Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Kwon.
Hi Iris, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I launched my brand and business, Child Appetite, in 2020, during the peak of the global pandemic. With the shift to remote work for my full-time job, I found myself with much more freedom and space to contemplate my passions outside of work. I originally hold a major in Fine Arts and a minor in Illustration, and I was eager to use these skills to fuel my personal creative passion, providing a much-needed artistic boost beyond my day job.
The name ‘Child Appetite’ is a direct translation of the Korean phrase ‘Cho Ding Ip Mat’, meaning one’s taste buds never outgrow their childhood preferences. I found this metaphor fitting as my love for art and illustration has been a constant, yearning passion since I was a kid.
This brand has provided me a platform to freely share and express my work. While it hasn’t yet yielded significant financial benefits, the period from 2022 to 2023 has been a dream come true. It’s granted me the opportunity to focus, network, and collaborate with artists and designers beyond my professional circles.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s certainly been a struggle. At first, I was creating and posting artwork that genuinely felt good to me. However, as my follower count grew and my posts began receiving more views, I found myself counting my success as an artist by social media popularity and ‘likes.’ This realization led me to question my motivations: Am I doing this purely for my own enjoyment and satisfaction, or am I seeking to gain benefits from it? Which was a constant loop of doubting if this is the path I wanted to take.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work primarily consists of digital illustrations and occasional paintings. Each piece is mostly inspired by a ‘dream note’ that I save on my iPhone. These are phrases or words I jot down immediately upon waking as a record of my dreams of that night. They can be random, but sometimes, I think they’re linked to my feelings of the day. I typically begin with hand-drawn sketches, then scan them into Procreate on my iPad for digital outlining and coloring. A distinct aspect of my illustrations is the use of child-like colors contrasted with sometimes ‘creepy’ subject matter. This juxtaposition lends a uniquely intriguing aesthetic to my overall brand.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that every piece of art can bring different experiences and meanings for different people. I’m often amazed at creative and artist markets when strangers approach me to share their unique insights and reactions to my work. This has taught me that each work holds the potential to resonate differently with others. So, it’s really important not to underestimate art’s impact, thinking, “I’ll make something and everyone will like it.” That’s rarely the case. While some may dislike your work, the key is not to be disheartened, remembering there are also those who appreciate and support it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iriskwonstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/child_appetite/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bunniris0227/
