Starting today, we’ll be profiling each of the students from the June program of the Orbital 1K.
Moonsub Shin is a freelance illustrator who came to the 1K fresh out of SVA’s MFA program in Illustration. In the 1K program, he launched a Kickstarter project for Moon’s Diary - Adventures in Europe, a compilation of drawings and sketches he made on a recent trip.
Follow him on Instagram or Tumblr for more drawings about his daily life as an artist in New York!
Hi Moonsub! What’s the most exciting thing about your project?
Mostly, this is my very first publishing project. I used to make books in school, but they were very personal. Publishing an art book is a dream of all artists. Moon's Diary is about my personal experience, which means I’m sharing my perspective with audiences who I don't know through the book. How could it not be exciting! Someone who I didn't know is buying the book because they liked my drawings! Isn't it cool?
What was the hardest part of launching your project?
Searching for supporters (influencers, communities and groups) and contacting them to promote my project. Even after I found some appropriate communities, it was so hard to get a good response from them. However, the Orbital 1K folks gave me lots of advice and I got over it.
What’s your biggest takeaway from the 1K program?
Do I have to pick just one? There were a lot! Communication skills, using web platforms, how to promote and improve projects, etc. Um... but the most important thing I've learned in these 4 weeks is how to expand my freelancing opportunities. Before, I contacted clients (companies or communities) directly to get work. But through the 1K, I realized I could also find clients by putting my work out where clients can gather. This is helping me take a step forward to become a more professional illustrator.
Get a copy of Moon’s Diary - Adventures in Europe so that Moonsub can keep having adventures!
Bonus pic: Moonsub’s drawing of our remote set-up for the first day of class.