Orange Tootsie Pop No. 3 | Original Pop-Realism Drawing by Mike Pitzer

A piece of candy can seem like the smallest possible subject for a large drawing.

But that’s exactly why it matters.

American childhood was full of inexpensive pleasures that seemed ordinary at the time: candy from the corner store, a nickel spent exactly the way you wanted, and the satisfaction of having chosen it yourself.

The Tootsie Pop becomes a visual doorway into those experiences. What looks like candy becomes a memory of choice, independence, and uncomplicated happiness.

From the Artist:

This drawing came from the same little piece of candy I'd already explored more than once.

You'd think I'd be finished with it. Apparently not.

Every time I enlarge one of these objects, I notice something different—the twisted wrapper, folds, lettering, reflections and all those imperfections we'd normally tear through without a second thought.

But what keeps me interested isn't really the wrapper. It's watching someone recognize it. And almost immediately start declaring which flavor was their favorite.

I can tell you this, based on drawing these things, I’m one of the few people who actually liked Chocolate Tootsie Pops.