From a Busy Kitchen to Café Sketches: Yeseul Kim’s Artistic Journey

Yeseul Kim never imagined she would become an illustrator. Growing up in Korea, she always loved drawing, but the thought of making a living from art felt like an impossible dream. 

Yeseul Kim | photo by Yeseul doc.

Financial concerns and the harsh reality of being an artist led her to take a different path—working in the culinary industry. Yet, no matter where life took her, one thing remained constant: the quiet urge to create.

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"I have struggled with depression since childhood," Yeseul shares. Working in restaurants didn’t ease that burden. 

She was always busy, always exhausted. But she still found time to draw, even if it was just a quick sketch on her way home.

One defining moment changed everything. Squeezed between strangers on a packed subway, she found herself sketching despite the lack of space or comfort. It was then that she realized: if she was willing to go to such lengths just to keep drawing, wasn’t this what she was meant to do?

She made the leap. Leaving behind the restaurant industry, she threw herself into illustration. But without a studio, she needed a space to work. 

Yeseul artwork

That’s when she found solace in cafés. "The owner never minded me staying for hours, and the music helped me focus," she recalls. 

"That was six years ago. That experience shaped my art and my love for coffee culture."

Capturing Café Culture Through Art

Korea’s coffee culture is more than just drinks—it’s a blend of aesthetics, warmth, and community. That’s what Yeseul strives to capture in her illustrations.

"When I draw a café, I focus on colors that convey its atmosphere. I often sketch on-site because I want to capture the feeling of being there," she explains. 

"And when I illustrate coffee, I pay special attention to its color, making sure it reflects the richness of the experience."

Her first coffee shop sketch was a simple one: a matcha latte and a slice of cake in a quiet Seoul café. "At the time, I didn’t know how to draw backgrounds," she laughs. "But I realized how much fun it was to illustrate food. It opened a new world for me."

Since then, her work has evolved, but her principles remain the same. She chooses to highlight small, independent cafés rather than large chains. 

"Big franchises don’t need extra promotion," she says. "But local cafés survive on community support. If my illustrations can help them gain recognition, that means everything to me."

Yeseul’s journey as an illustrator has taken her beyond Korea. Travel has become a source of inspiration, influencing her creative style. 

"When I visit a country, I absorb its culture and reflect it in my artwork. My recent illustrations of Japan, for example, incorporate manga-inspired storytelling."

Coffee, too, plays a deeper role in her life. "It’s more than just a drink—it’s something I want to explore beyond art. Just as colors bring vibrancy to my work, coffee has an incredible range of flavors and aromas. There’s always something new to discover."

When asked about her favorite coffee, she doesn’t hesitate. "I love pour-over coffee. I prefer pure, delicate flavors over heavy, sweet drinks. Korean-style cream coffee, with its thick layer of whipped cream, isn’t for me. I like to taste the coffee itself."

Building Connections Through Art

Beyond her personal illustrations, Yeseul has also collaborated with cafés, creating posters and postcards to help promote new menu items. 

"One café displayed my poster outside, and customers who ordered the new drinks received postcards of my artwork as a gift. It was rewarding to hear that my illustrations helped bring more people in."

Now, she’s working on one of her most ambitious projects yet: an interview book featuring long-standing café owners in Seoul, illustrated with her artwork. "These cafés have so many untold stories. I want to document them before they disappear."

Despite her deep love for cafés, she has no plans to open one herself. "People always ask me that!" she laughs. "But I know how tough it is to run a coffee shop. If I ever created a space, it would be more of a small studio where I can draw while surrounded by the aroma of coffee."

A Future Filled with Art and Exploration

As she continues to grow as an artist, Yeseul dreams of exploring more café cultures worldwide. "I’d love to visit Australia, where independent cafés thrive on strong community connections. That’s one of the reasons I’ve been studying English more seriously—so I can connect with more people and places."

Her journey—from a young girl sketching in a crowded subway to an artist whose work preserves and promotes café culture—is a testament to resilience and passion. "I just hope that when people see my illustrations, they feel a sense of nostalgia and a desire to visit these places. I want to capture the essence of cafés and help them thrive."

In the end, for Yeseul Kim, art and coffee are more than just subjects—they are the lights that guided her through the darkness, helping her find purpose, one illustration at a time. (hudes)