MEET THE ARTIST: ZOEY KIM

Zoey’s loveable fruit and veg creations have been the cherry on top of our latest collection, Homegrown. Starting off as a graphic designer and transitioning into an illustrative mastermind, we sat down to chat about all things working on our collection as well as advice on getting your work out there.

Hii Zoey, how are you doing today?

Hello! I’m doing well and feeling extremely happy to be here!

Why don’t you start off by telling us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a freelance illustrator from South Korea currently living in Dubai with my husband and our cat Dobby.

When it comes to creating, where do you find yourself looking to for inspiration?

For personal drawings, I tend to sketch whatever comes to mind, often inspired by daydreaming or listening to my favorite playlist. As for long-term inspiration, I’m a big fan of Paul Cox, a French artist whose work I first discovered at an exhibition in Korea. I fell in love with his use of color and playful style. Whenever I feel stuck creatively, I turn to his work for motivation.

Your work has been one of the highlights of our latest collection, Homegrown. How have you found working on this collection?

It was truly a dream come true! I never imagined my drawings would be part of a Lazy Oaf collection, it has been such a special experience for me. I had so much fun bringing the food illustrations to life and see them being applied to various clothing.

Where did you start with creating the foodie characters throughout the collection?

I began by sketching as many food and ingredient-related ideas as I could. My goal was to bring the food to life as cute, fun, and lovable characters, enjoying each other's company like a friendly gathering.

Who’s your favourite character you’ve illustrated?

My favorite character is the veggie trio, happily skipping hand in hand. My second favorite is the cucumber, with a ribbon and ballet tutu.

We need to know, what’s your favourite piece from the collection?

I love all of them! But if I had to choose only one, it would be the blue knit cardigan with red embroidery of the veggie friends.

Your illustrative style is so joyful and truly unique; what are some tips and tricks for finding your own personal style?

I did have some trouble in the beginning trying to find my style. It hasn’t been long since I transitioned from being a graphic designer to an illustrator; I wanted to find a style that felt truly comfortable and allowed me to express my world through my drawings. After experimenting with various styles, I realised that the fuzzy, blurred texture resonated most with me. It felt like the right direction, one that brought me the most joy and comfort. My secret wish is that the audience can feel that same sense of happiness, warmth, and fuzziness when they view my work.

Lastly, what are your tips for getting your work seen by potential collaborators?

That’s a tough question but from my personal experience, I’d say the key is patience and participating in drawing challenges as a starting point. I’ve heard from several freelancers that it often takes about a year to truly position yourself and that’s when the work starts to flow in.
I focused on being patient whilst drawing as much as possible and sharing my work across various platforms like Instagram, Behance and Korean portfolio sites. Participating in drawing challenges kept me inspired and motivated to create regularly. It also helped build my confidence in both my drawings and sharing it with others. Over time, with consistency, attention from clients and collaborators naturally followed.

One additional tip I’d offer is to try working on a larger canvas, such as poster-sized drawings! Working with a bigger canvas helped me experiment with more dynamic compositions, themes, and ideas. Also, it could show your potential side for editorial illustration work!

Thank you so much for answering all our Q’s!!

Thank you so much for inviting me to do this very special collection and Q&A. Hope you have a lovely day! :)