For imaginary worlds literally popping with beautiful colours, charming characters and delightful little details, Shanghee Shin is the artist to turn to. Put these elements together and what you get is imagery that – like the artist herself – thrives on positive energy. Full of fun ideas, Shanghee is also a skilled animator adept at bringing projects to life for her clients.
Growing up in Busan, South Korea, Shanghee attended Anigo, a special high school for the arts, before emigrating to the US and achieving a BA in Illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Now based just outside Seattle, her influences include Hayao Miyazaki as well as her own mother who is an accomplished painter. Shanghee works quickly and is always conscientious about deadlines.
Approach
Shanghee loves tackling fresh challenges and enjoys working with a variety of clients in publishing, advertising and editorial. She draws in ink then paints by hand using acrylics, mixing her own colours from primaries. When working digitally she uses Photoshop and PaintTool SAI.
Style
There’s a hint of classic 19th century illustration in Shanghee’s style, brought fully up to date by the design of her characters and a touch of 21st century whimsy. She loves drawing animals, giving them human traits and putting them into a world she calls ‘Animalsy’.Client list
Some of Shanghee’s clients include Microsoft, Re-Marks, Vegas Seven magazine, Lenovo, Cricket Media, Inside Housing, Capstone, Ludens and The National Institute of the Korean Language.