Seo Kim

Seo Kim in her studio.

Seo Kim is an artist and cartoonist currently based in Los Angeles. She is known for her storyboard work on Adventure Time as well as for her comics and drawings that she shares on her instagram.

Can you tell us a bit about the process of making your work?

This may be obvious but I always have to start with either an idea, or a purpose for why I want to make something. It could be a joke that I want to execute as a comic or maybe I want to do a study of a master painting but interpret it in my own style. There just needs to be a spark that gets me started that I can run with and build upon.

In the case of the pastel drawings in the show, I'd say these were primarily an exercise in completing finished work in color. The “idea” for each one came from photographs I found and saved which had interesting lighting. I wanted to see if I could recreate and repurpose it as something of my own. The drawings and subject matter came second and were designed in service of the lighting and color schemes, which are kind of the essence of each piece. For something else, I might just as easily start with a concept for a drawing and figure out the colors second. I don’t have a consistent process at least at the moment. I think every project tends to have its own unique needs. 

Finished works in Kim’s studio, including 2 works that are featured in “Illuminated.”

What are you working on at the moment?

For my day job I've been storyboarding at Netflix on an upcoming animated show for adults. I think it’s a pretty unique show. It's introspective and thoughtful, which is rare for more adult-orientated cartoons. 

As for my personal work, in general I’ve been trying to graduate from mainly drawing in pencil to doing more finished work in color. So, I’ve been sketching a lot and experimenting with various mediums. My artistic outlook has a lot to do with mastering craft, which, for me, primarily means honing my draftsmanship and my understanding of light and color. 

You have these wonderful characters in your work! We were wondering if your drawings follow a certain narrative?

Designing characters, especially animals and monsters, is very central to what I do. I’ve worked as a character designer and I love the challenge of coming up with designs that don’t quite look like anything else that already exists. When I draw characters in my own work, what comes out is usually whatever interests me and pleases me visually. They aren’t based on any existing narrative, although I think my drawings can sometimes suggest some kind of back story or universe. I’m interested in developing narratives based on certain characters, but I have trouble following through. I tend to be more interested in the way things look rather than telling a larger story. 

What are some references you draw upon in your work? Are there any themes in particular that you like to focus on when creating?

I think I've definitely incorporated elements of pop culture in my drawings and comics, but I think that I want my work, in its purest form, to feel like it’s not really of this world. I want everything about the piece to be as original as possible, so I don’t tend to consciously reference anything. Though, the exception may be troll dolls. Actually, I do have an accumulation of vintage dolls and stuffed animals in my apartment whose aesthetic I’m fairly inspired by. Those have definitely made it into my drawings.

Do you have any shows coming up? Anything else you would like to share?

I have a solo show coming up this October at a brand new space in Echo Park, Los Angeles. We’re probably going to announce it in September so if you're in the area keep an eye out!

Seo Kim’s work is included in our show “Illuminated,” July 9th - Aug. 30th, 2021. Visit her Instagram (@instantdoodles) to see more of her work.