Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Damien (Seo young) Jeon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Damien (Seo young) thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I am happy and grateful to work as a full-time freelance illustrator for several reasons.

First, I love the flexibility of managing my own schedule and have the freedom to do time management.

I work from home and I am free to use my morning time. I can go to the library to read a book or take a bike ride before starting work.

I usually work after lunch and continue late into the night. I have established a routine that suits me well.

Additionally, I take pride in every artwork I create. This sense of accomplishment serves as a significant motivation for me to continue doing this work.

However, since I have many friends who have regular jobs – stable job positions and vacations, who have a free work studio, cafeteria, and free coffee, as well as colleagues who can help each other,

I know it depends, but the in-house welfare seems like a very nice reason to have a regular job for me. Sometimes I think about getting a regular job after I completing my graduate studies.

Damien (Seo young), before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Damien Jeon, a freelance illustrator. Although I initially aspired to become a cartoon artist, I discovered a greater interest in illustration. I gained a lot of inspiration from Japanese manga, manhwa, and anime, I developed my own style characterized by fluid lines and vibrant colors.

To enhance my artistic skills and broaden my perspective, I studied illustration in New York.

This experience greatly enriched my artistic journey.

I specialize in creating illustrations for various purposes, including editorial, book illustration, branding, and advertising. My goal is to produce visually appealing artwork that meets the needs of the viewers.

I enjoy incorporating vibrant colors and decorative elements to create strong images that capture the attention of the public. Currently, I am particularly drawn to Y2K trends and find joy in designing glamorous objects and scenes.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

My artistic perspective was inspired by great films and books.

Regarding film, The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman, Pierrot le fou and Alphaville by Jean-Luc Godard, Velvet Goldmine by Todd Haynes, and Bad Blood by Leos Carax.

I found inspiration for sci-fi in the near future from Alphaville and Bad Blood, Velvet Goldmine introduced me to the world of glam rock aesthetics with their glitters and vibrant colors reminiscent of the 70s-80s retro aesthetic. while Ingmar Bergman’s films had a profound impact on my thinking and philosophy.

I love books, and it’s not easy to pick just one, but my favorite is Agota Kristof, a Hungarian writer who lived in Switzerland and wrote in French.

Her major works – The Notebook Trilogy – are masterpieces. Her concise sentences, which reflect her intense life and voice, always resonate with me. I learned a lot from her attitude towards writing under any circumstances. Despite fleeing from her war-torn homeland, working all day, raising a child, and writing in a foreign language, she never stopped writing.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Copyright has always been important and relevant, but it has become even more significant due to AI art.

The matter of copyright in AI art is still not clear, leaving artists and society confused.

However, I believe it is crucial for the government and society to adopt the right perspective on AI art and acknowledge the creativity and copyright of artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.damienjeon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damienjeonart/
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Damien Jeon