Rising Stars: Meet Megan Kim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Kim.

Hi Megan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
After graduating from design school with a degree in Entertainment Design, I (like many) struggled to look for a job during an awkward hiring freeze caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. I managed to work some short freelance gigs within my field of study, but quickly learned I actually didn’t enjoy pursuing professional corporate design jobs.

I decided to upload creative process videos of myself making stickers, paintings, and just my life onto YouTube during the shelter-in-place lockdown. It slowly created a small following which prompted me to start a small business and open an Etsy shop to sell my little stickers and prints. It was an incredibly freeing experience and I felt like I had some control over what my career could be.

I slowly transitioned my website and portfolio to something more representative of myself as an artist rather than a prospective hire for a studio. As my small business grew, I transitioned again from solely stickers and prints, to more accessories and ceramics!

As Covid restrictions lifted, I became a member at a ceramic studio, found a full-time job in the Rapid Prototyping department at ArtCenter College of Design, and started selling my works in person at pop-up small-business craft shows.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It was an incredibly turbulent journey! The pandemic really revealed to me how I truly am an extrovert. I craved to go outside and socialize with the people I love, but staying indoors for nearly a year and a half took a huge toll on my mental health.

There were many days, in-between looking like I had my life together, where I was in shambles or in bed for 18 hours at a time. Constantly consuming social media (because there was not much else to do in that state of mind) also took a toll on my self-esteem and confidence. I felt like I was behind because I couldn’t secure a “real job” out of school, or because I wasn’t curating a social media presence that was appealing to a massive audience.

The uncertainty of the pandemic also created high anxiety and I was ridiculously hyper-aware of my mortality as a human. Last year, my dad had a stroke caused by a brain aneurysm which sent him to the hospital for several months. He was in a coma for what felt like ages and our family didn’t know what to do. We quickly learned there really isn’t anything we could do other than wait.

This moment really changed my perspective on how I should spend my life and how fragile it truly is. (My dad is now at home, happy, healthier, and even back at work! I feel super lucky and blessed to have my dad back).

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I studied and created a lot of works in 2D animation and illustration. I draw, paint, and animate in various traditional and digital mediums in no particular format.

I am known for the roller skating characters I draw and post on Instagram and, most recently, my ceramic works that usually are characterized by a small little egg fish motif on the surface. It’s hard to say that I “specialize” in anything particular since I find myself to be experimental and want to try anything that catches my eye (or just looks fun haha). I guess you could say I’m known to be a jack-of-all-trades but potentially a master of at least one of them.

Of all the works I’ve done so far, I’d have to say I’m super proud of the “All Together Now” an animated music video I got to work on with OK Go and the University of St. Thomas last year. This project in particular was something really special because not only did I get to work with OK Go (omg hello?!) but my drawings got to be touched by kids and participants all across the nation to be colored the frame by frame.

Knowing my drawings brought joy to a great number of people during a Covid time of uncertainty, was incredibly humbling and warmed my heart. I cried! Haha! I think what sets me apart from others is my fearlessness to be a beginner at something, but then complain that I’m not an expert in 3 to 5 business days haha!

However, I love the process of learning something new that I try so many things, which at times could be a weakness, but in my eyes is something really fun for me. I feel like this allows me to be that “jack-of-all-trades-master-of-hopefully-something-at-some-point” haha!

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I don’t listen to podcasts often, but there is one particular episode from the Real Rebel podcast titled “Michelle Steilen: Rolling Towards Joy” that I will re-listen to whenever I’m having a particularly hard time. I love to roller skate in my free time, and one of my all-time favorite skaters/entrepreneurs is Michelle Steilen.

She really expresses her desire to share the joy of skating with the world while also sharing experiences about life in general. In this particular episode, she talks about being respectful of fear, finding community, and that all good things start with an idea.

I feel so lucky to have gotten a chance to meet and skate with her a few times! But yes, this episode, in particular, is one of my favorites to listen to when I need a little extra motivational boost to work towards my craft(s).

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.megguran.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/megguran
• Other: www.instagram.com/kimsuramics