Create an imaginary friend. | JooYoung Choi | The Art Assignment

We introduce you to the talented and amazing JooYoung Choi, who shares tales of her fictional realm The Cosmic Womb and beckons us to create our own IMAGINARY FRIEND.

INSTRUCTIONS - Imaginary Friend
1. Make an imaginary friend using any medium you like
2. Introduce that friend to others
3. Share your friend with us using #theartassignment
4. Fame and glory (your work might be in a future episode)

Learn more about JooYoung's work:

[rosianna]

This is just...tremendous. I love her.

[LaurenFairwx]

It's like this was designed for me. I completely adore her characters and the healing, comforting aspect of them. I'm already thinking up ways to do this assignment with one of my plushies! Thank you for introducing us to this wonderful artist.

[TheBubblypumpkin]

This is the best example of GREAT character design, you have to know your character's back story, down to the smallest detail. Only then will your character be able to come to live for others.

[kristinisimaginary]

a lot of children's literature and shows depict imaginary friends as creatures or animals which is really interesting to me because when I was a child I never thought of imaginary friends in that capacity. They were always human to me.

[eibbore]

JooYoung's work and her perspective on it were fascinating, I found it really comforting to listen to her talk about her characters. I absolutely adore her recent sculpture work you showed. Really great assignment!

[SirGareth]

In terms of imaginary friends, for long car rides I always imagined a ninja running across the rooftops of buildings or powerpoles that we sped past by in the car. He was a nice friend to have even if we didn't speak with each other

[SilveerStarr]

I've never let go of having imaginary friends and I'm almost 20! Whenever I don't have any other creative juices flowing, I've always got DC, Knight, Nikaya, or my stuffed animals who have names & personalities.

[serapiakim]

i love her phrase, "have faith, for you have always been loved" 💗 speaks to past/present/future and one's inherent loveability!

[malihahaider]

Idk why but I just LOVE her voice 💖 it's so soothing

[jasonl]

I was nearing the end of the video when I remembered that I had bought a journal in 3rd grade that I had filled with imaginary friends. I can recall a few that I really loved. Lampo was derived from a lamp, and he had a pretty sick mustache and his body was chevron. Her stuffed creations were beautiful! Super envious of her imagination and freedom to revert back to a simpler and more liberating time. Great episode.

[terihello]

Aside from learning about all these different art forms and learning about myself in the process, my English has improved a whole lot by just listening to you all! Thank you 😊❤️

[KannikCat]

What a wonderful and precious assignment. The importance of imagination as adults is wonderful in of itself, but the expression (and reminder) that we are enough is very profound. Reminds me of Brene Brown's work (and her 2010 TED lecture) in a very good way. Lovely, lovely assignment. Thank you for introducing us to JooYoung, and this assignment is going into my queue. :)

[SciJoy]

Her characters at the end made me think of Rosianna's self care bunny. Now I wonder about the backstory of her bunny. Commenters want to guess/ make one up?

[AmbroseReed]

JooYoung is so fascinating and charming! This is a wonderful episode.

[NatAnn]

"...And C.S. Watson, an earthling from Conquered New Hampshire."
Oh, no - wait - Concord. Okay then. Moving on.

[iagonizante]

This is one of the best art assignment episodes yet! I loved JooYoung Choi and seeing this video cheered me right up! All these imaginary friends are so real and she is so good at presenting them! Really brought a smile to my face :)

[sanag]

I love this idea! And JooYoung Choi is amazing! The world we live in is largely nice, but can be harsh too. Its important that we talk to people who can comfort us, even if that person is an imaginary one.
I feel that we often forget to be loving of ourselves... and through imaginary friends, we are able to bring out the love we have for ourselves.
Thanks Sarah!

[bens]

Wow, thanks so much for giving non-art people like me a window on amazing artists like JooYoung and Rager (sp?). I would have never found out about them otherwise.

[chana_sla]

I did this for my art criticism class last year and now I am writing a comic about my character that is also a sequel to a short story I also wrote that she was in. This assignment has given me so much inspiration! I'm going to try and push myself to do it again and see what I come up with next!

[shaunrock]

I love the positive messages and energetic creativity of JooYoung Choi, she is immensely inspiring! Thank you for producing this terrific episode!