Syn Studio’s Meet The Artist – Sunshine Kim

“You need to get used to failing. It’s really about not quitting.”

We are excited to announce that a new teacher has joined the ranks at Syn Studio Concept Art School!   Former bundles student all-star, Sunshine Kim, returns to Syn Studio as a teacher this time!  Since graduating from our diploma program, Sunshine Kim has gone on to work on games such as Starcraft Remastered, Warcraft 3 Reforged, and Halo: Fall of Reach.  She currently works at Ubisoft, Montreal on the Rainbow Six Siege franchise.  We sat down with Sunshine Kim so that she can tell you more about herself.

Tell us about the moment when you knew that you wanted to be a professional artist?

“In high school, when we had to start searching for what we wanted to study at college, what professions we want to have in the future. I had difficulties coming up with options because I had to exclude art to begin with. One day I realized, why? It’s the one thing I can, enjoy, and am good at and it made no sense to exclude art from my future only because my non-artists parents believed in the ‘artists don’t make money’ myth. So I told them what I wanted. Fortunately they were very reasonable, respectful, and have been supportive since day one.”

If you weren’t making art, what else would you see yourself doing?

“I never thought about myself not doing art.  I think I’d still be working on film or video games productions.  I probably would’ve become a Navy SEAL, physician and NASA astronaut with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.  Too bad for the country that I chose to be an artist!”

Can you tell us about an artist that you think everybody should know?

“I think he’s already super famous that everyone knows: J.C Leyendecker. My favourite illustrator of all time.”

What is the best memory you have from your time at Syn Studio?

“I think it was Dynamic Drawing class, we took a trip to a local dance school and sketched the students practicing for 3 hours. It was such a great experience! Girls dancing, an old pianist giving music for them, a middle aged woman instructor giving feedback to the girls…. and a bunch of artists in the corner drawing them in silence. It was trippy. I wish I could have another chance to do a drawing field trip like that again.”

If you could have dinner with anyone (dead or living), who would that be and why?

“Megan Fox…… She’s my crush.”

What was the most valuable lesson you’ve received at Syn Studio?

“Time management, which I miserably failed at and learned my lesson the hard way.”

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given in your career?

“I’m just going to answer what I learned through my career after failing over and over again. Your time and effort will not guarantee your success.  In fact it might betray you one day. Or it may have nothing to do with your skill sets, something that is not under your control may get in your way and ruin your plans. You need to get used to failing. It’s really about not quitting.”

Thank you for sitting with us for a conversation Sunshine Kim!

Register for Sunshine’s Digital Figure Painting Class for Spring 2023 Here!!