Illustrator Younsik Woo on sticking to a strict shade palette
Korean illustrator Younsik Woo's passion for storytelling led her to specialize in animation at university and also work on cartoons on the side. "I didn't illustrate too much at first. But there was a time when I couldn't go on with a story I was supposed to publish," she tells CR. "I drew illustrations to relieve stress. Ironically, the drawings had a common motive while my story didn't go on. I also found that I had a lot more fun drawing after I gave up on it. "
During this time, Woo also realized that she was enjoying alluding to a story rather than telling an entire drama. "From then on, I was recognized as an illustrator for taking more pictures, doing more printing, and getting jobs," she says. “With that in mind, I like illustration for its simplicity. Having to convey something without having to describe it is a pure joy in itself. "
Above: keep your distance. Above: points and lines. All pictures: Younsik Woo
This simplicity is most evident in the strict color palette that Woo uses in all of her work. "I'm just drawn to the four colors yellow, red, green and blue and can't find any reasons to use other colors yet," she says.
“I think that's because my work is presented symbolically rather than visually. To me, these colors seem to capture a primitive aspect of contemporary scenes, as if they were taken with infrared cameras. "
Self reference
Another reason is Woo's love of early cartoon and screen printing methods. As a result, it often mimics the textures found in Risograph prints, traditionally limiting the number of colors that can be used. Many of Woo's illustrations consist of figures with empty expressions combined with objects and geometric shapes.
Woo often starts with photos of things that inspire her and wants to capture a sense of “nothing” in her work that gives her a sense of freedom and comfort. "I want to focus on the relationship of individuals and the events between them, rather than expressing the character of each one."
transformation
Untitled
Although Woo captures scenes in an abstract way, she likes to draw moments she encounters on the street. “I especially like a picture of intricate but beautifully overlapping buildings. These images seem flat with no depth perception, and I want to capture the moment that seems to make the room flat, ”she explains. “This kind of scenery seems to go against what we perceive and I like that. I want to do more of this work. "
The early stages of an illustration for Woo are in the form of a loose rather than concrete drawing, and she often reads a book or goes for a walk when an idea first emerges. "I do most of my rough sketches on paper and draw my lines with a pen or scan them to work digitally," says Woo. “I just use a liner pen to draw by hand. For digital work I use Photoshop, ClipStudio and sometimes Illustrator. For a texture like printing, I'll use a brush and layer effect. Sometimes I buy the texture from the manufacturer or use one that I personally scanned or shot. "
Diverge
passenger
When Woo started, she felt that there was a disconnect between her client work and the images she created in her own time even though she was working on it. "I had to make money as an illustrator, but I was afraid that drawings wouldn't sell. So in the beginning there was a big gap between my work and my assignments," says Woo wanted certain parts of my drawings so that I narrow the gap. "
Since the illustrator does not always attach direct importance to her drawings, she is happy when people just like the aesthetic she has created. But she also finds that the blank faces of her characters offer some comfort to the audience. “Sometimes I get comments from people who see my work and say that they cannot say the thoughts and feelings because of the blank face, making them feel like they are not being judged, or that they cannot feel a hierarchy between people . "Woo noticed. "I am always surprised by the sensitivity of other people to recognize feelings in my indifferent drawings and at the same time to recognize the aspects of myself that I have not noticed before. Then I realize that drawings can really become a means of communication. It's the best way to convey what I want most. "
Eye in the sky
@wooyounsik