Q. Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello, I'm illustrator Tyson Park. I mainly create works about sports, pop, and sneaker culture.

Q. You've collaborated much with renowned sports media channels like Bleacher Report and CBS Sports. What would you consider as your representative project so far?

There's a piece called 'School of NBA,' featuring illustrations of about 120 basketball players and officials. It took the longest to create, and it's a piece I personally cherish a lot.

Q. You are indeed passionate about basketball and sneaker scene. How does it influence your work?

In my case, the order seems a bit reversed. Usually, artists draw things they like for their artwork, but as for me, my motivation to talk about sports and sneaker culture comes first, and I choose drawing as a means.

Q. All the characters you depict have distinctive wits and expressions. What is your creative process like?

Since most of my work is digital, the process itself is quite straightforward. If I need to draw something, I just sit down and start drawing. For me, having good ideas and references for parody is more important than the actual drawing process. So I always try to expose myself to various cultural phenomena through books, movies, and media to grasp social and cultural trends quickly.

Q. Your works are enthused by the NBA community - famous NBA players even posted your work as their social media profile pictures. Are there any memorable anecdotes?

When I was posting illustrations on social media as a hobby, I had around 2,000 followers. But one day, when I shared one drawing about Kyrie Irving's signature shoes with the 'N' brand on the day of its release, the player himself reposted the drawing, adding 6-7 thousand followers in just one day. I was surprised because my phone kept ringing non-stop with notifications when I didn't know about the reason at that moment. Haha.

Q. How was your collaboration with SEVEN EIGHT UNDER?

I've been mainly focusing on digital work for several years, so thanks to this collaboration, I finally pulled out paints, brushes, and markers after a long time. The process was exciting, and I felt the greatness of modern civilization. Long live digital.

Q. Do you have any certain message you want to convey through this artwork?

I titled it <Slow but steady, One step forward>, which is actually something I say to myself. Regardless of the field, I believe some results can only be produced by steadiness and diligence. So I included the message and the hope that everyone would continue to take steps forward without getting burnt out.

Q. What would be some highlights of this work?

I wanted to express the gradual progress of SEVEN EIGHT UNDER, which has been shown in previous collaborations with various artists. So, I incorporated those collaborative projects into those shoes.

Q. What are your plans for the future? Do you have an ultimate goal you want to achieve?

Last year, I focused more on the YouTube channel, so I didn't do much art. I plan to draw more this year, focusing on my original profession. As for the final goal... I just want to continue drawing happily, and I hope that people who see my drawings can feel some joy.

Q. Finally, any words of encouragement or advice for those who "keep marching for their dreams?

No one knows which direction is right. No one knows whether the current path is right or wrong, whether we're doing well or not. However, as long as we don't stop and consistently take one step at a time, those efforts will eventually lead us somewhere. It's okay to pause for a moment, look back, and change your course. Just take another step forward. I want to give a big shout-out to everyone.