JO has always dreamed of painting in a quiet mountain cabin someday. Growing up, he played basketball in school, and now he performs on stage surrounded by cheering fans. For JO, painting is a special way to express himself and create his own world. Let's dive into JO's artistic journey.
Imagining an "Alien Amusement Park"
JO: I really liked art class in kindergarten. I used to draw a lot at home, too, and I still remember drawing an amusement park. But it wasn’t just any amusement park—it was one for aliens! (laughs) When I was drawing, my parents often joined me. They’d draw something too and show it to me. I think I found their drawings pretty cool. Once, in middle school, I painted flowers as a gift for Mother’s Day. Even now, whenever I visit home, that painting is still on the fridge. It makes me wonder, ‘Do they like it that much?’ (laughs)
Why Paintings Don’t Have Titles
JO: I’m not sure if I’m good at painting. I’ve never entered an art contest or anything like that when I was younger. (laughs) For me, just painting is enough—I enjoy the act of creating itself. I’ve never given any of my paintings a title because I felt like it was too soon for that. Maybe someday, if I spend more time on my art and grow attached enough to call them ‘works of art,’ then I might start naming them. NICHOLAS often shows me his drawings and asks, ‘What do you think?’ But I don’t really do that. (laughs) I love painting, but I’m still a little shy about showing my work to others. If I like it, that’s enough for me. (laughs)
The Thrill of Drawing
JO: Sometimes, I start drawing without deciding what to draw. As I work on it, I start wondering, ‘Is this the right direction?’ and eventually, the shape begins to appear. That moment when I first see what I wanted to express come to life on the canvas—that’s the thrill. I often draw wolves because of its strong connection to &TEAM. Through that, I’ve discovered how fun it is to draw animals. Take my ‘Mint’ drawing, for example. At first, it wasn’t supposed to be a cat. (laughs) I started out thinking about drawing either a wolf or a dog, but as I worked on it, it started to look more like a cat, so it became Mint. Lately, I’ve been thinking, ‘What if I focus more on colors rather than shapes to make my art more interesting?’ I’ve never taken any art lessons, so there are probably a lot of technical things I don’t know. But I think art is fun because it’s so free. There was a time when I tried to study art on my own. I watched animations about drawing, read books about it, and even tried to study on my own. If I ever learn art seriously, I’d want to dedicate a lot of time and really focus on it. For now, I’m content expressing my feelings through art. In the end, what matters most is having fun, so I’m just enjoying drawing for now.
Drawing is My Tool for Self-Expression
JO: When I like something, I put my whole heart into it. Back when I was a student, I think basketball defined me. Back then, drawing was just a hobby I did without much thought. But now, art has become a part of how I express myself. It lets me freely and openly show who I am and what kind of personality I have. I see myself as a quiet person who doesn't talk much but tends to think a lot. (laughs)Through drawing, I can comfortably share thoughts and feelings I can't express in words. If the stage is a way for me, as an artist, to interpret and convey a set concept, then art is like my personal tool—my weapon, if you will—to show LUNÉ something fun and new. It's my secret weapon.
Capturing What I Love Most
JO: My dream is always to be able to paint whatever I love most at the moment. (laughs) Why I draw changes depending on the situation. In the past, I'd sketch imaginary scenes when I needed to relax, and try realistic drawings when I felt like actually drawing something more detail oriented. I love beautiful scenery, (laughs) so I often find myself inspired by the landscapes I see through a car window. These days, I've been thinking about expressing my emotions through art—how I feel now. For example, what I love most right now is dancing and singing. I recently reflected on my performances and came across Michael Jackson's videos. They inspired me so much that I wanted to capture that feeling in a drawing. I also thought about how I'd like to depict myself as an even more global artist in the future. So, I drew a piece imagining that version of me.
"Painting in a Quiet Mountain"
JO: When I want to focus on drawing at the dorm, I put on my earphones and get to work. Sometimes, I draw without music, but when doing portraits, I like to match the music to the person's personality or vibe—it helps me bring them to life on the canvas. One thing on my bucket list is "painting in a quiet mountain" because I want to have a peaceful environment to focus on my work. (laughs) One day, I'd love to sit in a spot where the trees sway gently in the breeze—quiet but filled with the soft sounds of nature—and just paint to my heart's content.
&TEAM and Art
JO: A forest might be the best place to focus on drawing (laughs) but drawing with the members is a lot of fun because there's so much to look at. Once, during a fan signing event, we had some breaktime and drew our favorite characters. Watching everyone enjoy themselves made me realize how much they like drawing, too—it made me so happy! Drawing with the members is always so much fun, and when they give me their drawings as gifts, it feels so special because their feelings really come through. For example, YUMA once gave me a drawing, and I loved it so much that I carried it around in my bag for a while without taking it out.(laughs)
FUMA Introduced a New World to Me
JO: Before FUMA gave me colored pencils, I thought, 'Drawing with just pencils is so much fun—this is enough for me.' I used to draw exclusively with pencils, but after getting those colored pencils as a gift from him, I discovered how fun it is to use colors. These days, I often create oil painting-style pieces on my iPad. Using it has interested me in art materials, so I've been buying many. Recently, I got some new colored markers.(laughs)
EJ's Portrait
JO: That portrait is still at the dorm.(laughs) It didn't turn out the way I imagined, so I gave up on it, thinking I could do better. I didn't want EJ to see it either.(laughs) With portraits, if the balance is slightly off, it can throw the whole thing off track and become frustrating. There are other pieces I've abandoned, too, but I don't go back to fix them. Instead, I think, 'How about trying a new way?' and start with a new drawing or completely redoing it from scratch.
What Makes a Good Drawing for JO
JO: For me, a good drawing is one where I've turned the image in my mind into something on paper. That alone makes me satisfied. I've never thought my art was perfect—not even once—but when I feel like I've successfully captured my thoughts in a drawing, I think, 'Am I getting better?'(laughs) That's why I think Picasso's work is truly incredible. I have to draw an eye when I want to draw an eye. However, Picasso's art shows that even if an eye doesn't look like an eye or a face doesn't resemble a face, the personality and essence of the subject are still there. It's amazing.
An Exception for LUNÉ
JO: I'm usually shy about sharing my drawings, but LUNÉ always tell me they want to see more of them. Because of that, I feel like I should respond to their kindness by showing my work. I once drew a lion and shared it on Weverse. I had sketched it casually, but when LUNÉ said they liked the playful use of colors, it made me so happy. Thanks to them, it's a piece I've grown to love. Whenever we perform, LUNÉ immediately post fan art of our stage outfits, and we receive so many incredible gifts daily- it brings me so much joy!
