Meet Alice Jiwon Yoon | 3D Lighting & Environment Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alice Jiwon Yoon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alice Jiwon, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The typical narrative of “I’ve always loved drawing” doesn’t fit me at all when it comes to my artistic path. To everyone’s surprise, I pivoted from a relatively successful academic background to pursue a career in art. Now, I’m deeply engaged in technical animation. Technical animation, especially lighting, helped me discover that I enjoy using my skills in hands-on activities to produce beautiful renders, which feels like a reward. There’s something deeply fulfilling about being relied upon for my expertise, particularly when it involves solving complex problems with 3D software. It makes me feel like an engineer, and majoring in this field has given me the ability to not only create but also be recognized as someone who gets things done. Although I chose this major during my first year of online college due to COVID-19, I now feel incredibly fortunate to have found something that fits me so well.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When it comes to the animation pipeline, lighting is where my passion truly lies. I love bringing 3D renders to life with lighting, and I’m proud of the work I’ve done, especially as the Co-Director of my senior thesis film, Persimmon Red. The film tells the story of an abandoned environment getting an unexpected visitor. As Co-Director, I handled nearly all the lighting shots, and it was my first time managing the subtle lighting changes for an entire day. I worked with Unreal Engine, a real-time rendering software, and while it was challenging, my previous experience helped me accomplish the task.
My journey into lighting started when I realized my interest after exploring various roles in the animation pipeline. During spring break, I found myself voluntarily studying lighting tutorials in preparation for an upcoming class, even though the break was only ten days. That excitement pushed me forward when I was unexpectedly tasked with lighting on a senior thesis film during the quarter. The film had a dramatic lighting setup and needed to be completed in just two weeks, so I had to quickly apply what I had learned. The pressure was intense, but I thrived on it and enjoyed every moment of the challenge. I was also fortunate to work with a patient lighting lead, whose feedback helped me grow tremendously.
Now, I’m working on teaching myself compositing, as it often goes hand in hand with lighting. What sets me apart is my ability to adapt quickly in high-pressure situations and my love for the process of creating dynamic, visually compelling scenes. Lighting allows me to combine both the technical and creative sides of animation, and I’m excited to keep pushing my skills further.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s funny that you ask because my younger sister is actually visiting me from Germany in just a few weeks! She’s never been to the U.S., so we’ve planned to check out some of my favorite spots in Duluth, starting with all the Korean places. Where she lives, Korean food—or even Asian food—is hard to come by, so she’s really excited. We’re both huge fans of Malatang and a Korean-style Malatang place opened up in Duluth not too long ago, which she’s dying to try. After I pick her up from the Atlanta airport, we’re heading straight there. We’ll probably grab some boba afterward to cool down from all the spice.
She is also interested in trying all kinds of American food. I’m planning to take her to some classic spots like Chipotle, Waffle House, Dairy Queen, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell. Of course, we’ll still fit in more Korean places like Hwangso Gopchang for Korean BBQ, BBQ Chicken, and a Black Bean Noodle Spot. Honestly, I think our whole week is going to revolve around food, but that’s what makes it fun!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents, who have always been my biggest supporters. My mom, in particular, deserves so much credit. She has always thought about what’s best for me and has been the guiding force behind my decision to pursue this career. Her belief in me and her encouragement have been invaluable. My dad has also been a constant source of support, backing me in whatever I choose to do. Without their love, guidance, and unwavering belief in my potential, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://3dlighting.wixsite.com/alice-jiwon-yoon

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicejiwonyoon

Other: Senior Film Persimmon Red Trailer : https://youtu.be/DmqcY7SHz_0?si=9O1O1ydAiGm8ZDcl

Image Credits
Emmanuel Delacruz