Art Hound

LA artist, Jeanna Sohn was interviewed by Bruno Colajanni on frizzifrizzzi, an Italian blog. I don’t speak Italian so please note this is totally bastardized version via Google Translator. Like her new work, it was simply too good not to share!

…Do your dreams to inspire you(r work)?
They are more inspired by the words, texts, poetry, music and stories from more than dreams. When I was younger I had a lot of strange dreams… but now I think they are so boring that I don’t even remember them!

…What is your creative process?
…I do not paint all the time, as do many artists. I like to do something else, such as photography, shooting and editing video, writing on my blog, and then I suddenly feel the need to return to painting. I like to focus my attention on one thing at a time when I get tired and I’m ready to dedicate myself to a new project. My creative process often changes. Sometimes I start with a pen and draw a design on a panel, but other times I have nothing planned. I simply start with a small point and let my hand g0 free…

When did you decide to move from Pohang, Korea, to Los Angeles?
I first moved to San Francisco 10 years ago. I lived there for a year and then I came here to Los Angeles (to attend) CalArts (Californian Institute of the Arts).

What do you miss (about) your country? What do you think has influenced the way you paint…?
I miss my parents and my childhood friends. I grew up in a beautiful and peaceful village full of cherry trees and dragonflies. I loved playing in the woods and going hunting for butterflies and dragonflies. I was very in touch with nature so I think this is the key element of my artistic sensibility.

Could you tell us about your experience working in (Los Angeles)?
It’s very difficult being an artist right now, wherever you are, except for the big stars. There is a community of artists here in L.A. but frankly I do not feel connected to this kind of reality. I’m rather on my own, I prefer to develop my own ideas and this makes me very happy.