Carolyn Yoo is an artist, illustrator, and writer whose work feels like a heartfelt conversation - honest, reflective, and deeply personal. She brings her stories to life with rich analog textures, creating art that feels both intimate and universal. Beyond her visual work, Carolyn shares her thoughts and creative journey through SEE YOU, a weekly newsletter on creativity and self-discovery that feels like a warm note from a friend. At the heart of everything she does is a deep love for storytelling and creative exploration, offering thoughtful perspectives on identity, connection, and what it means to be human. - Eunice
BK: Carolyn, it’s such a pleasure to have you with us today! We would love to start with a little introduction from you. Could you share a brief glimpse into your background?
Carolyn: Of course, I’m so thrilled to be interviewed by Baum-kuchen! I love the intentional, analog BK lifestyle and am honored to be here.
I’m an artist, illustrator, and writer based in Brooklyn, New York. I’ve been writing all my life and started my visual art practice in earnest during the pandemic around 2021. Since then, I’ve made illustrations for magazines, web publications, and most recently a cookbook that my sister wrote which comes out in September! My art has also been exhibited in galleries in LA and NY. I also write a weekly newsletter on creativity and self-discovery, which has grown to over four thousand readers, and have recently expanded into teaching workshops and offering 1 on 1 creative advising.
BK: Last year you quit your day job as a software engineer of 9 years! What would you tell someone stuck in a similar crossroads of security versus following their passions?
Carolyn: I would first tell this person that it’s okay to be afraid! I’d been saving up to quit for several years and still when the time came, I dragged my feet and pushed out my quit date by another few months. It’s really scary to leave security when so much of the political and economic landscape is unknown, but I’m reminded of what someone told me—confidence only comes after you act, not before.
I also think of the number one regret of the dying, which is that they wish they'd had the courage to live an authentic life, not the life others expected of them. I quit because I knew I would deeply regret it if I didn’t. It surprises me to say this but even when I have recurring fears of instability and the unknown, I have never once regretted making that braver choice.
BK: Has your relationship with creativity transformed since quitting? What has been your most surprising discovery about yourself?
Carolyn: Working and responding quickly is valued in the tech world, and I was really good at it! It’s taken me a while to unlearn that preference for speed and efficiency. I’m still practicing not responding to emails right away or treating external requests as an emergency, trusting that I can set my own timelines and boundaries. Analog practice really helps with this slowing down, and it’s why I sought out creative practice in the first place—because it helps me be more in my body and be in tune with the slower pace of nature and humanity.
BK: We love the name of your newsletter, See You. Can you share the story behind it and what it means to you?
Carolyn: I started my newsletter five years ago as CYOO, which is an abbreviation of my name. I didn’t have big goals for the newsletter to start, only to show up regularly and share about my creative practice and connect with other creatives. As the newsletter started growing in the last two years, I realized that people didn’t know how to pronounce my newsletter name! So I decided to update the name to SEE YOU as an invitation for readers to observe and explore themselves through their creative practice.
BK: What initially sparked your interest in creating zines, and what led you to start teaching others how to make them? From your perspective, what makes zines unique compared to other artistic forms of expression?
Carolyn: My love for zines originates from my love for books! I love any and all publications that share a story and show something meaningful to the author. Zines appeal to me because they are so easy to create, publish, and distribute. I think a lot of people limit themselves and think they couldn’t possibly make a zine, but after taking a one hour workshop they’re pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to create a narrative out of paper. I love that zines are approachable and allow people to see themselves as creative. We all have something to say, and a zine is a beautiful format to share it.
BK: We absolutely adore your beautiful journals! Could you take us through a typical day using your analog systems? Do they serve as more of a creative outlet for you, or do they also have a functional purpose in your daily life?
Carolyn: Thank you! My analog notebooks are both for creativity and function, though I am constantly tweaking my systems. This year I dove deeply into the Traveler’s Notebook system after juggling several different notebooks of varying purposes for many years. I love the portability of the TN and that it can take paint and colored pencil pretty well without me feeling too precious about the result.
My current TN is the regular in Olive, and I use the plain refill as a catch all notebook, the weekly vertical refill for time logging, and the weekly horizontal refill for planning. I use the time log in the morning to draw a daily tarot card that I pull, and jot down what I do throughout the day. I refer to the planner at night to see if there are any tasks I need to add or move to the next day. And the plain refill I use whenever I feel like it, usually to keep a record of travel memories, jot down quotes from books as a commonplace journal, and to draw and write lists of whatever’s on my mind
BK: In an age of endless visual content, how did you develop an art style that feels authentic and uniquely yours? What advice would you give to others struggling to find their creative voice?
Carolyn: I’m still discovering my creative voice every day and I don’t think I will ever arrive! My spiritual practice of Buddhism and yoga have taught me that there is only suffering when we cling onto a defined self, and I’m reminded of this when I feel pressure to define my art style or find my voice once and for all. But of course, if one wants to interact with other people to sell or pitch their art as a creative person, it helps to have some definition of one’s art style.
I first encourage drawing in one’s journals freely using a variety of mediums and to draw from life as often as you can. Often our art style is the shortcuts we take and the mistakes we make, so finding a way to lean into those qualities can be helpful. I definitely can get very confused about my creative voice if I take in too much inspiration online, so clearing out the slate and only consuming art in mediums other than your own helps a lot too.
BK: We’ve all experienced those moments when creativity feels elusive. How do you break through those times, and are there any personal rituals that help you reconnect with your creative side?
Carolyn: When I feel creatively blocked, it’s a sign that I’m holding too tightly to a rigid, perfectionist definition of creativity. I like to return to my rituals of freeform journaling and drawing in my sketchbook in whatever way feels easy and playful. This could be only making line drawings in pen, or using chunky oil pastel. I also find it super helpful to make meta art about whatever is blocking me from making art! It’s very healing to be able to transmute emotions into art and unblock yourself in the process.
BK: If you were to turn this conversation into a zine, what would you title it?
Carolyn: Unoptimized by Design: A Love for Analog
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Where to find Carolyn:
Website: carolynyoo.com
Substack: SEE YOU
IG: @carolynyoo
Youtube: carolyn_yoo
Bk Artifacts Featured:
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[TRC] Traveler's Notebook // Olive
- [TRC] 003// Blank
- [TRC] 018 // Weekly Vertical
- [TRC] 019 // Weekly + Memo
- [MD Notebook] B6 Slim // Blank
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