Many people hold onto long-held dreams or passions in the corners of their hearts. However, realizing such dreams can be challenging amidst the demands of a busy life. Here, we have a battery researcher who is bringing her long-standing passion for painting to life. Not only is she a professional battery researcher, but she is also an exceptional artist—meet Professional Kang Min- jeong.  

[An Artist-Researcher Who Realized a Long-Held Dream of Painting]

Could you please give us a brief introduction?  

I am Kang Min- jeong, a dedicated battery researcher at SAMSUNG SDI with a deep passion for painting as a hobby. It’s a pleasure to meet you.  

When did you begin pursuing painting as a hobby?

# Painting: A Dream and Passion_ I Dedicated All My College Vacations to It.

Painting was a long-held passion of mine. It was a dream I had cherished and hoped to fulfill one day. Watching my friends prepare for art school during my school years only fueled my desire to paint. I happened to visit an art studio that had just opened near my university, and that’s when I began painting as a hobby. I was drawn to this newly opened studio in an old, run-down building as if I were under a spell. For several years, I spent all my vacations there (laughs). Even when I went to study abroad in the U.S. and was adjusting to a new environment, I made time to paint. Looking back, those were truly precious times.

[Paintings by Professional Kang Min-jeong, Drawn as a Hobby]   

How did you develop your painting skills?  

# 100-Day Drawing Challenge_My Skills Improved Dramatically After Completing It. 

After somehow managing to complete the challenge, my skills improved significantly. These days, even I’m surprised when I look at my own paintings. I find myself wondering, How did I get this good? (laughs).  

Although I didn’t receive formal training in art, I had such a strong desire to paint that I joined art clubs and attended classes whenever I could, squeezing in time to paint. At first, my skills didn’t improve dramatically, so I always had the desire to get better. Then, I encountered a turning point that allowed me to significantly improve my skills. It was the ‘100-Day Portrait Challenge,’ organized by an artist I followed on social media. The challenge required participants to draw a portrait every day in a sketchbook about the size of a palm and post it for 100 days. As a reward, the artist, who was well-known for watercolor portraits, would paint a portrait for you.  The idea of drawing every day for 100 days seemed like an opportunity I couldn’t miss, so I signed up right away.

The standards for the challenge were quite high. No part of the head in the portrait could be omitted, and skipping a day of posting was not allowed. There was even a rule that if your drawing quality dropped below your previous level three times, you would be disqualified (laughs). But with unwavering determination, I successfully completed the 100-Day Portrait Challenge.

[Portraits Created at the 100-Day Portrait Challenge]   

What mindset helped improve your painting skills?  

# Challenging Goals_Restarting My Painting Journey

I am a ‘goal-oriented’ person. When I set a challenging goal to complete a portrait every day for 100 days, I was determined to achieve it, which allowed me to immerse myself in painting again. In fact, just before starting the 100-Day Portrait Challenge, I had fallen into a rut and had stopped painting, despite my deep love for it.   

Portraits typically require 4 to 5 hours to complete, making them a challenging task. However, my determination to achieve the goal led me to prepare for busy days when I couldn’t paint. On weekends or holidays, I would draw three portraits in advance. On such days, I spent the entire time from morning until evening, eating only meals and painting for over 10 hours.

I felt more pride in painting every day for 100 days without missing a single day than in the joy of receiving an award for completing the challenge. The greatest satisfaction came from experiencing the significant improvement in my skills compared to the beginning of the challenge. It was a valuable experience, showing me that setting goals and maintaining consistency can lead to skill development.  

[Professional Kang Min-jeong on How Consistent Practice Is the Shortcut to Skill Improvement]   

Do you have any tips for beginners who want to take up drawing as a hobby?  

# Drawing with Enthusiasm_Draw Longer and Improve Faster.

Do not overthink it or try to draw perfectly from the start. There are no poorly drawn pictures in the world, only those that reflect individual uniqueness. Beginners should start by drawing what they most want to, as this will make the process more enjoyable. I have seen many people give up quickly because they focused too much on mastering the basics from the beginning. Since drawing is a hobby, I encourage starting with what you are most interested in and hope you enjoy this hobby for a long time. For me, drawing is a lifelong hobby, and the fact that I have such a hobby brings me great happiness.  

Particularly, drawing is a charming hobby due to its 'honest growth through dedicated practice.' The more you draw with enthusiasm and spend time practicing, the more you will find your skills improving, often without even realizing it.  

[Custom-made shoes created by Professional Kang Min-jeong in anticipation of a bright future for SAMSUNG SDI]

This is a custom-made pair of shoes created by Professional Kang Min-jeong in anticipation of SAMSUNG SDI becoming a global top-tier company by 2030. Today, SAMSUNG SDI continues to move towards a bright future, just as depicted in Kang Min-jeong's artwork.