. He started to see why the people in the park look happy. Finally, he realized that genuine comfort and happiness come from whom he is sitting with, and not the chair itself.
Sketch Dummy The Special Chair Pencil / 2015
I started to make a sketch dummy. In the process, I tried diverse layouts that can show effectively the characters of the each chair. After the sketch dummy book, I tried several different types of media to find the suitable style for the story. After trying a limited color palette, a digital version, color pencils and acrylic, I decided to work with acrylic paints with various lines on top of them. Acrylics is a good medium to present diverse colors and by using various colors, I wanted to deliver the sense of warmth of the story. Also, I thought different types of freewheeling lines would enhance the joy of the entire book.
Style Practice The Special Chair Goache / 2015
Style Practice The Special Chair Acylic / 2015
Style Practice The Special Chair Digital / 2015
Style Practice The Special Chair Watercolor, Colored Pencils/ 2015
A cat settled on the mat Pencil / 2014
Looking over previous work to get inspiration for a story about relationships,especially about the importance of sharing, I found one drawing created for the publishing workshop held last year in our program. We were asked to do a very quick drawing about this sentence “A cat settled on the mat.” The drawing became the start point of Rooftop Lucy. Cats represent animals that are independent and like being alone. Telling a story about friendship and sharing with cats as the main characters would convey the story effectively. Individualism and materialism are common concepts of our society. To some point, consumerism satisfies us. As we enjoy affluence and enhanced personal rights, we might become selfish and immune to each others’ feelings to that point, even if you have the most delicious food in front of you, eating alone makes you lonely. We all want to share delicious food with someone we like and live in a nice house with someone we love thorugh the book. I wanted to empathize the “with” part for our happiness.
End Paper Rooftop Lucy / 2015
In Lucy’s world, there is the perfect rooftop that has warm sunlight and a great view. One day, she took the rooftop for herself. She really liked it! At first, other cats gathered around near the rooftop and waited for her to leave because they also wanted to situp there. But soon, the other cats started to play together, eat together and nap together waiting for Lucy to leave. Lucy wanted to join them, but she worried about losing the rooftop. Suddenly, it began to rain. The other cats headed home. Lucy hesitated for a moment, but she headed home anyway worrying about losing the rooftop. The next morning was sunny. All of the cats gathered around the rooftop again, but, this time Lucy suggested the cats share the rooftop together. Finally, all the cats could enjoy the view and sunlight together.
Style Practice Rooftop Lucy Digital / 2015
Style Practice Rooftop Lucy Screenprint / 2015
Style Practice Rooftop Lucy Watercolor / 2015
Because the main characters of the book are cats, I researched different breeds. I found that the cat colors are more limited that I had expected. That was the basis for using a very limited color palette for the artwork. Using the apprearance a screen printing technique, combined with digital and watercolor techniques, I applied a variety of lines and textures to the artwork. I then used dry media such as pastels and color pencils and mixed them together digitally. I used repeated compositions to deliver the explicitness of the story.
The size of picture books art is not usually very big compared to other kinds of gallery art. I wanted to invite audiences into the world that I created for both books. I thought that showing the actual or bigger size of the characters or the environments of the books would help to draw gallery-goers attention. Using both books’ covers. I created mural sized graphics which gave me the opportuinity to break the mold for myself, moving into new areas of expression and helping me take a step forward into the world that I built. As a result, my artwork manifested three different media: picture books, prints and murals. It was the great opportunity to understand these different types of media and their features. The reactions of the audiences were different as well. People who read the books focused on the stories, the prints helped them to appreciate the artwork, and they anticipated my subjects by seeing murals. In that way, the combination of three types of media was the proper decision for the exhibition.
Drawing Practice Pencil / 2015
One aspect of my thesis was drawing. Advised to do sketching practice of hands and feet by the program director, while working on the sketches for The Special Chair, I worried about spending extra time on sketching, because I was already busy working on my thesis. However, I discovered that drawing hands and feet has become a great warm-up exercise. After finishing one sketch book of hands and feet, I started to draw people from magazines, streets and coffee shops. I began to notice that my drawing skill has improved, and now sketchbook work my new hobby. I’ll definitely keep practicing drawings on a regular basis. I believe all those drawings will have some possibilities in the future.
Drawing Practice Pencil / 2015
The Elephant Picturebook Mixed Media / 2013
I hope my books are loved by the public. I’m looking forward to seeing my books in the market place. I will contact the major publishers such as Penguin Group, Candlewick Press, Chronicle, Flying Eye Book, Random House, Simon and Schuster Books, Scholastic, and Philomel Books to get published. That is the ultimate goal of my life. However, I will be open minded to other possibilities. I’m also interested in editorial illustrations, stationery and pattern work.
Sky Pattern Watercolor / 2013 Greeting Cards Watercolor, Pen / 2013
Stationery Mockup Watercolor / 2013
Knowledge is Power Watercolor, Colored Pencils / 2014
Urban Trauma Mixed Media / 2015
I was always concerned about the directions and decisions that I made for the books. Nevertheless, I finished them and did the exhibition and showed them to many people. There will be not that many opportunities in my life I can immerse myself for a whole year mainly doing one thing. In that way, the last year was definitely the one of the greatest and productive years that I have had. I wanted to thank my family and my dog who supported and helped me to finish my degree, all of the talented and amazing friends from ILP, Whitney Sherman, Jaime Zollars, Michele Glenn and Joyce Hesselberth for their great advice and support.