Che_u, Digital Illustrator and Artist

When I was a child, I liked to draw freely. My mother allowed me to experience many things for myself. Instead of an eraser, she gave me a new piece of paper and told me to draw freely. In addition, she told me to express my feelings in drawing by playing various genres of music, such as children's songs and classical music, on the radio.

I was also able to experience materials that I had never encountered by participating in classes hosted by the art exhibition hall. I went to an art high school and experienced various arts such as Western painting, oriental painting, sculpture, and design.

After graduating from high school, I entered Ewha Woman's University as a textile art major. I understand textiles and do work about my feelings.

“I want people to see my paintings and feel various emotions.”

Che_u

Che_u, Instagram

While I was working hard on my work, I came across the iPad and fell in love with digital drawing. In order to get used to the iPad, I watched Pinterest and YouTube and followed it, but I found myself gradually losing interest, and I thought it would be fun to put my story in an illustration like textile art.

I enjoyed drawing pictures, taking courage, and posting them on Instagram; people's responses were better than expected. Also, something amazing happened. I was offered an interview by Global Interview, which interviews interesting people who make a difference in the world. I've experienced many changes in my small actions, so I'll continue to develop little by little.

What is your favourite social media platform, and why?

I like Instagram. Instagram allows creators to freely post their work without formalizing it, and it's good. I can get feedback by numbers and comments. Also, without advertising, feeds are exposed to people with similar interests so I can show my paintings to many people. 

I think Instagram is the fastest and most effective way to promote the painting because if you are moved or sympathized with it, you can tag another acquaintance and share it right away.

Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.

The first theme I wanted to draw was "Date." Many artists work on the theme of love, and most of them depict romantic scenes when dating. I wanted to capture the real life and interesting moments of dating. When I draw a picture of the fun moments that passed by, I realize that I am living happily every time I see the picture. 

In addition, most people sympathize with the moment and look back on their memories. Those who have been in a relationship go on a trip down memory lane, and those who have not yet had a relationship look forward to it. 

Like this, I want people to see my paintings and feel various emotions. Since most of my works are based on my experiences, I am trying to have more diverse dates. Stories based on real experience can be expressed in more detail and fun than imagination.

What do you like about your career or area of focus?

I majored in Oriental painting in high school and textile art in university, so I am constantly doing work. However, until last year, there were no illustrations in my life. Then, with the opportunity to draw with an iPad, I fell in love with digital drawing. 

Currently, it is more enjoyable and satisfying to draw my love story on an iPad than on a work made of fibre. I feel joy in all the processes of deciding what scenes to draw, drawing character gestures, and drawing backgrounds and objects.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

My parents give me good advice and advice. Among them, the best advice was, "Do what you are happy with; life is short even if you are happy." Before people act, they think a lot about what others think, whether they can really do it and whether it is beneficial to them. 

I realized that acting to be well-received and recognized by others is only for my social reputation and not the happiness I want. So, I resolved to prioritize my happiness rather than meeting their standards. The first step is to paint.

What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?

Everyone around me makes me move. My family encourages me no matter what I do. Trust me, support me, and wish me happiness unconditionally. My boyfriend is a peer, but he has more social experience than I do, so he gives me advice that fits my age. Everything he does for me makes me want to draw an illustration. 

I didn't want to forget the affection I received from him, and it wasn't enough to leave our memories in writing, so I wanted to leave it as a picture. Even now, my parents, boyfriends and friends are cheering me on for all my activities. Thanks to them, I can move forward with more confidence.

What are you proud of in your life so far?

I can confidently say that I have been loved more by my parents than anyone else. My parents gave me so much love that I became a person who could fully give love and express it abundantly. I am proud of myself because I sincerely love and express it in pictures, and I can make others feel the love in pictures.

What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?

It is important for people and networks to approach with courage. If I hadn't had the courage to start Instagram, I wouldn't be doing this interview now. Opening an Instagram account was my first challenge, believing that people would like my paintings. 

I opened Instagram, posted pictures, went to other people's accounts, sent DMs, and communicated with others. New people who greeted each other through DM became precious friends who gave feedback on each other's paintings. 

Even if my actions don't meet the expectations I want, it's much better to be brave than not try. So, following Instagram, I'm going to start on YouTube with a little more courage.

