Introducing Lightbox Expo Artist Megan Suran Kim

• Interview Location: Lightbox Expo
• Interview Format: In-person, One-on-One

Anime Herald:What was the exact moment or memory that made you decide to pick up this medium?

Megan Suran Kim: For every single medium I’ve tried or used, the memory or situation has always been the same: I think it looks cool or fun, and I want to try it! I remember being a very young artist on the internet in the early 2000’s, browsing through DeviantArt, and finding a variety of tutorials ranging from sculpting techniques using polymer clay to very early digital tutorials on how to make your scanned sketches have a rainbow gradient map. My curiosity has not changed after graduating art school, and I’m still seeking new mediums to try! I’ve recently gotten into enamel paints used in sign painting techniques!

Anime Herald: What is your artistic process?

Megan Suran Kim: Being from Los Angeles, I spend a lot of time on the road commuting to work or other local destinations. Oftentimes while I’m driving, I’m in my head daydreaming or reflecting on a conversation, interaction, memory, or experience I had. Music plays a huge role in this process as I listen to the lyrics or just the overall mood conveyed in the melodies. This sensory experience creates the perfect brainstorm, as cliché as it sounds. A lot of times I’ll think of really exciting ideas that I’ll want to start sketching out at home, but a lot of the time I’ll instantly forget what I was thinking about as soon as I park the car.

The ideas that make it past the parking lot are usually the ones I feel the most excited about and want to create into a painting, an animation, or some piece of furniture to build. Long flights are an especially perfect situation since I can sit, listen to music, and think about my thoughts while being hands-free enough to start sketching or writing immediately.

Anime Herald: In an era where digital tools can mimic almost any aesthetic, what makes your art decidedly original?

Megan Suran Kim: Just like how everyone’s walking stride, handwriting, or fingerprints are unique, I think everyone has their own originality they can’t escape, no matter how hard we try to mimic each other. We can learn the same digital or traditional techniques, but I think each individual has their own way of synthesizing the information and creating their output. While the techniques I’ve learned are nothing out of the ordinary and based upon all the art fundamentals every artist goes through, I feel like my overall artistic process and my relationship with art mediums, be it traditional or digital, is what makes my artwork as original as it can be.

Anime Herald: Are you self-taught, or if not, what formal training shaped your skills?

Megan Suran Kim: I am fortunate to have grown up in a very artistic household. My mom is my first teacher, since she is an artist herself, and my older sister created some friendly competition to keep improving our skills since we were kids. I took “Saturday High” classes at ArtCenter College of Design throughout high school, took art and design courses at Pasadena City College, pursued additional drawing fundamental classes at Concept Design Academy, and then ultimately finished my undergraduate degree in Entertainment Design at ArtCenter. While I feel like my skills can always be improved upon and sharpened, I think I have also developed a really great desire to keep learning. 

Anime Herald: Who were the artists who inspired you?

Megan Suran Kim: Besides JC Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell, whose painting skills I dream of achieving, there are a zillion artists I’ve come across on the internet who I never learned the names of, but whose works have inspired me to no end. However, the names of artists I do know that made a big impact on me are Nurzhan Bekkaliyev, Jin Kim, Shiyoon Kim, Hantine Hsu, Chris Hong, Peter Han, and Kim Jung Gi. 

I love the way Bekkaliyev draws his characters, and his shape language is masterful. Jin Kim and Shiyoon Kim’s work, especially on Big Hero 6, were drawings I aspired to have while I was a student in school. I went to school with Hantine, and we became close friends. Her work continues to inspire me as we continue in our professional careers! Chris Hong’s illustrations and painting techniques are absolutely amazing. I was fortunate enough to get a chance to meet Kim Jung Gi before he passed away, but his work was introduced to me by Peter Han while I was his student.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but definitely the names of those who have made an impression on me early on.

Anime Herald: Is there anything you’d like to add to share with our readers?

Megan Suran Kim: Never underestimate the power of a daydream, stay curious about learning, and keep making art!

Thank you so much for talking with me!

Megan Suran Kim (Los Angeles, CA)
Table 114 at LBX (Artist Alley & Exhibitor Show Floor):

• About Megan / Megguran Studio: https://megguran.com/about
• Shop: https://megguran.shop
• IG: www.instagram.com/megguran