Min Yum ( http://minart.net ), rozhovor z http://www.lastmanart.com



Hello, Mr. Yum, keeper of the world's most delicious name. I've got a few questions for you, all of them extremely serious and not to be taken lightly. Can you give us a little background info... what you're about, where you've been, what you're up to?
B: (My dad actually spelt it wrong, it should have been Yeom, but kinda got stuck with Yum. You can imagine all the excitement I had through high school). I was born in Korea 1980, got on a boat and moved to Australia in 1990 with the family.. skipped most of school life because I was a crappy student, scored last in art class. I wasn't into art much until I discovered CA.org at 25 and decided to have a crack at being a concept artist... completely changed my life since.

My first job was with IR Gurus, a game studio in Melbourne, kindly gave me a chance to learn and have a taste of what it was like in the industry. Fast forward two years with few stops in between, and I'm now working on Wolverine movie.


What is your process when working on an illustration? Do you do any preliminary studies or sketches first or do you dive right in?
B:Sketches and thumbnails to kick things off, and sometimes I just doodle and make something of it. I try visualising but usually ends up being pink when I do.


Do you carry out most of your pieces solely digitally, or do you work traditionally as well? What program are you doing most of your digital work in?
B:All digital. I do sketch with good old paper and pencil, but only if I am outside which isn't very much these days. I am looking at getting my hands dirty with traditional soon, once I get some space to do it. Photoshop is the main weapon of choice for now.


You pound out a lot of quality work in what seems like no time at all. What is your personal ritual for getting around an artistic block?
B:I guess we all have our good days and bad, you've probably seen me on a good day or something. Art slump! I get few of those through the year. It really is a vicious cycle, but I think it's important process as well. It allows you to take a step back and see why you are not moving forward. While it can be annoying and frustrating we all know it will pass. I believe so and I just keep doing what I do.. :)


Do you have a secret art regimine to keep on your toes?
B:Studies and studies? :D

I check out what others been upto, usually ends up with a cold hard slap across the face though. Good old chit chat with artist friends and gossip about things...


What are your long term goals for your art, professionally and personally?
B:My ultimate goal has been the same since the start, do my own comic. But it's something I am looking to do later. For the moment, keep working and do lots of studies... don't quite have anything else in mind except to improve.


Was a career in art always your ultimate goal, or were you almost lured down another job path along the way?
B:I've had other careers... none which I enjoyed much. But I guess I just didn't know anything better to do back then. I'm extremely lucky and thankful to have found something I really enjoy.


I've heard you have a tail. If this is true, why do you hide it?
B:Oh... I thought we all had one?!? You showed me yours!!!


Enough with the serious questions. What's the shittiest job you've ever had?
B:Oh man... seriously all my previous joba have sucked. Working at Samsung maybe? I had no idea what it was about and worked for 2 years there.


What influences your art these days? What are you reading, watching, listening to...
B:Rich colours always excite me and lots of influences from other artist friends. :D Can't remember the last time I read a novel, but I've been reading "Blade of Immortal" & "Berserk" (does that count?).I love watching anime! I remember watching "Beck" while I was starting out with drawing. It helped me a lot (yeah it is weird...). As for music, k & j pop... anime music...


Did you end up ever having to serve any time in prison for doing those terrible, naked things in the Alpaca cage at the zoo?
B:Fortunately no, despite my troubled youth...


Any parting words for all the Yumheads out there? Bits of advice for artists just getting started?
B:Have patience, take your time... enjoy and be proud of what you do and never stop learning... I think... Still trying to figure it out myself. :)


You do some damn fine work, Mr. Yum. Thanks for the mammories.
B:Thanks so much for running LMS, organising all this... are you sure about this? :P

Cheers dude, look forward to our pillow fight in future!