Hi, my name is David Kim. I am a painter, illustrator, cartoonist, and a father of two—based in both South Korea and New Jersey. I’m also passionate about bagels and quiet lakes, where I find most of my inspiration. I paint and write about lakes, fairies, and people.
I studied and was deeply influenced by Lisbeth Zwerger, Chris Van Allsburg, and Roberto Innocenti. I admire their rich, delightful, and subtly humorous storytelling, and I hope to create “old-school” picture books of my own—stories that are not only fun, but also warm, meaningful, and lasting.
