Clover Press’ latest premium artbook highlights the art of Paul “Zeronis” Kwon in Reminiscent: Art of Zeronis.
The 152-page deluxe hardcover book (now available to back on Kickstarter) presents a wide-range of Zeronis’s art, featuring portraits, character concepts, original designs, and art work from his extensive video game and pop culture work.
We got to speak to Zeronis all about his new artbook and his career so far in this exclusive interview.
What were your initial thoughts about creating an artbook out of your work?
Zeronis: My initial thought was whether I had enough artwork that was worthy of being showcased and compiled into a book. However, I realized that I would never create an art book if I had that mindset. So, I decided to finally bind one without a specific theme, simply compiling my creations so far. That’s why I named it “Reminiscent.”
Overall, I’m thrilled to share it with the world after holding off for so long. I hope that other creative minds who pick it up will find it inspiring, just as I have been inspired by many art books.
Was it difficult to select the pieces for the book and how did you go about arranging the layout?
Zeronis: Yeah, it’s been quite challenging and intricate to determine the appropriate content for the book. Initially, I envisioned creating a themed book, whether it revolves around my personal world-building IP, such as the Death Verse or the Kami Verse. However, I ultimately decided to compile a book featuring a diverse range of my work. This part of the process is still being worked on. But I’m thrilled about the opportunity to work on it and find the most effective layout to showcase these varied artistic expressions. I genuinely wish I had more time to select a wider array of work to include, but maybe that will be for another book in the future.
You are well known for League of Legends characters like Ahri, Vi, and Gwen, the Star Guardian series, and the virtual K-Pop group, K/DA. Which of these is most representative of your personal style?
Zeronis: That’s a great question. After some thought, I believe Gwen and Ahri are probably the closest representations of my current personal style and interests. Many of my personal projects share similarities with them. Gwen has a grim dark, fantasy aesthetic and theme, while Ahri embodies a mythical, appealing, and beautiful fox character with a lot of elegance.
I suppose K-pop group style characters are also quite enjoyable to design. However, they present a challenge because fashion trends change rapidly, making it difficult to keep up without extensive research and inspiration from the latest hits. K-pop groups are known for their unique styles, but it’s undeniably fun in a challenging way.
Were there any art pieces that you “rediscovered” in putting the book together?
Zeronis: I honestly have not thought about it other than wanting to have more decent artworks to include in the book. It was fun to reminisce on older artworks and experience the moments with a fresh perspective.
You showcase a wide variety of art in the collection, from professional pieces to sketches, etc. Did you attempt to balance the types of pieces that you included in the art book?
Zeronis: I’m still in the process of sorting through the artworks and deciding which ones to include. I’ll likely try to have a good mix of earlier works and sketches, but I plan to select the best ones.
I’ll organize the artworks into chapters and sections based on their themes, such as original, professional, personal intellectual property, character concepts, or pinup art. Designing the layout will be quite enjoyable.
You offer a few premium and add-ons for the Kickstarter. Do you have a personal favorite?
Zeronis: The acrylic prints are going to be pretty nice
Upcoming work?
Zeronis: Nothing else I’m working on currently other than this artbook and maybe some smaller series of artbooks I’ll make for myself. I don’t really have a clear passionate idea on what I want to do next. I have been lingering on the thought of making my own game one day but it’s insanely difficult to make it happen. I think it requires the right idea, right moment, and a strong engineering and tech talent. If anyone wants to make a small indie game, board game, or anything else with a small team, hit me up!
