Meet Soo Kim | Art Teacher & Artist

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

Hi Soo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As I approached my 40’s, I realized that I was ready to pursue my dreams of being an artist. I was an art director for many years working in the fashion and beauty industry. It was a creative career but I knew that I needed more. Creating art gave me ultimate peace and joy, but I needed to find a way to support my efforts as I began to introduce my work to the world. Around this time a friend of mine reached out asking me to teach her children art. I had previously told her of my studies at Sun Wha Arts in South Korea, my training in California, and my work in New York. Accepting this first student was my bridge to my present. My classes started to grow through word of mouth and now I teach every day of the week. Teaching children inspires me in so many ways and gives me so much joy! I eventually was able to make the leap: resign from my position as art director and become an art teacher and artist.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a mixed media artist working with alcohol inks and using a heat gun to create “flow” across the page, creating compositions as they dry. I blend different colors, adding touches of gold, strokes, and fine lines, to create a story. I fell in love with the medium as it was so soothing and calming to create. During the pour, my entire focus is on controlling the inks and creating the right composition as they dry. I love that I can’t get any other thoughts in my head while creating. It’s more of a release of energy pouring my emotions onto the canvas. My past life as an art director helps me visualize and create the right movement, and flow. I want my collectors to breathe, rewind and energize while living with my artwork. I truly believe artwork heals the soul; it does for me.

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.
Sorry, the closest city to here is NYC… and honestly haven’t been out and about much as I have little ones at home to tend to…. I do hope I will get to enjoy going out more once they are old enough to watch themselves.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be able to pursue my new career without the support of my mother-in-law and husband. My mother-in-law saves me from missing deadlines, watches our kids whenever I have an art show or event to attend, and drives me everywhere I need to be as I’m still a very new driver! My husband always attends 4-day art fairs with me in NYC making sure I am well-fed and can take bathroom breaks. He always gives me the best sales tips and advice but is ultimately my greatest cheerleader!

Website: https://soosoostudios.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsoosoostudios/

Image Credits
Mom and friends!