Explore the evolution of the story of Jane Candy, from a 2008 character sketch to a beloved icon of pin-up, goth, and anime inspired art.
Discover the universe, and my journey with this project.
The very beginning
Jane “arrived” on September 15th, 2008, right after I stumbled through my first year in Art School, a year in Bucharest, and a wild cocktail of life chaos. Think health scares, family heartbreak, and money just… evaporating.
So, I dreamed up the version of me I wished existed – confident, outspoken, fearless, dripping in self-love. She was the light I built when my world felt dark.
I basically drew my best friend, therapist, hype girl, and — let’s be honest — my dream woman, all rolled into one.
Every sketch pulled me a little further out of depression, social anxiety, and anorexia. It was like borrowing her courage until I could grow my own.
The more I drew her, the braver I felt.
Moving to a new city
Two years later, I packed my bags, moved back to Bucharest, and went all in on a design career.
A few projects in, l landed my first real design job – and my confidence shot through the roof. Whenever I got stuck, l’d ask myself: “What would Jane do?” All these years later, that question still saves me.
At first, Jane only popped up on my personal Facebook feed, but my partner convinced me she deserved her own page.
Turns out, her mix of self-love, courage, and ambition wasn’t just for me — people connected with her instantly. At some point, Jane stopped feeling like “a character” and started feeling like… her.
Her own mood, her own energy, her own heartbeat.
She became my hero, my wingwoman, my ride-or-die. If I couldn’t stand up for myself, Jane would do it for me. She became our girl, a safe space for anyone who needed a pep talk or a shoulder to lean on. That’s when I realised just how many of us are craving a friend like Jane.
Finding my tribe
In 2012, Jane found her first publishing home with Revista Comics, thanks to Octav Ungureanu (Smoking Cool Cat) who champions Romanian artists without publishers or ways of promoting.
From then on, we were everywhere: Bucharest Comics Fest, Comics events all over RO (Sibiu, Constanta, Cluj, MNAC), Free Comic Book Day, Street Delivery, East European Comic Con… you name it, we joined.
These events weren’t just “set up your table and sell your art.” They were where we shared skills, swapped stories, taught each other, and built a creative family.
It’s rare to find artists rooting for each other instead of competing, but that’s exactly what happened. We laughed, we learned, we grew together.
Each event was a new adventure and another way for Jane to meet her people.
Jane’s unplanned break
Then came 2017, and it hit like a freight train. My health went into full sabotage mode unexpectedly.
Jane had to wait while I fought my way through a year and a half of treatment and a thousand tiny battles. I couldn’t draw her, but I could still hear her voice in my head, telling me to get back up.
What’s ahead
In 2021, I finally listened. I picked up my pen for Inktober, one drawing at a time, and asked myself again: “What would Jane do?”
Somehow, in the middle of it all, I graduated with a Design BA with Honours — the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the one I’m most proud of.
Now Jane’s back, and she’s ready for a brand-new chapter. The only question is …
Are you coming with us?
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