Get to Know: Young-Ji Cha

In anticipation of this week's release with artist Young-Ji Cha we sat down with the Southern California-based artist to learn a bit about her life, art and her print "Festival." Take a look below:

Where were you born and where are you now?

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and currently living in Southern California.

What are your earliest artistic memories?

Mostly just doodling as a kid and watching animation and reading comics.

From those memories, how has your work evolved over the years?

I think all my experiences and influences combined with my college training eventually created a natural evolution. Most of my traditional paintings were completed as life studies, but "Festival" was the first painting that came about from my imagination.

Could you tell us a bit about your release with us, "Festival?"

"Festival (마당놀이)" is based on ideas from Korean traditional outdoor performances with my own illustrative twist. This painting was done as a gift and was never exhibited before so I thought it would be a great piece for a limited edition print.

What is a normal day in the studio like for you?

I start with the most important element of my day which is a good cup of coffee and warm-up sketches.

What is the most difficult part of creating?

I think transferring the image in my head to a 2-D surface is always challenging. From time to time when the delivery of illustration doesn't come together or lacks in perspective, the fun element of creating disappears and frustration begins.