“I think it's really easy to make a pretty image. It's making an image that conveys emotion or concept through visual impact that is hard” - Dadu Shin

Asian-American artist Dadu Shin unveils his background, process and shares how his upcoming work will evolve with painting. 

Tell us about your background and your initial interest in art?

My mother is an artist, and her father was also an artist. So I was surrounded by art and witnessed the process of creativity up close when I was a small child. I was encouraged from a young age to draw, and pursue and foster my creative instincts. I'm grateful for that.

What influenced your early artistic development?

While my mother and grandfather normalized the existence of art in my life, my first love of visual arts was found in comics, manga and anime. Drawing my favorite anime characters was how I really started putting pencil to paper. I would say my first real master studies weren't copying Da Vinci's or Sargent's, but copying Akira Toriyama's drawings of Goku, and Bill Watterson's drawings of Calvin and Hobbes. 

How do you balance emotional depth with aesthetic appeal in your illustrations?

The idea or emotional core of the image always comes first. The aesthetic appeal comes after. I always try to make sure I know what I'm trying to say before I even start working on a final piece.  I think it's really easy to make a pretty image. It's making an image that conveys emotion or concept through visual impact that is hard...and I know I don't always succeed in achieving both. Sketching out ideas and figuring what I want to say with an image is always the hardest and longest part of the process. Making it look nice and making it match my aesthetic is the easy part. 

Is there a project or piece that holds special meaning to you? 

Not necessarily. There are certainly pieces I can point to and say "oh, I figured something out about my artistic process with this work". Those pieces are important because they influenced the work I did after them. But I think I'm someone who is always searching for the next interesting thing to do. The pieces that held special meaning to me 10 years ago no longer do, and I imagine the pieces that are important to me now might not mean much to me in another 10 years. If I was made to choose, I would probably choose works that I felt were the most personal, whether they be pieces about my identity, or works about people and things I love. 

How do you engage with your audience, and what impact do you hope to achieve with your work?

A long time ago, in the midst of trying to get my career off the ground and doing a lot of client driven work, I did a personal piece about the insomnia I had been experiencing. It was one of the first times a piece of my work elicited responses of personal stories and feelings of relating to one another. Having strangers relate to the thoughts and feelings I was putting into my work felt purposeful. Making work that lets others know they aren't alone in their experiences is ultimately what I would like my work to do. 

How do you envision your work evolving?

I've been working with a pen for a while now, and I plan to go back into painting. So that's how my work will evolve in the tangible sense. I think in terms of the conceptual and ideological sense, it will remain on the same path. I'm thinking more about my fears and anxieties about the future, and think my work will continue to reflect that, regardless of medium.

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about?

I'm mostly excited about getting back into painting, and developing my skills again in that arena.

What is your advice for aspiring artists?

To continue to keep on making work, whether it's good or bad. I still battle with my perfectionism, even when I intellectually know it's an obstacle to just sitting down and making things. Instead of letting things tumble around in your head and take up space in your mind, just get it all out so you can make room in your brain for new ideas. Also, drink water and take a walk if you need to.