Meet illustrator from California, Min Heo

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi there! My name is Min Heo. I was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in California, where I currently live and work. I am a freelance illustrator and I primarily create illustrations for newspapers and tech companies while doing my own personal projects on the side.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I live in Cupertino, which is a Californian suburb about 1 hour away from San Francisco. Its claim to fame is that it’s home to Apple computers. It’s a quiet and safe residential neighborhood with lots of families and kids. There’s also lots of good hiking and Asian food nearby.

Nothing much happens here, which I used to hate as a teenager. The city always felt too small and boring. But after moving around between a few big cities– I moved to LA for school, London for a study abroad semester, and then New York for two years– I’ve grown to appreciate the quietness and closeness to nature the suburb provides.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

Best thing: Good hiking trails nearby. Worst thing: Expensssivvveeee!

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Tech, Bubble, Quiet

I wasn’t sure what kind of career I would have going into art, but I kept chasing after what I enjoyed doing.

How did you start your career in art?

I’ve always loved drawing as a child and when I was applying to colleges, it seemed like the logical next step to go to an art school. I wasn’t sure what kind of career I would have going into art, but I kept chasing after what I enjoyed doing. By the end of my four years at Art Center College of Design, I had an illustration portfolio ready to show and I went to New York with a couple of classmates to shop it around to art directors. I got my first job from that trip to New York and I’ve been a freelance illustrator ever since 🙂

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

My parents were definitely worried but also supportive of my decision to pursue a creative career. I would not have been able to get this far without their support and encouragement!

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I would love to get back into working in traditional mediums. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit stuck and bored of my current style, which is mostly digital, so I would love to get more experimental and try different things.
Another goal I have for myself this year is to open an online shop! It makes me very nervous, but I think it’ll be a positive next step!

I would love to get back into working in traditional mediums.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

I would love to collaborate with a Korean beauty company to illustrate their packaging.

How would you describe the women around you?

The women around me are creative, talented, independent and kind people trying to live their best lives amidst the chaos.

The women around me are creative, talented, independent and kind people trying to live their best lives amidst the chaos.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

Coming from a very tech-focused city filled with lots of engineers and even more engineers, I didn’t get to know very many local female creatives. The only woman who comes to mind is my after-school art tutor who did her own fine art painting on the side. She was always encouraging us to think out of the box and get in touch with our weirder side.

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

Not particularly. I’ve been very lucky to work in an industry with lots of talented women (and men) who encourage each other to tell their individual stories.

The road to becoming an illustrator isn’t straightforward or easy but if you put in the hours and stick with it– you’ll find yourself one step closer to where you want to be.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Advice for young women– Keep at it! The road to becoming an illustrator isn’t straightforward or easy but if you put in the hours and stick with it– you’ll find yourself one step closer to where you want to be.

What type of music do you like to listen to?

I listen to lots of different things. Kpop or K-indie sometimes when I’m designing, classical music if I need to quietly focus, or Disney/pop music if I want something to sing along to.

What’s your favorite local food spot?

My favorite local food spot…is my house! This is a horrible question for me since I don’t eat out a lot.

What question would you like us to ask the next artist?

What kind of career struggles have you been through and how did you overcome them?

Photos courtesy of Min Heo