Meet Erin Eng | Background Painter & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Eng and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I have a 19-month old daughter, Arden, who is my whole world. Before having her, I would have said having a job in animation was my primary focus. I would constantly push how late I would work because I was locked in to whatever task was at hand. I ultimately put unnecessary pressure on myself to adhere to deadlines, sometimes to the detriment of my mental and physical health. I didn’t have any other responsibilities except to myself; and for someone who’s lucky enough to have her passion as her career, it’s hard to set boundaries for a healthy work life balance.

Now with a toddler who has no concept of time or work, life definitely takes priority. I strive to have a healthy balance between focusing on my job and being with my family. Each day now while I work, I make a conscious effort to stay present and focus extra hard because at the end of the day, I want to be present with my kid and not have to worry about work! It’s a work in progress though; I haven’t mastered the perfect balance yet (mom guilt is real!) but I’m working everyday to find it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art career path was not straight-forward. I originally graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Visual Arts. Post-graduation, knowing I wouldn’t ultimately pursue Psychology as a career, I moved to San Francisco and received my MFA at Academy of Arts University. I had enough self-awareness to realize that my skills alone would not get me into big name animation studios at the time, so I applied to any creative design job I could. With every job whether it was a small commission or a whole airline ad campaign, I applied myself and acquired many new skills. I taught myself how to code, edit videos in Final Cut, animate motion graphics in AfterEffects; all because a job asked me if I could. I always said “yes” first and figured it out later! Without those experiences, I would not be the artist I am today. My parents are also incredibly supportive of my career but were understandably worried in the beginning when I said I wanted to work in animation. I’m glad it all worked out! My journey to my ultimate dream job may not have been conventional but the skills and knowledge I gained along the way makes me a valuable asset to the job I have now.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I’m making any sort of travel itinerary, my stomach takes the lead! Any type of cuisine you can think of, for any meal, during any time of day, LA’s got it!

During the summer, the 626 Night Market is the perfect place to hang out and share yummy food with friends! It’s a huge night market with tons of food stalls, craft maker tables, and live entertainment. I love wandering the different stalls and eating my way through bubble tea, large grilled octopus on a stick, Korean corndogs and much more. It’s best to go when the sun goes down to avoid the heat. 626 Night Market is a must-try!

As for my regular LA haunts; in Sherman Oaks, there is a great spot for Sephardic pastries called Bor-e -kas. These savory, flaky pastries filled with z’aatar and cheese just melt in your mouth! Whenever I’m in K-town, you can find me enjoying KBBQ at Quarters or rice porridge at Bonjuk (try the kimchi octopus one, my favorite).

Landmarks and museums are always enjoyable to visit, but to truly get to know a city, don’t forget to pair it with all the food it has to offer! LA in particular is considered one of the best food cities in the US for its variety, so any visitor should explore it to the fullest!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I didn’t always work in animation. Before I got my first job as a Color Designer on the show “Duncanville,” I was a marketing visual designer for mobile games and fashion. I had to navigate rates and contracts on my own as a freelance artist, which was exhausting! That all changed when I got into the animation industry, and onto my first job, a union production. This meant I proudly joined our union, The Animation Guild. As a member, I no longer had to constantly negotiate alone because The Animation Guild (TAG for short) protects the wages of the artists by setting the standard rate! Our union also provides health insurance long after my seasonal television contract ends; a huge relief when you’re raising a toddler! With our studio contracts being renewed this year, the TAG negotiations committee continues to work diligently to ensure the protection and job security of its union members, and they have my full support! I’m immensely grateful to TAG and dedicate my shoutout to them!

Website: https://www.erinengart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rinrinsketch/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/engerin/

Other: https://cara.app/rinrinsketch

Image Credits
I do not own the images from the production, “The Great North.” These are images I’ve painted and am able to post with the disclaimer: “Courtesy of 20TVA.”