In this issue, Spot Artist Extraordinaire Hannah Kim brings us into her daydream. Inspired by music, Hannah listens and draws the paths of melody, building harmonies and counterpoint as they flow from the tip of her pen. Follow her musings, and you’ll hear Hannah’s orchestrations, as well as see her music.

Hannah, we loved your Spot Artist Extraordinaire art for the Jan/Feb '09 issue of Cicada®. Were you happy with how the art printed?
Yes, of course. It's always such a great excitement when I see my own art in print. Also, it feels really different, too. When I was first given the assignment, I knew what I was going to draw and I knew how it would look on its own. What's interesting about doing the spot art illustrations is that the drawings on paper by themselves are not the finals but works in progress. Once they are placed within the whole layout of the magazine, it is really interesting to see how they transform themselves into something else beyond what I intended them to be.

You said you do these drawings listening to music on headphones. Can you describe how that happens?
When I first thought about making art associated with music, I instantly thought of an art therapy class that I took when I was in school. In that class, people were asked to draw while listening to music. It was more like doodling--they were just drawing whatever they felt was comfortable or pleasing. In doing so by myself, I had to become loose and I was not planning anything while drawing. This way of working was very different from what I've been doing as an artist, because I normally plan things out very carefully before I draw. They say that doodling can reflect what is in one's subconscious mind. I've always thought that music inspires people in many ways. And to me personally, it always brings back many memories. Different music reminds me of people, places, or thoughts from my past which often make me very emotional. I believe this is a common experience for many people, too.

I made these drawings for Cicada combining doodling and music. I picked some old music that I used to listen to when I was in high school and let it play while I was drawing. Even before I started, I couldn't wait to see how this drawing would turn out in the end. As usual, the music led me through memories of my high-school years and I made myself concentrate on them. At the same time, I started drawing as if I were just doodling. In thinking of my memories, I kept drawing and drawing. Without any sketch, I began with some lines, and eventually these lines made some sort of patterns that I never planned, but as I went on, I created more and more patterns. When I finished, the drawing turned out to be something more than I expected. I was amazed to see how it all ended up. Every line and pattern evolved from one to another as if it were showing how all my memories are connected to each other. To me it seemed like I was recording music in my own language. When I looked at it even without the music, I could still feel the same music, the same memories.

Do you draw faster when the music is faster?
Not really. I guess I just get so carried away with concentrating on my memories and drawing at the same time, I don't realize if the music is any faster or slower, but I would notice if it doesn’t feel right. I may become excited in a way, because the music can trigger some exciting moments of my life that would affect what I draw--but I just don't think it affects how fast I draw.

When you are doing this, can you concentrate evenly on listening & drawing? I mean, do you begin drawing to the music, then get caught up in your drawing & minutes later realize you have missed entire parts of the music?
Well, actually it's not like I'm writing down the notes that the music is playing. Music is just there to inspire me, and I'm only concentrating on what the music makes me think of and how I would like to draw it intuitively.

Do you listen to different kinds of music--or is it just one kind that works for you? What kind of music is it?
I just listen to any kind as long as it's something I used to listen to in the past. It has to be old enough to remind me of some things that I hardly think of nowadays. It's like turning back the clock, leading me into the past.

What would your art look like if you switched to something else, like punk, or speed metal? or country & western? or marching band music?
I don't think I can really tell until I try it.

O.K., AWAY from drawing, what kind of music do you listen to? What's on your iPod?
I usually listen to Korean pop music, so-called K-Pop. And I love to read the lyrics, too, while listening.

You did another, very different illustration for the poem "Hyena Ridge" in the Nov/Dec '08 issue. You also showed us your drawings for a Korean Cinderella folk tale, & THEY were simply stunning. All your art is very precise & meticulous. How did you develop the focus & patience it takes to do this work?
One thing people always mention about me is that I do things slowly. It's like I talk slow, walk slow, cook slow, etc. If I ever try to do something fast, I never can do it just the right way I want. When I draw, I tend to be very careful and I always find myself obsessing with every small detail. It's not that I'm trying to draw them all, but to understand the subject. Then I know which parts interest me the most and I draw them with great intensity. I pay a lot of attention to the line quality, like how the lines work and how I use them so that it works with what I would like to show in my drawing. Of course, I draw very slowly. But I have to admit that I actually enjoy that moment I'm concentrating so hard when I draw.

Do you like to climb trees?
I wish to try someday.

Play American-style football?
No.

Buy shoes?
Yes.

Cook?
Yes.

Cook cookies? (We know the answer to this!)
Yes. Although they don't always come out as pretty as I wish, I love making them.

Sing karaoke?
Haven't done so for years now.

Make soup?
Yes.

Watch movies?
I love movies.

Read good books/read bad books?
Some good books make me think, and some bad books make me think too much.

What are some of your favorite foods?
I always have a hard time answering these questions like "what's your favorite?" because there are just so many that I really like and there's nothing I really like to pick above others. So I must say that my answer never stays consistent. If I need to mention some now, I'd say pastas--and I really love pasta carbonara.

If, through some miraculous happenstance, you could be ANY kitchen utensil, what would you be & why?
Chopsticks. I think it is the only kitchen utensil that requires some practice in order to use. Although they teach you only one way to use them properly, there are also many other ways that people can be creative with them. I guess that's inspiring in a way.

EXTRA CREDIT
Let's pretend you are on a camping trip somewhere in the far North Woods. You go out for a hike in the morning. When you return in the afternoon, you find that a bear has used your shampoo & hair conditioner, dressed in your clothes, used your cell phone to call friends & family in several states, & is NOW drawing while listening to your iPod. Hannah Kim, what do you say to the bear?
"Wrong! That’s not how I draw!"