Deb Lee on Art, Mental Health, and Cultural Representation

Deb Lee’s journey as an artist is a testament to passion, perseverance, and creative exploration. From early art lessons in a cellar to crafting deeply personal works like In Limbo, Deb’s story intertwines cultural identity, mental health, and a relentless dedication to illustration. In this interview, they share their thoughts on growing up as a Korean American artist, their evolving creative process, and insights into the art community, all while reflecting on the experiences that have shaped their remarkable career.

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GeekPost: When did you realize that you wanted to be an artist? Can you tell us about that?

Deb: I guess I always wanted to be better at drawing! I don’t think I knew I wanted to take freelance illustration as a career until I was a senior in college, but already I was drawing for years and years. To live on commissions and freelance assignments didn’t seem possible, but once I saw others living that life, I knew I had to at least give it a shot. From a young age, perhaps I was around 7 or 8, I knew I was slightly better than average in my classes and begged my parents to let me take art lessons. Back then I would go into a group class weekly in this woman’s cellar where I would drop a five-dollar bill over the washing machine. I guess that was 2003, 2004? Inflation is crazy.

GeekPost: How did your Korean American heritage influence the themes and visual storytelling in your work?

Deb: Other than my graphic memoir IN LIMBO, which is half about diaspora and half about navigating complicated relationships, the best answer I can give is that I’m more inclined to use Korean characters in my stories, without it having to be the central point of the narrative. Writing and drawing about being Korean and its traumas was the prime focus of my first project, and I don’t really intend to take it any further than that. I like to have Korean characters with attributes that only they could have, but I’d like to known for more than just that (even though the two graphic novels I made are about Sad Korean Stories)!!

GeekPost: Do you consider yourself a geek? What does that mean to you?

Deb: If we define geek as someone with any hyper-focused interest, I guess everyone is a geek in some sense! Although rare, I do hear the work sports geek thrown around once in a blue moon. The term seems more commonly used for game/comic media, but as anime has become more mainstream over the past decade, I think it will become less niche in the future.

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GeekPost: Your piece “In Limbo” touches on mental health. Can you tell us what inspired this work?

Deb: I have always wanted to create some book about my relationship with mental health, and I was finally given the opportunity to do so a few months post-grad in 2018. The moment occurred from a somewhat adjacent drawing where I was discussing intergenerational language barriers. When my literary agent took notice, we began work on the graphic novel pitch that would become IN LIMBO. I wasn’t really afraid of sharing my most personal moments, as I was more eager to get all the heaviness off my chest. Once it was out of my hands, I felt free from it all.

GeekPost: How did Gen Con 2024 go for you? Any experiences that stand out for you?

Deb: Gen Con 2024 was purely just a learning experience as I have had no other Gen Cons to compare it to! I feel like 2024 was my first or second year taking cons more seriously, and I think it’ll show by 2025. I learned so many minor psychological tricks from other artists, especially moving my prints around. The sweetest part of that is those friends came together to help me edit my setup, since I didn’t have some of the extra supplies I’d need. I hope to be back for 2025!

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GeekPost: Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

Deb: I feel like anyone who falls under the category of “detailed and intricate linework with stylized and slightly abstracted representation” is an immediate yes. Art nouveau, Moebius, and Japanese woodcut fall under this umbrella. But I also have a high appreciation of lineless, abstracted shapes; I guess all this comes from my design background from undergrad.

GeekPost: What is your favorite medium? And your favorite tool to use?

Deb: My go-to through my entire professional career is Procreate!

GeekPost: What do you think the art and illustration community could do to better support marginalized voices, especially artists of color and those from LGBTQ+ communities?

Deb: Representation isn’t everything, just having a character that is from a marginalized community is the barest, most minimal thing to do. I’ve seen publishing houses and production studios reject pitches because there is already a project being worked on that also has _____ in the story. These industries need to see these communities as something that has existed and continues to exist, as people, not a hot, new add-on where only one can be at a time. We don’t need every story with marginalized characters to be about their suffering. Let those characters lead happy and/or nuanced lives without needing to be saved by white people or American democracy

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GeekPost: Looking back on your journey so far, is there a piece of advice or a lesson you received that has stuck with you and shaped your career?

Deb: That your body and personal work/life is another job of its own. Maybe it’s the economy this year that gave me less work and income, but I realized that in order to make work for myself, I actually had to set aside time to make personal work. It’s been about a couple years since I gave myself time to do that. I could spend my free time to try to get my projects done earlier, but they’re still being done on time, so why not just work on something that’s for myself? (Of course, it’s extra material to sell at conventions!)

GeekPost: Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know about you?

Deb: For some reason people think I don’t leave the house or sleep very much! This can’t be more inaccurate, for I think I sleep at least 9 hours a day and enjoy going to the gym to do HIIT or any kind of intense exercise that makes me fear for my own life.

Deb Lee’s artistry shines through their thoughtful storytelling, intricate illustrations, and commitment to authentic representation. Their journey inspires not only as a creative force but as a voice for nuanced narratives in the art world. As Deb continues to explore new avenues and push creative boundaries, we’re excited to see what lies ahead in their evolving career. For fans and aspiring artists alike, their insights offer a powerful reminder to embrace one’s identity and passion unapologetically.