Interview It's A Woman's World Artist Coffee Shop cafe Instagram Interview It's A Woman's World: Halim Kim of Pen & Wander Andrew Dominick October 07, 2026 Did you ever wonder what that person across from you in a café is working on, writing in their journal, or, in some instances, what they’re doodling? In the case of Halim Kim and her Instagram account, @penandwander.ct, she’s doing just that, giving us a peek at her sketchbook. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, Kim’s account debuted in May of 2026, and she’s already approaching 10,000 follows for her drawings of coffees, pastry, café scenes, and the like. But what Pen & Wander is in addition to a glance at her art, is a glance into her soul, being open about feeling lost at times in various parts of her life and what picking up a pen and a sketchbook meant to her, did for her, and continues to do for her on her path to self rediscovery.I remember seeing her account around its inception, and thought, “Wow. That’s real. That’s open and honest. And she’s really talented.” It’s sincerely my honor to give all of you a glimpse of the person behind Pen & Wander, Halim Kim. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Halim · Illustrator (@penandwander.ct) How did you first discover your love of and talent for art? Honestly, drawing has been with me longer than almost anything else in my life. It's just something I always came back to, even when everything else around me was changing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Halim · Illustrator (@penandwander.ct) What made you get into motion graphics? And take us on your career journey? I graduated from the School of Visual Arts, where I explored a bit of everything; oil painting, advertising, graphic design, branding, and motion graphics. I always loved traditional drawing and animation, but I wanted to approach it from a design perspective, so motion graphics became my final major. It was genuinely fun, and I got to work with brands like Google, HBO, McDonald's, 7UP, and JetBlue, real dream-job stuff at the time.But life shifted. A visa rejection, getting married, having kids, and somewhere in there, technology and AI started changing the process in ways I didn't enjoy anymore. Slowly, I realized what I actually missed was drawing with my own two hands. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Halim · Illustrator (@penandwander.ct) I first came across your page when some of my favorite bakeries and coffee shops started sharing your art. This is three questions in one because I know there’s a deeper meaning here than the artistic aspect: Explain what you were feeling that made you decide that sketching at cafes was something you needed. What made you choose those types of places in the first place? And what have you felt since embarking on this journey? I've always felt like I exist in-between things, between cultures, cities, and versions of myself. Sketching in cafés became a way to root myself in a place while I was figuring that out. I chose cafés specifically because they're small, human-scale worlds, people reading, working, talking, and there's something grounding about capturing that stillness. Since starting this journey, I've felt more like myself than I have in years. It became less about the art and more about reconnecting, with my community, with my creativity, and honestly with who I am outside of being a mom. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Halim · Illustrator (@penandwander.ct) Because this is CTbites and there is a food/drink connection, we’re putting you on the spot! Toss us a few of your favorite spots that you’ve sketched at and tell us why! Two stand out for very different reasons. The first is Zen Cha Matcha. I'm a matcha lover, and it's genuinely the best matcha spot in CT, so it felt like the perfect place to kick off my 30-day challenge. I posted my Day 1 reel there, and I remember that nervous, excited feeling so clearly. I put it out there and honestly, almost nobody noticed at first. But then Zen Cha Matcha found the post, accepted a collab, and encouraged me to keep going. That moment mattered more than they probably realized.The second is the Norwalk Art Space Cafe, where I posted my Day 30 reel to close out the challenge. What makes that one especially meaningful is that Pen & Wander actually started from a rejection at Norwalk Art Space, so ending the challenge there, in the same place that once said no, felt like a real full-circle moment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Halim · Illustrator (@penandwander.ct) Let’s talk about the future! Will Pen & Wander have a website? Can we contact you for commissions or prints? What else is coming up for you? The people want to know! Right now, everything lives on Instagram, that's the best way to reach me for commissions, or just to follow along with new work. A website is something I'd love to build out down the line.My ultimate goal for Pen & Wander is to build a community where people feel seen, and where we can give something positive back to each other. I want to connect with more local places, keep taking on commissions, and eventually explore prints too, so my work can exist in person, not just on a screen, and create even more chances to connect with people.Pen & Wander started as a way to find my way back to myself, and I really feel like I have. What's meant the most to me is hearing from people who've watched my story, my drawings, and told me it resonated with them, that it gave them a little courage to do something of their own. Those moments have meant everything.I want to keep sharing my story and my thoughts through my drawings, and I want to hear yours too.Keep following Halim’s journey on IG @penandwander.ct
