Makitoy

Makitoy finds inspiration in serene walks along Han River Park in the pulsating city of Seoul, South Korea. This waterside haven offers the perfect blend of calmness and convenience, with its myriad bookstores, cafes and galleries. “It’s a place where great and small personalities converge,” she remarks.

Having spent six years as an illustrator, Makitoy transitioned into freelancing and balances individual projects from the comfort of her home, accompanied by her two beloved cats. Since 2019, she has diligently pursued a personal project of daily drawing, a practice that has not only honed her skills but also developed her artistic archive.

Makitoy’s vibrant art posters feature bold plant-inspired drawings, created with pens and markers on paper. “Plants give me a new perspective,” she explains, “they show more diverse and interesting colour combinations than I thought.” By combining colours and simplifying shapes, she captures the essence of nature in her unique style. The recurring motif of plants in her work underpins her fascination with plant-derived objects and patterns, drawing inspiration from her habitual recordings.

Inspiration & aspiration

She also admires the simplicity and refinement found in the works of artists like Matisse and Picasso, particularly their drawings, ceramics and paper cut-outs. Her interest extends to numerous handicrafts and she is currently learning pottery. When not immersed in her creative endeavours, Makitoy enjoys the simple pleasures of life, she often takes early morning walks, relishing the quiet of shops yet to open, before returning home to relax with her cats and cook.

Looking ahead, Makitoy aspires to maintain her artistic pursuits well into her later years: “I want to be a person who does creative work for a long time—even when I become a grandmother,” she avers. This goal stems from her realisation that what she once took for granted requires effort and is achievable only through maintaining both mental and physical health.