Meet Irene Jung | Character Concept Artist & Visual Development Artist

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

Hi Irene, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
My career until now was led, in short, by bringing my passion to the fullest. I was always fascinated by novel ideas and grew up inspired by different sources of entertainment. When I felt stressed or bored, drawing was the go-to outlet. I was always striving to become a person who could capture an imagination and turn it into reality.

What propelled my first step into the art industry was the simple yet powerful desire to create something of my own. If there’s something I want to see, I will create it instead of waiting; this was the fundamental of my aspirations. Executing such a task was not as simple as it sounded; to achieve something like this meant continuous and arduous practice for years. However, the immense joy and accomplishment that accompanied this process made me feel nothing but compelled to keep going, no matter how long the road would be.

The various interactions that art brought along kept my passion growing. This creative endeavor opened gateways to new discussions, connections, inspirations, and opportunities, each holding its unique impact. Above all, watching others take away something meaningful through my designs, whether it be an emotion, something to relate to, or a desire to see more, I never felt uncertain about the road I chose and entrusted myself to cherish each step.

A little further down the line, I soon realized entertainment was, ironically, not just about having fun. Watching these fictional worlds could be a way to represent someone or a story, a message, or even beliefs. Art is a powerful medium that can change something complex into a more relatable, enjoyable resource accessible to a greater audience. Now, I strive to continue art as a way to not only bring creativity and joy to life but also to help others find a sense of belonging and representation. Creating connections with people through storytelling will always be a part of my purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The things I love to focus on in my design and illustrations are mainly storytelling and colors. I always enjoy exploring whimsical and fantastical themes, ideas that I think would be wonderful if made into reality. Regarding illustrations, I love making slice-of-life scenes that immerse viewers in the world or make them feel a particular emotion. For characters, I love experimenting with different ideas and shapes in my design process; away from the actual drawing, finding ways to integrate graphic design into each layout is always a rewarding challenge! 

Coming to where I am today was enjoyable but not at all easy. Having limited resources to explore digital art and entertainment, especially in a school with only a small cohort of traditional artists, stepping into the industry at first was purely through research and practice in my free time. Frankly, it was not until my senior year of high school that I realized a career like this would be possible; afterward, it was purely juggling academics and building a strong portfolio. 

Doing this became one main struggle I experienced: work-life balance. I constantly felt the pressure to keep up both ends, as I didn’t want to give up either side. Before schoolwork and art overwhelmed my time, I would never have regarded myself as an organized person; I learned it the hard way, but this conflict eventually taught me the methods of efficiency. Now, I’m happy to say that I’ve improved in keeping a schedule and time management. 

One lesson I learned was to think of other creatives as a positive source of inspiration and motivation, not as competition. For the most part, artists with brilliant craftsmanship set milestone after milestone in my journey. Each time, I would tell myself that I would practice harder to become as skilled as they were; this helped me improve through constant motivation while making artist friends I loved supporting. 

Occasionally, however, I fell into the pitfall of comparing myself to others. Reflecting on those moments, I realize that the negative emotions only weighed me down. While it may have added to the motivation, it took away the pure joy of creating. I wish to pursue my career by continuing mutual positivity; after all, I want my art to be something that brings everyone together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to all the artists—both personal friends and creatives worldwide—who inspired me to become who I am today. In college especially, I had the incredible experience of being surrounded by wonderfully talented people in the entertainment industry, each of their unique experiences motivating me to become a better designer. Of course, I could never have gone this far without my family. I am eternally grateful to have been trusted by them through the progress.

Website: https://www.irenejung.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjhoaa/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-jung-802731224

Image Credits
Irene Jung