Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaye Kang.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a storyteller, character designer, and visual development artist. Growing up, my family moved around a lot, so I have never stayed in one city for more than four years—which eventually made me love exploring the environment that surrounds me. I’ve always been fascinated by fine art and how nature can be portrayed in the eyes of others. I enjoyed observing and drawing everything from my life and sharing it with people even when I was not taking art seriously. I was naturally drawn to visual development and storytelling and I cultivated this interest during my teenage years and grew it further when I came to the US for college.
I was working at LOCUS animation studio in South Korea as a visual development artist at the moment I decided to study abroad. The project I was working on was ‘Running Man’ animation television series which was based on a famous variety show. It broadcasted to various Asian countries, including Cartoon Network Asia and I just knew that I have to go where there is a larger animation industry/market to feel more contentment—America! I packed up my stuff in a hurry and left my hometown, leaving everything behind. I was scared a bit, yes, but I would say I was thrilled most of those times.
After an incredible time of three years and a half, I graduated from the Academy of Art University in 2020. Right after graduation, I was fortunate enough to get a job offer from Jeff Rowe, one of the best directors I have met. Since then, I have been working at Nickelodeon for a recently announced animated film, TMNT: The Next Chapter.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. I come from a patriarchal family and my parents were not supportive of what I do. Plus, I lived by myself since I was 12 and had a serious financial problem of living. So it was hard for me to choose an art career to make a living because I knew that art doesn’t make a good fortune. But welp, here I am. In the end, I couldn’t resist my desire and I am super happy with my decision.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Through some struggle trying to what I really want to do in art, I gained various industry experiences such as short films, TV shows, feature films, mobile games, commercials, fashion designs, photography, and animating. Now I can say in confidence that I specialize in visual development and character design and I love doing them.
What sets me apart from others is my ability to approach and capture the lives of living things. I love going down the rabbit hole to find some stories from different cultures on the internet, no matter how small or short stories they are. In addition, while walking down the street or looking out the window, I’d constantly try to find a story—when I find such a story moment by chance, I’d transfer it to my white canvas, sometimes more dramatically than real. I’m proud of my skill to capture such a small piece of life and make it my own.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid-19 Crisis affected me in many ways but the most huge thing it impacted was my mental health. I was floundering about how to keep my mind steady at the beginning of the Covid and I learned some lessons on how to do so.
First, I had to plan and keep my daily routine like starting my day with a cup of coffee or working out at 7 pm. And I tried to track gratitude for what I am grateful about my surroundings and my friends with my journal. Moreover, I made sure to have enough time to hang out with my friends, watching comedy or horror films online. Screaming and laughter helped reduce my anxiety.
This routine still keeps my mind healthy and this quarantine taught me how to be a tourist in my own town and how to show love and appreciation to others.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://kayekang.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaye_bin
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaye_bin
