We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ShinYeon Moon. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ShinYeon below.

ShinYeon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I had the privilege to work on is an upcoming children’s book, Laolao’s Dumplings, published by Godwin Books and written by the talented Dane Liu. It tells the story of a grandmother and her granddaughter bonding over making dumplings and the family’s connections to their community in Chinatown. Food has always been a great source of inspiration for me and I feel it is one of the best ways to learn about any culture, so I was thrilled to be asked to work on this book that showcased the beauty of food as a form of connection and family love. The representation of Asian-American families is something that I have always longed to see in children’s books and it is so meaningful to be able to help visualize the stories that make this world so diverse and wonderful.

ShinYeon, 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 am a freelance illustrator and educator based in New York. Much of the work that I do tries to highlight Asian womxn and my Korean-American heritage. I also love to create unique characters and build imaginative worlds. I graduated from the M.F.A. Illustration as Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts where I learned the most about this industry. Clients I’ve worked for include Little White Lies Magazine, Re-entry Rocks, and The Unionist. I have been lucky enough to be a part of solo and group exhibitions across the United States and internationally. Sometimes I also assist other artists in large-scale projects like mural paintings or as a colorist for graphic novels. Currently, I teach BFA Illustration at the School of Visual Arts and Fashion Institute of Technology. You can always find me at my desk tinkering around with new crafts – I am currently attempting to learn the art of needle-felting.

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

I think one of the most rewarding aspects is to share and hear about other creatives’ personal projects. Because a lot of what we do is very isolating and also because the illustration industry is very client-driven, I find it so refreshing to be able to hear what creatives are making in their spare time. I think personal projects – whether that be starting new hobbies or getting one step closer to a dream project – is so inspiring and is grounding in that it helps me get back to my core of creating, which has always been to have fun and connect with others. Personal projects have always helped me to get more client work and it guides you in figuring out who you are, your passion and your story.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Because of social media there is always this need to be constantly productive and post something. I have had to constantly unlearn what it means to make pieces for the sole purpose of creating for myself and not to feed the algorithm. Social media is definitely a wonderful way to connect to other creatives and even get jobs, but I think it is beneficial to quiet the noise it can bring and re-focus your energy back into art making and getting inspired in your own time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shinyeon-moon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shinnyoni
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shinyeon-moon-74886472/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/shinyeonmoon