Interview - Ted Kim Illustrator

Defrost Network is commited to featuring people with exceptional talent. Ted Kim is one such person. His work came to our attention when Ted signed up to Defrost Network and began uploading his portfolio. One image at a time we saw his work and were immediately impressed by the range of expression and detail in his stunning illustrations. We had to know more about Ted and as such we asked him to participate in a Defrost Feature Interview. He agreed and the results are below. Enjoy.

Q: How did you get started in art? Did you go to school? How many years?
A: As far as I can remember I always loved drawing but it wasn’t until after University did I actually consider pursuing it as a career. I only did a couple years at the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art in New Jersey from 96-98 and then took the plunge from there. My first job was as a clean-up and storyboard artist for a small animation studio in Vancouver, BC.

Q: What are some of the highlights of your career as an Illustrator so far? Awards? Published?
A: The majority of my career has been in the video game industry. I’ve been fortunate enough to see several games published: Cel Damage, Cel Damage Overdrive (UK), Full Auto and Full Auto 2: Battlelines. In the midst of all that I was able to do a couple magazine covers for those games (Game Developer and the Official Xbox Magazine) and see some of my Cel Damage designs become toys!

Q: Where do you find inspiration? Online, offline, books etc?
A: I’m an art book junkie! I love visiting other artists’ sites and collecting their art books. Also, online forums such as the Drawing Board and ConceptArt.org are a great source of inspiration and feedback. Movies, animation and comics are also a staple source of inspiration.

Q: How did you learn about the Defrost Network?
A: I actually stumbled upon Defrost during a Google search! There’s an endless amount of resource online and it’s so convenient too.

Q: How important is networking towards finding new projects or jobs for Illustrators?
A: I would say networking is an artist’s best venue for career growth. Most if not all of my projects have been though some form of networking whether in-depth or casual. There’s such a huge pool of talent out there the only way to survive is to find a nice niche for yourself and go for broke.

Q: What do you see as being the biggest trends or innovations in your field of work? Software? Technology? Tools?
A: I see outsourcing and artists collectives really taking off. It’s getting more and more difficult to make it as a freelancer but banding together with other artists helps pool resources and opportunities otherwise unavailable to the individual artist. Tech wise, definitely going digital has opened up endless possibilities while cutting down production time. For better or for worse, I’ve not picked up a paintbrush since art school! The Wacom tablet is a digital artist’s best friend.

Q: Who are your favorite Illustrators?
A: Wow, that’s a whole other interview! My biggest inspirations have been Jim Lee and Bruce Timm. They really shaped my sensibilities and fueled my inspiration. Most of my favorite artists are from comics and animation: Joe Madureira, Humberto Ramos, Skottie Young, Sean ‘Cheeks’ Galloway, Ben Caldwell, Travis Charest, Claire Wendling, Mike Mignola and the list goes on!

Q: What magazines and publications do you recommend to up and coming Illustrators?
A: I really enjoy magazines like Imagine FX and Advanced Photoshop. They showcase a lot of talent whether professional or amateur and get into detail about the creation process of each artist. There’s a lot to learn out there, though I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years I feel like I’m just starting to get the hang of it!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: Hmm, that’s a good question. Aside from producing art, I also enjoy managing and empowering other artists. I still plan to work in the entertainment field – videogames, movies, comics etc. I see myself in an immersive environment where creative people not only bring the best to their art but to each other as well. A studio that produces top notch art that is as fun to create as it is to look at, is an ideal place to me.

Q: How do you find work and what sort of work do you prefer?
A: Well it was mentioned earlier – networking. Word of mouth from friends and clients is a big one. I enjoy working in what you’d call Leisure and Entertainment? I love anything to do with video games, comics, movies, animation and toys. I guess I’m just a big kid at heart!

Q: How is your work used and in what sort of media? Web? Print? Video? Animation?
A: Most of my work has been conceptual, usually for video game development. However, I’m slowly getting into other media as well such as books and magazine covers.

Q: Do you tend to more independently or have you worked in teams?
A: For the bulk of my career I worked in studios but more recently I decided to strike it out on my own as a freelancer. It’s not easy! I’ve a lot of respect for those who’ve been doing it for years. It’s a very different animal to tame but I do enjoy the freedom it offers. Even still, I make it a point to stay connected with other artists and to critique each other’s work. It helps you stay sharp and keeps you from working too much in a vacuum.

Q: Do you see illustrations as an important part of advertising and/or commercial work now and in the future? Why?
A: Oh for sure! More than ever we are a visual people. Some of it is over-stimulation as we get bored easily, but for the most part we take in a lot of information through our eyes and it’s a wonderful way to communicate. Advancement in technology has opened even more doors and creative opportunities to express ideas. However, illustration is still the fastest and most immediate method for conveying a message and conceptualizing an idea. Wherever an idea’s brewing, there’s sure to be a drawing to go with it.