What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?

The ability to capture small and enjoyable moments was helpful. It is not an ordinary romantic scene, but a romantic scene containing specific daily life is captured and drawn. If you don't leave the camera on for 24 hours, people's trivial but cute actions will go too far to remember. 

There are many small moments that will be forgotten if you don't record, such as wanting to win a long jump bet, hitting an egg head in a sauna, eating tangerines under a warm blanket in cold winter, and lying on the other person's leg and reading comic books. I think expressing these moments in a lovely way is the reason why people like my illust. And if people from other countries look at my paintings, they will know how Korean lovers date.

What do you wish you had known when you started out?

I haven't regretted anything since I started. If I had to pick one, I would have been able to make it into a product design or goods if I had chosen a name by characterizing myself and my boyfriend. Most of the other artists who draw illustrations on Instagram put their names on cute and simple characters and draw pictures in which they are the main characters. 

The next step is to design the characters and sell them. However, I think it will be difficult to devise a design because I drew a character based on my motif.

Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?

Rather than choosing one person, I respect all artists. Art begins with knowing yourself properly, and this process is very difficult. Even if you know about yourself, it's not easy to express yourself. 

In addition, you should do work not only at the moment you want but steadily with a sense of duty. So, maybe I can say that I respect everyone who is proud of their work and has a sense of responsibility.

Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?

I like to exercise. I like many sports, but I especially like boxing and basketball. When dating, I enjoy dating in the park rather than dating in cafes and movie theatres. Exercise is really important in life. Exercising while sweating not only makes your body healthy but also makes you feel better, and you can spend the day comfortably.

Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?

It's a pity that I couldn't do various activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I feel that I was more positively affected because I had a lot of time to focus on myself. Before COVID-19, I was absorbed in my studies and went out to play with my friends when I had time, so I didn't have much time at home. 

It is true that I miss the world before COVID-19 because it was fun in its own way. However, as I spent more time at home due to COVID-19, I was able to live a quiet and fully develop myself by reading books and drawing pictures in various styles. I think it is also positive that I started painting because of the influence of COVID-19.

Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?

In life, a mentor is my mother. My mother is positive about everything and makes difficult problems easier. So, I feel like I can live happier than anyone else if I look at the world from a bright and positive perspective, like my mother. 

I am currently teaching art to my children. Following the mother's positive and bright energy, I teach art to children as a mentor. Children are going through a period of active brain growth, so it is very important how creative and positively I, as a teacher, influence them. 

I expect little that children are following me well as a teacher, which means I'm probably doing well.

What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?

I want to tell them not to worry too much about what others say. If someone points out a painting and changes it, your painting will lose its identity. I want you to know what you like and what you value the most and draw it firmly. If you are confident in your paintings, there will be more people who like them as they are.

What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?

I think not trusting yourself completely is the reason for failure. In my life so far, there has been a spell that I always think of repeatedly while going through many tests and trying. "If you wish desperately, it will come true." Of course, it's my own spell, but when I memorize this spell, I've never failed. So, of course, that order is really what I call the best preparation I can do. 

It's a spell that comes after so much effort that I think I can't work harder than this. So, therefore, if you fully believe in yourself and prepare to the maximum, I think there is nothing you can't succeed in.

Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?

"Those who work hard can't beat those who enjoy themselves." I draw pictures to rest. When I want to rest while working on other tasks, I draw pictures and feel happy about the act itself. 

I don't know if there will be a change if I draw as a job later, but I think I'm doing well because I enjoy drawing and posting on Instagram. I'm just enjoying it now, but if I try harder to draw it, my talent will double and shine even more.

What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?

It's not been long since I drew a picture, so I'm not interested in anything other than my own, so it's hard to answer correctly. However, when I was asked this question, I realized that my interest in other brands and companies and developing illustrations in different directions could be an opportunity for me to grow.

How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?

Success is happiness. Most people think that success is money and honour. However, if success is judged based on money and honour, there will be no end. Therefore, I want to set happiness as the standard for success because I will raise the standard and act for success if I meet the standard of success that I set for the first time, and if this repeats, I will constantly crave success. 

In fact, happiness seems easy, but I think happiness is the most difficult thing in life. If I feel happy for myself, isn't that the success of life?