Walking the Artist’s Path: Why I Record Every Step

My CV page, finally neatly organized

How I Refreshed My CV PageOver the years, I’ve shared many milestones on my website—from art awards and published books to articles featuring my exhibitions. These images each represent meaningful steps in my creative journey.

But as my portfolio grew, I realized that the layout had become a little overwhelming. While the content was rich, the structure made it harder for visitors to see the bigger picture at a glance.
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So, with the help of ChatGPT, I gave my CV page a much-needed refresh—making it not only more visually organized, but also easier to navigate.

What’s New?

• Grouped by Theme: Awards, press features, and book covers are now organized into clear categories.
• Consistent Visual Style: Images are displayed in matching sizes and alignments for a cleaner presentation.
• Guided Browsing: Key visuals now include titles and prompts like “See More Details” for intuitive navigation.
• Less Clutter, More Focus: I reduced visual noise so that each accomplishment can stand out on its own.

Why This MattersAs an artist, I believe how we present our work is part of the creative process. A well-curated CV page not only reflects our achievements—it also tells our story.
This refresh helped me see my own path more clearly, and I hope it makes it easier for others to connect with my work too.

Explore the Updated CV Page👇
Visit annakoh.com to view the portfolio

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After

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Why Updating Matters as an Artist

Keeping an up-to-date CV isn’t just about listing accomplishments—it’s about reflecting growth. As artists, we evolve with each new project, exhibition, collaboration, or publication. By updating our records regularly, we give ourselves the opportunity to:

• Recognize personal progress
• Build professional credibility
• Open new doors for grants, exhibitions, or teaching roles
• Tell a more complete and authentic story of our creative path
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It's also a powerful reminder that even small steps—like a group show or a new book release—are part of a larger, meaningful journey.
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In that sense, maintaining a living, breathing CV is an act of self-respect and vision.

In curating my CV page, I’ve made a conscious decision not to overly summarize or filter my accomplishments. Instead, I present them as they are—each certificate, publication, and article included in full.
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Why? Because for me, every step—whether large or small—has its own story and value. Rather than condensing them into a few select highlights, I want to honor the full scope of the journey. It’s not just the major awards that shaped who I am as an artist, but also the local shows, community recognitions, and teaching moments.
By showing the complete picture, I hope to offer a more honest and relatable view of what it means to grow as a working artist—through persistence, participation, and continuous learning.

Walking the Artist’s Path: Why I Record Every Step

When I first decided to pursue a life in art, it wasn’t an easy or romantic beginning.
In those early days, I struggled to find role models I could truly relate to. The art world often felt clouded by cynicism and heavy with unspoken barriers. I remember spending countless hours researching, typing in every keyword imaginable, desperately seeking guidance online.

At the heart of all my searching was a single, burning question:

How can I become a true artist?

It was not merely a technical question—about skill or style—but a deeper inquiry into purpose, survival, and authenticity.

I saw many cases around me. I saw even graduates from prestigious art schools giving up because they couldn't survive as working artists. That realization became even more serious. There was no clear path to follow. No one could point a finger and say, "If you walk this way, you can become an artist."

Very early on, I discovered something important:

The moment you follow someone else’s blueprint too closely, you begin to lose the very essence that makes you a true artist.

This discovery became a quiet but powerful source of strength for me. It freed me from chasing after predefined standards or external validations. I understood that the artist’s path is not a highway laid out by others—it is a path you forge yourself, step by uncertain step, much like hacking your way through a field of wild grass with nothing but a machete in your hand.

There was no map. Only the journey, and the courage to keep moving.
From that point on, every day became a test of creativity, perseverance, and quiet inner faith.

Some days were battles with self-doubt.

Other days were small, unexpected victories—a finished painting, a new idea, a moment of connection.
And because the path was so personal, so uniquely my own, I made an early promise to myself:
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I would record every part of the journey, not just the milestones.

That is why my website looks a little different from many others.
Instead of curating only the “best” highlights or summarizing my achievements into neat little packages, I chose to display them fully—certificates, exhibitions, articles, publications—without unnecessary filtering.

Each step matters.

Each attempt, each recognition, each small leap forward is a testament to persistence, love for the craft, and the reality of living an artistic life.

I hope that by sharing my full journey, I can offer something to those who stand today where I once stood--
to the aspiring artist searching for a light in the dark,
to the ones who love art so much that they are willing to endure the uncertainties,
to those who dream fiercely, even when the road ahead seems invisible.
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This is for you.
You are not alone.

​If you walk with heart, every path you carve becomes art itself