Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Kwon.
Hi Angela, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Philadelphia in 1987, and I had to overcome great obstacles from birth due to a complication that left me without vision. However, thanks to surgery at the age of 7, I regained my sight, and my curiosity about the world has not diminished. With studies in Cytohistology, plastic and visual arts, forensic photography, criminal investigation, and forensic sciences, I worked for 10 years in the forensic area before realizing that my true passion was art. Now, as a preschool photographer and children’s spa assistant, I have found my true calling: sharing art with children and helping them express their emotions through creativity. With a focus on children’s emotional and creative development, this passionate artist is making a difference in the lives of little ones, encouraging them to explore the world through artistic expression.
Everything began when I graduated from college at 19 and started a cytopathology laboratory. I mainly gave lectures in the cities of Colombia about the promotion and prevention of cervical cancer, taught gynecological cytology classes at the university, and performed gynecological cytology. I had a dissolution of the partnership and went through my depression helping poor and indigenous communities in Colombia with the health body of Wings for the People, a medical body that travels to places where people do not have access to health care. That was my way of closing the cycle of that business. I was young and still very fragile when I entered to work on the emergency line in Bogotá; by that time, the father of my oldest daughter had died of cancer, and a few years later it was my mother who died of cancer too, I entered to work as a judicial police officer in the analysis area of processing at the crime scene for the technical investigation body called CTI, it is something similar to the FBI, but in Colombia; at the same time I started studying hybrid, that is, part virtual and part face-to-face at university for a visual arts degree. Then my soul lit up; it was not easy because the general prosecutor’s office of Colombia became me to study forensic sciences and criminal investigation too, so as a single mother already of two girls, with the work of judicial police officer helping to solve homicides and studying, my life was quite hectic by that time; I had several emotional falls that finally made me arrive in this city, I never had the opportunity to live with my father who is Korean by birth but grew up since he was a child in the United States, he currently lives in Hawaii, due to life issues the same year my mother died in 2013, that same year I reconnected with my father, we talked from time to time and by 2018 I had such an emotional blow that I decided to leave everything in Colombia and take the adventure of living a life close to my father.
At first, everything was extraordinary; I went through many adversities that I did not expect. I had to escape from Hawaii without a penny, without knowing English well and without knowing anyone, and without my daughters, who were still in Colombia under the care of their paternal families. I worked washing dishes in Waikiki and got money for Orlando’s only available plane ticket. Once there, a relative in Colombia connected me with a person in Palm Coast who let me stay at their house for a few days. Then I met the one who is now part of my close group of friends, and he let me stay at his house in Jacksonville. I started to relate to the Hispanic community, which supported me immensely. I got a job in construction driving a forklift, so I got money to bring my daughters by my side. Can you believe I had nowhere to house them or a vehicle two days before they arrived? But God is great, and the whole universe works like clockwork. I got an apartment by Southside in Jacksonville one night before; my friends helped me with blankets and some dishes. I bought balloons at dollar tree and welcome decorations. I also got a car that was like falling from heaven to be able to pick up my daughters. Since then, I have not stopped pursuing my dreams. The road is not easy. I have had to learn English on my own and face discrimination for not looking Hispanic, Asian, or American; it seems that I am neither here nor there, never enough to belong to something but something that I am is a mom and recently started a group of Latin mothers where we look for spaces of relief and support network, work the emotional situation from the art, use the art as therapy.
Join me to inspire the next generation of artists and explorers! I hope this helps. Sorry if this is too much, but it’s just the surface. Lol. Thanks again for the opportunity.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Everything I have gone through has brought me here. Every smile I see in a child doing art, happy with their result, of a child that I see amazed after their face painting and every hug of support to other women who are also going through difficult times and feel accompanied if every difficulty I have had has brought me to this, then my path has been very smooth because if the price of the happiness I decided to live was that, it has been very cheap for me. After all, this happiness of serving and pursuing my dream of being an artist is priceless.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am an artist at heart, and I make paintings in acrylic paint and mixed techniques. I do face painting and activities for children so that they develop art and crafts are fundamental tools in the development of children since they allow them to express themselves creatively and develop important skills such as coordination, concentration, and imagination. In addition, these activities allow them to experiment with different materials and techniques, which helps them explore their environment and discover new ways of seeing the world. That is why I always include art and craft activities for children at the parties and events I organize. By doing this, I allow them to get involved in the creative process and to express themselves differently. In addition, these activities help them interact with other children and develop important social skills such as communication and teamwork.
But it is not just about having fun and a good time, but also about fostering self-esteem and confidence in children by allowing them to create something with their hands and see the result of their effort. In addition, art and crafts are an excellent way to express emotions and feelings, which can help children process their experiences and handle difficult situations.
In summary, art and crafts are a fundamental part of child development and positively impact children’s emotional and social well-being. By including these activities in parties and events, we allow children to explore their creativity and express themselves uniquely and meaningfully.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
That’s something I’m working on, I’m an artist, but I’m not a salesperson. I don’t know how to do it, plus I come from a life of just giving and giving, and I’m in an internal process of learning to receive; my message is that art is essential to nourish our sensitivity with the world and with ourselves, in this age of so much superficiality it is good to find pure roots. Working at Trinity’s Day Spa as an assistant is a wonderful job; I feel it is a hobby because it is pure and beautiful energy; performing at the festivals that I go to with a lot of effort and Sacrifice where sometimes I cannot redeem what I invested in the position and without a job that gives me financial security it is hard. Still, I do not give up. I will be many Saturdays at RAM riverside art Market; I will be there and at other Latino events that you posted and promoted on my social networks and website. I want to raise money to open my art studio and have a space for young and old artistic development, where they leave their emotions and find themselves through art.
Pricing:
- Face painting for parties 2 hours min $120
- Art or crafts projects for events or parties $120 package for 6 kids includes materials.
- Ferias or events, RAM, 904POPUP, Latinos FESTIVALS, FACEPAINTING $10 per kid
- Summer art activities for kids 50 per class 2 hours
- Ladies’ art night 50$ 2 hours
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artkwonforkid.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/artkwonstyle?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artkwonstyle?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Image Credits
William Delgado Photographer of the photo where I am doing facepainting
