Meet Esther Yi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Esther Yi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Esther below.

Esther , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I developed confidence and self-esteem through making, sharing, and teaching art. Throughout my life, I have spent a lot of time in school getting an education. I wasn’t particularly good at school; I struggled in classes and needed extra help in and after school. Socially, I was awkward and bullied like a lot of kids growing up, but what was a consistent, safe space in my life was art. Art classes were instrumental during elementary, middle, and high school as it was a community of like-minded creative individuals who expressed themselves differently.
I have had many excellent and thoughtful art teachers throughout my school life, but my art mentor outside of high school was the pivotal moment that propelled me to become an art educator and artist. My mentor handed me a book about the artist Willem De Kooning; his oil paintings, specifically the Women series, broke all the rules for me in traditional figurative painting. The thick impasto brushstrokes, multi-layers, graphicness, drip-page, and exaggerated colorful form, yet still painterly, resonated with me and expanded my vocabulary and mind to what painting could be. Working at his studio and conversing with other high school students with the same goals and creative minds helped further my self-confidence. It also ingrained in me how important it was to have a community of artists. The space and warmness he provided while also individually challenging and nurturing our self-esteem, creativeness, motivation, and aesthetic awareness deeply inspired me. All the things I want to offer young artists as an art educator and artist. During my college years, I was grateful enough to meet excellent professors and different artists who expanded my views and skills in art. During the four years, I learned how important maintaining a regular art practice, experimentation, research, and collaboration was. The program’s intensity taught us how to communicate, find our artistic style, and give and receive constructive criticism, which enhanced our confidence as artists. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2016, I worked as an elementary, middle, and high school art teacher at a private art school called New York School of Art in Vienna, Virginia, for six years. Working as an art teacher has been incredibly satisfying as I have worked with many incredible students, some from young kids to teenagers, as their passion and love for art have grown. Being able to share my passion, skills, and knowledge has only enriched my own teaching and art practice to this day. The opportunity to inspire my students and create a safe learning environment has only fueled my confidence as an educator and artist.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Right now, after teaching for six years at a private art school, then going to grad school and deciding not to return after a year, I am studying for my teacher’s license in Virginia to teach elementary or high school students. I am also continuing my studio art practice, painting and drawing. Soon, I will update my art website with more work, and I’m excited to apply for art residences for the summer.

You can check my artwork on Cargocollective.com/Estherhyunyi, and for any inquiries about buying work, you can email me at [email protected].

A lot of my artwork is about how chaos interacts with space. I create complex drawings and paintings using lines, colors, and shapes that are manipulated and then erased or destroyed. I am fascinated by unclearness and the surprise that occurs, creating an exciting and organic finish. In all my work, the repetition of “rock” figures symbolizes a familiarity that I hold onto. It’s an essential aspect of the compositions because they are like living, breathing forms intersecting in the chaotic space, creating movement.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the qualities, skills, and areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey as an artist/educator would be the foundation of fine arts- knowing how to draw from life as it is customary to draw from printed images/books when you start, but it’s an entirely different experience and more challenging to draw from objects and people from real life as it is the foundation of art. Having a basic understanding of drawing, painting, mixed media, creative problem-solving, self-motivation, and perseverance has impacted my journey and continues to be.

My advice for all future artists and art educators is if art is your passion, immerse yourself in developing your skills, interact with other artists, and go to museums and art shows. Don’t be afraid to try all different styles and experiment with all kinds of materials. The more you play as an artist, the more you discover and find your artistic voice. Last but not least, having self-motivation is as essential as having the perseverance to push through because, as an artist, you will face setbacks and be questioned, but as long as you stay true to yourself and your vision, everything will work out.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I usually take a break for a few minutes or a couple of hours, depending on the situation, to collect myself. I write down the most important things I must do and then tackle them. If there are larger tasks or projects, I like breaking them down into more manageable steps. Just going out for a long walk or quick run as an exercise routine helps in the long run.

I advise finding what works for you because, depending on your situation, not every strategy works for everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cargocollective.com/EstherHyunYi
• Instagram: polyestherrrr