We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Justin N. Kim a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Justin N., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

When covid and lockdown happened, I started to sell my paintings during pandemic, because I needed a source of income. Prior to lockdown, I kept painting before and after work. But being a full time art handler, my schedule was unpredictable and often painting progress made any dent, but I kept going. I didn’t know how to have a meaningful conversations with people, I was curious about their stories but I didn’t know how to listen or ask good questions that keep the conversation going.

Then covid and lockdown happens and I decided that I need a source of income and meanwhile, listen to interviews and audiobooks about business and other subject matters from specialists. I learned a lot and started to put them into practice and things started to roll. Nothing really happened in the first year but I gained confidence and started to put myself more and more out there. I started to approach new people at gallery openings and have conversations with galleries and other painters. Slowly, things roll a little faster than they did. It was energizing to see the results and I wanted to keep it going. I am still putting things in practice but also, still learning a lot from doing and making new mistakes from things that I have never done before, which is a sure sign of growth. I am nothing but grateful to all my clients and galleries and new people that are in my life, surely I am nothing without them

Justin N., 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?

Hi Canvas Rebel, my name is Justin N. Kim and I paint colorful abstract and map paintings with my palette knife. I was introduced to drawing as an extracurricular activity in Korea. Which I continued to do even after my family moved to the States in the year 2000. I kept drawing and I got really good at it and thought I would draw for a living. It was in college when I was introduced to painting. This encounter changed my life. I was dealing with not only new material and rules but also color. It was challenging but I was fascinated by oil paint. Then I saw an abstract painting in a tv show called Mad Men and that opened doors for my painting trajectory. I enjoyed exploring the unknown and creating something out of nothing, but I didn’t enjoy the brushstrokes and the hand in the paintings. One night in an empty classroom, I found a palette knife that was left behind and started to use that as my main painting device. I really enjoyed the smooth paint that’s applied rather than paint that’s painted on with brushstrokes. I tried to master clean lines and my application, which took a lot of work. But I was getting good at it. Then I discovered tape and how taping provided a clean look, this neat look that I was going for, and allowed me to save a lot of time working. This combination has been my preferred choice since then. I continue to make work this way and I will probably keep doing it this way.

I graduated college and university and got my way into a grad school in Northridge in 2015. While working three part-time jobs and a few odd gigs, I dedicated my time and focus to develop and grow my work. I graduated in 2018 and got a job as an art handler while I was installing my thesis show. I kept working for almost 2 years until covid got me laid off. Which was an interesting turn of events for me and my painting career, which was nonexistent until that point. During my working days, I would continue to find and make time to paint but it was very slow going and I wasn’t looking to get into exhibitions and selling my work and networking, etc. So, when I was laid off, I thought it was a Godsend opportunity for me to get my practice going and see if I can try to make a living off making and selling my work. I continue to learn things on a daily basis and it’s a constant battle that brings on challenges for me to grow and be a better person and a better painter. I enjoy all of it; the pain, the joy, and the ongoing process of growth. I’m really grateful to God, to my parents and my wife, and my collectors for helping me to be here and showing me and my work some love and support. I really enjoy making connections with new friends and collectors along the way as I continue making new work and I look forward to keeping my practice going.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I don’t know a whole lot as is, but I wish I knew how to communicate and basic business skills. I wish basic business and communication was part of graduate program. And anyone who is considering MFA – I would want them to reconsider and talk to different people in the art/creative field, because lot everybody needs this degree. Unless you’re going into teaching, which is different entirely

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

This is a good question that the public doesn’t understand so easily. I encounter this situation often enough that I don’t tell people what I do and I don’t have that occupation conversation with new people. Because of the public image of an artist is a hungry one. They seem to think this career is a hobby at best and looks down on you in a way. They don’t know that it’s a professional vocation and one functions as a business where one can make a living off it. I think the misconception can be addressed with more exposure in the public eyes – in tv, interviews, conversations, art exhibitions etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jnkim.org
• Instagram: @j.nkim