We recently connected with Mijin Kwon and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mijin, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

The answer will be “Yes, I am!”. It’s a fulfilling thing to have a passion that becomes the driving force of your life, and for me, art is that passion. Being an artist makes me happy, but it isn’t just about joy. The challenges and difficulties I face along the way are part of the process, and they push me to grow. During these hard times, I’ve questioned whether I should’ve chosen a different path.

I remember feeling this especially when I was about to graduate my undergraduate from college, uncertain about whether pursuing art as a career was the right choice for me. I pictured myself doing something unrelated to art, imagining a more stable, predictable life. But in the end, I realized that this is what I truly wanted, even with the uncertainty. It’s a struggle that I think many artists face—wondering if this path is sustainable or even the right one.

Being an artist isn’t something tied to age. It would be more about the inner drive to create. It’s something that stays with you if you desire to pursue it, and it creates another opportunity for you as an artist. That’s what has kept me moving forward.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an urban landscape oil painter from South Korea, and my work focuses on capturing cityscapes, specifically, those moments that often pass by in the calm, busy, and repetitive rhythm of daily life. The moments may seem ordinary to others but they have a way of stopping me in my tracks and making me reflect on the beauty within the mundane.

San Francisco holds a special place in my heart. It was the first city I came to when I came to the United States to study, and it’s where I still live today. The city brings to mind many emotions in me. There’s not only the loneliness and longing I felt when I left my hometown but also a sense of peace in the daily routines I’ve created here. I often imagine looking back on these moments later in life with the same fondness I have for my hometown. This makes me more passionate about the paintings I work on and they become a driving force for me.

Through my paintings, I aim to preserve fleeting moments and invite viewers to relive their memories and emotions connected to familiar places. My goal is to convey the atmosphere, feelings, and sense of time in a way that resonates with others, allowing them to share in the experiences. As an artist, I take pride in creating work that can bring happiness, a sense of connection, and nostalgia to those who engage with it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to not only gain energy from my work but also to share that energy with others. Art has a way of creating connections, and I find it deeply fulfilling when my work brings a smile or a moment of reflection to someone’s day. It might seem like a small thing, but being able to share even a fleeting moment of happiness or emotion with others makes the creative process meaningful. I believe that art should resonate with people, offering them something beyond the surface. That’s what drives me to continue making art—knowing that my work can evoke emotions, create memories, and offer a sense of connection. Ultimately, the joy of seeing someone experience happiness through my art makes this journey as an artist even more worthwhile.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is guided by focusing on meaningful, attainable goals. I prefer to build on small achievements, gradually setting bigger objectives rather than pursuing distant, abstract ambitions. At the core of my mission is a deep appreciation for the value of time, which I strive to capture through my art. Life can feel both fleeting and enduring, and as an artist, my goal is to document my experiences and journey in what I consider a visual diary, connecting with and inspiring others. This ongoing process would strengthen and give me the will to continue creating. Sharing these fleeting moments with viewers is what gives my work significance. I hope that, over time, my art serves as a lasting reflection of my path, bringing joy and resonance to those who encounter it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mijinkwonart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmm.jin.art0a0/

Image Credits

Mijin Kwon