Meet the Artist: Rachel Yumi Chung
We’re so excited to introduce our newest Artist Edition lens cloth designed by the talented Rachel Yumi Chung. Rachel is a Korean American artist known for her joyful, vibrant illustrations most often created with colored pencils, gouache, and digital illustration. Influenced by her cultural roots and a deep appreciation for everyday beauty, Rachel’s work radiates warmth, color, and nostalgia.
Art has been a part of her life since childhood
"Art was always something that was a part of my life. My mom was a big inspiration for me to pursue becoming an artist. She was someone who fostered an environment for me to enjoy and love art. I remember going to art museums as a kid and taking after school art classes and just loving it so much. I could not stop doodling in class either which was one of the signs that art would be a big part of my life."
The Inspiration Behind the Artwork
"The inspiration behind my illustration was to represent finding joy in our everyday life. The patterned border is inspired by bojagi textiles which is a traditional Korean cloth pattern used for wrapping things food. This is to represent holding close and savoring those moments of finding joy in our daily lives."
Shop the limited edition lens cloth here.
How Identity Shapes Her Work
"My Korean-American identity has influenced me a lot in terms of colors and subject matter. Korean food was such a big part of my upbringing so I often like to draw things like kimchi or ingredients used to make Korean food. The colors of Korean food such as all of the side dishes paired with the main meal are so visually colorful as well which has been a big influence on my art."
Choosing Color Palettes
"I often use a reference photo to gather color inspiration which is how I choose my colors. I don’t always stick to the reference photo colors. I often end up spontaneously choosing other colors that I feel like fit the artwork."
A Creative Lesson to Share
"Keep a sketchbook and draw or paint at least once a day! I remember making that a challenge for myself a few years ago and it really helped me so much to practice and explore my creativity in a consistent way. It doesn’t have to be super detailed but just something small to start off with to practice."
Three Things that Bring Her Joy
Cooking, sharpened color pencils, farmer's markets
Supporting Shalom Farms
"I chose Shalom Farms as my charity partner because of their mission for sharing access to healthy local produce for the communities in the Richmond area that have suffered from food inequity. I believe everyone should have access to good food, especially communities who have struggled with limited options. All of the proceeds will be supporting Shalom Farms to continue their mission for a more just food system."
Rachel's Personal Style
"My personal style is a combination of cozy, comforting and cheerful colors. I’m a big fan of denim overalls with a flowy white or a butter yellow button down, a tote bag and a pair of white tennis shoes, which is how I would style with my Covry frames."
Watch the interview here.
