A woman sitting at a desk surrounded by art supplies with colorful artwork and decorations on the wall behind her.
A blank, slightly crumpled sheet of light beige or tan paper with a ripped edge on the right side.

Hi, I’m Carolyn!

I’m an artist, writer, and notebook lover exploring what it means to live a devoted creative life.

subscribe to weekly newsletter
ink splatters

I explore creativity as a tool for self-understanding, and how we come to know ourselves through making.

Empty cream-colored textured paper background.
Carolyn Yoo holding an illustrated sketchbook open to drawings of books and winter outfits.

Finding my way to art

While working in tech as a software engineer for nearly a decade, my days were often spent tethered to my laptop, anxiously cycling through tabs and quickly replying to notifications and emails.

While I was rewarded for vigilance and quick responses, the pace left little room for slowness or reflection. I turned to my journals to write and draw as a way to slow down and explore the true nature of living, where we don't have immediate answers for everything.

I began my art career in 2022 as a freelance illustrator. Now I write, make art, and help others build sustainable creative practices. I believe we all deserve a creative life that is rooted in ourselves and makes us feel alive, one that can exist alongside other parts of our lives.

  • Carolyn Yoo writing in her notebook, captured during her creative process.
  • Carolyn Yoo holding a mirror outdoors, reflecting her face among flowers and greenery.
  • Stack of Carolyn Yoo’s sketchbooks on a windowsill beside framed art and houseplants.
  • Carolyn Yoo standing in a gallery space with her framed artwork displayed on the wall behind her.
  • Carolyn Yoo holding an illustrated sketchbook open to character studies in sunlight.
  • Carolyn Yoo sitting on a large rock outdoors, sketching in her notebook during a hike.
Carolyn Yoo sitting in sunlight by a wooden door, writing in her notebook.
Torn paper

Supporting your creative practice

A large part of my work is helping other humans explore their own creative practice with less pressure and more curiosity. Through writing SEE YOU, teaching workshops, and publishing zines, I share what I have learned about staying connected to creativity while moving through various seasons of life.

I focus on:

  • using simple systems that remove friction

  • sharing archetypal frameworks for holistic integration

  • creating with flexible limitations instead of chasing perfection

  • finding momentum through gentle structure guided by the natural world

Subscribe to SEE YOU
Carolyn standing behind a table at an art or craft booth, smiling and waving. The table displays various colorful cards and stationery items.

Selected projects & collaborations

Clients:

Honest History, Girls' Night In, Yooeating for Knopf, SuperHi, CAFÉ ANNE, The Hanok Review

Exhibitions:

  • "Follow the Universe" Group Exhibition - WOW x WOW, Online (2025) 

  • "Red Envelope Show" Group Exhibition - Harman Projects, New York, NY (2025)

  • "Savored Connections" Group Exhibition - Hana Makgeolli, Brooklyn, NY (2024)

  • "Red Envelope Show" Group Exhibition - Harman Projects, New York, NY (2024)

  • "Han" Group Exhibition - Culture House, Washington, D.C. (2023)

  • "Faith, Hopes, and Dreams" Group Exhibition - Realm, Los Angeles, CA (2022)

  • "Summer Illustration Residency" Group Exhibition - SVA Flatiron Gallery, New York, NY (2022)

  • "With Care" Group Exhibition - Textile Art Center, Brooklyn, NY (2021)

Awards:

RoomFifty Young Upstart Competition Top 10 Finalist (2022)

Residencies: 

  • Milkwood Author-Illustrators Workshop, Catskills, NY (2023)

  • Residency in Illustration, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY (2022)

Press: 

Contact Me
Back of a white paper envelope with a sealed flap.

Hear from me weekly

Join 6,000+ readers in getting practical guidance and inspiration for a devoted creative life.

Join the SEE YOU Community
Paper texture

Want less frequent updates tailored to you?

Sign Up to hear about future offerings