Candy Work: Why I Draw to Share Joy
Some work feeds the body. Some feeds the heart. I make candy—not meals—and I’m here to share joy, one drawing at a time.
I think most jobs in the world fall into two categories: meals or sweets.
Meal work is the kind we can’t live without—essential for keeping society functioning, like banks, power companies, internet providers, and farmers.
Sweet work, on the other hand, isn’t necessary for survival, but it feeds the heart. Music, entertainment, and fashion—things that bring color and joy to life. I’ve come to realize that my illustration work falls into the sweets category.
And I truly believe life is more fulfilling with a little sweetness. I love being silly. I like finding fun and joy, playing with them, and helping that joy ripple out into the world. I gladly leave the “meal” jobs to those who do them best—I’ll keep baking joy instead.
Before I started The Artist’s Way last year, I was spending too much time soaking in news about political and ideological divides in the U.S. It left me feeling dark and heavy. But then I realized: if we all get the same limited time and energy, how we spend it—and what we surround ourselves with—can change everything. That’s when I decided: I want to be the kind of person who creates fun and shares it.
🎨 The Power of Illustration
Recently, an old friend commissioned a series of Charlie Yellow illustrations.
He’s an associate professor in information engineering, and he asked for visuals to use in his university lectures and academic presentations. Even the most complex, hard-to-grasp topics can feel more approachable when paired with my drawings. They help people understand faster—and sometimes, even smile.
No matter the context, I can dial the “silliness level” up or down to fit. And I realized—this is one way I can help bring light and color to the world. That thought honestly moved me.
Words divide, pictures unite.
These were the words of social scientist Otto Neurath—and I couldn’t agree more.
Illustrations can go beyond language to quickly convey meaning and emotion that words alone can’t quite reach.
This is what I believe I’m meant to do.
So I’ll keep drawing, and keep spreading joy—one picture at a time.