Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua You.
Hi Joshua, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I introduce myself as a story artist and a filmmaker, currently studying Entertainment Arts Illustration at ArtCenter College of Design.
I was raised in Yeongwol County, South Korea, which is an extremely rural area where the class size barely exceeded ten students per grade. When I entered sixth grade, my two siblings and I immigrated to the United States in search of better educational opportunities.
Just like a typical story of fellow artists, I’ve been drawing ever since I could hold a pen in my hand, and it served as my getaway from the challenges of adapting to a new environment. Growing up, I immersed myself in films within a wide range of genres and experienced an indescribable spark of inspiration that motivated me to create films that could ignite a similar flame in others. Since I was passionate about both drawing and watching films, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to work in the animation industry, and I eventually landed at ArtCenter College of Design.
While attending ArtCenter, I’ve been expanding my creative horizons, strengthening my artistic abilities, and trying my best to stay actively involved in the artist community since that’s where I get inspired the most. At school, I have been elected by my peers to serve as the Department Representative at ArtCenter Student Government, where I get to advocate for the student’s voice, facilitate events, attend executive meetings, and generate digital content to maintain a sense of community within the ArtCenter student body. In addition, I have been working as an Orientation Leader, Peer Coach, Admissions Content Collaborator, and Teaching Assistant, which has given me a range of valuable experiences and opportunities.
Becoming an artist was driven by my desire to bring joy to others through my artwork, and I learned that I am the type of person who finds immense satisfaction in making others laugh and feel content in their daily lives, just in general. Alongside my primary identity as an artist, the opportunity to enhance the school life experience of my fellow students and see their smiles is a precious motivation that drives me to continue serving as the Department Rep for two consecutive years now.
The process of creation can often be challenging and solitary, demanding immense patience to endure countless trials and errors. Despite this, the moment I witness my audience engaging with and enjoying my finished artwork, all the struggles and difficulties of the creative process fade away. This realization has led me to understand that bringing joy to others brings joy to me. Therefore, I will continue to make artworks that can communicate meaningful ideas, messages, and emotions to the audience until I can no longer hold a pen in my hand.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a creative, self-doubt is my ever-present companion, constantly questioning if this is the best I can do, knowing that there is no definite answer in art.
Growing up, I was known as the “best artist in town” until I entered ArtCenter College of Design, where talented artists from around the world came together to study. Though I knew I shouldn’t have, I found myself comparing my work to that of my peers and often fell into a pit of self-doubt about whether I had chosen the right path for myself. However, a piece of advice from a professor whom I admire helped me break free from this unhealthy mindset: “My competitors should be the greatest of the greatest, not my peers.” This realization encouraged me to focus on improving my own skills and to aim high rather than measuring myself against others.
The beauty, but also the magnificent challenge, of art lies in its subjectivity and the absence of a definitive answer. To achieve my best work, I have to continuously experiment and explore different approaches until I experience that “click” moment. While the trial and error process may be daunting, I have learned to embrace the phase of facing challenges since I experience the most growth by pushing myself and overcoming obstacles.
At times, I find myself wandering in an endless wilderness when lacking inspiration and struggling to create imaginative stories because it really becomes difficult to stay engaged in a project without a compelling narrative developed in the beginning. However, I have come to understand that creative ideas don’t simply appear out of thin air like winning the lottery. I must actively seek out and absorb various experiences, big or small, and store them in my “creative library.” By constantly craving better stories and ideas, I prepare myself for the unexpected magic that can emerge from that library.
The creative journey I am passionately pursuing has always been accompanied by challenges, and I don’t anticipate it becoming easier. Though I may not see the outcome I dream of immediately, I strive for patience and regularly remind myself of the profound meaning behind my artistic pursuits in moments of doubt. These challenges I have listed serve as the precious catalyst for my growth as an artist and are the very reason why I continue to embrace this enchanting pathway, despite the love-hate relationship I have developed with this process over the years.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Though I mainly specialize in storyboarding, I strive to be knowledgeable and skillful in various areas of the animation pipeline, including character design, visual development, animating, editing, and compositing, for my long-term goal of directing films as an animation director in the future. My artworks are extremely story-driven since the endless capability to tell stories was what led me to art. Even when I’m creating a simple sketch, I always try to prioritize how I can deliver the story better, not how I can make the image look prettier.
Prior to my immigration to the United States, I spent a significant part of my youth in Korea watching 2D Korean/Japanese anime films, but I was also exposed to exceptional CG animated films here in America. Though it wasn’t a conscious decision, I began to notice that my drawing and filmmaking style was influenced by both 2D anime and CG animation styles. Rather than continuously inventing my own unique “style,” I focus on creating artwork that utilizes the shapes, colors, and rhythms that I enjoy, and I eventually have developed the styles you can see in my artwork today.
In the past few years, I created multiple animated short films in both 2D and 3D. When I was a high school student, I created my first animated short film in 2D, titled “Belly Button.” I also created a 3D animated short about self-esteem, titled “You Are You,” and my latest film was a hybrid of both 2D and 3D, titled “Happy New Year.”
Combining all the artistic skills and knowledge that I acquired so far, I am currently in the production of my animated thesis film, and I hope it can inspire the world in diverse directions once it gets shared with the public.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
When I immigrated to the U.S. in 2012, the language barrier naturally turned me into an introvert, making it difficult to engage in classes and make friends. However, there were occasions when the students were assigned to create art projects in groups, and I tended to excel in these projects. As I collaborated with classmates, I observed their patience with my limited English skills, and their inquisitiveness about my drawings eventually fostered friendships. Through this transformative experience, I learned that art can be a powerful form of language that anyone in the world can interpret.
Art played a pivotal role in my adaptation to a new culture and environment, inspiring me to break free from my comfort zone. Understanding that remaining silent prevented me to adapt and survive in the industry, I consciously try to act as if I’m an extrovert, stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone, and I now find myself serving as the Department Rep at the Student Government, working for the advancement of our community.
Growing up, I’ve been interested in a variety of hobbies and activities. When I entered middle school, I started a youtube channel where I uploaded my drawing videos and vlogs since I wanted to share with parents in Korea what I’m up to. Though filmmaking and running a youtube channel really just sprouted from my simple desire, it played a massive role in choosing my career path and strengthening my filmmaking skills. Drawing used to be my biggest hobby, but it no longer felt like a hobby that I can purely enjoy since it was something I had to be good at. I found that photography was a hobby that I could enjoy without feeling pressure to excel, and it also helped me improve my composition and color sense, which has been invaluable as an illustrator. Additionally, playing video games like Sims and Minecraft as a child helped me learn 3D software programs like Maya and SketchUp more quickly. Influenced by my grandfather, who was a pastor, I spent a lot of time doing community activities and volunteering at church. Whether it was playing the drums in the church band or teaching the youth group, these experiences taught me how to work with others and improved my communication and teamwork skills.
The most profound lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that no experience is meaningless. The video games I once considered a waste of time, the demanding volunteer work at church, and countless other seemingly insignificant experiences have all contributed to shaping who I am today and have unexpectedly assisted me in various situations. I’m certain that the seemingly pointless things I engage in now, can benefit me in some way in the future, so I strive to find joy in every little thing I do and embrace the present moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joshuayou.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuayouart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuajisokyou/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/joshuayou
Image Credits
All images by Joshua You
