Balloon Artist with Autism Creates Special Pieces to Thank Essential Workers

Eddie Lin showing his appreciation to the essential workers.

People all over the world have been thanking the workers that have been working non-stop during this coronavirus pandemic, by creating fundraisers, donations, delivering food, writing them letters, etc. But, Eddie Lin, a 22 years-old young man with autism from New Jersey, has been showing his appreciation to the workers in his own special way; with balloons art. 

He’s been creating balloon pieces for the grocery store workers, postal mail carriers, and other essential workers as a ‘thank you’ for their hard work and commitment. This all began when Lin sent to the manager of a local supermarket, who is the mother of one of his friends, a balloon-grocery shopping cart. ‘This nice gesture was very much appreciated, which made Lin send out more to the other workers’, says Brianna Kudisch from  Nj.com.

He was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old, and Lin being a visual learner started watching tutorials on YouTube on how to make the pieces. ‘He’s been creating balloon art since he was 10 years old, says Lin’s mom, Jenny Lin, to Nj.com.  

In 2014 Eddie Lin started taking balloon art classes as a hobby, but then became his part-time job. Because of his balloon art, which was like a therapy for him, his parents saw the amazing and positive effect it had on him. His parents even solicited the help of some professional balloon artists from Taiwan, from whom Lin learned all his tricks and skills of the art. He initially refused to make changes to his designs from his customers request, but now, he has become more flexible with the orders and trying to be more business oriented. 

“That’s when I realized that he’s at a point in his life where he’s able to adapt. Before he would just make stuff to give to his doctors or therapist. People were stunned with his talent, but we didn’t make anything out of it”, says Lin’s mom to Nj.com.

Thanks to his art lessons, Lin is actually a professional artist who sometimes takes orders for parties and other social gatherings. He has a business called Ausome Balloon Creator, which is looked after his sister, mom, and dad. His sister helps with the marketing and social media feature; his dad makes all the deliveries for large orders; and his mom is his main partner. “Balloons can bring people happiness and joy,” says Lin’s mom to Nj.com.

Lin also works part-time at a library and volunteers at a school, but since they are both closed because of COVID-19, he’s been using this time to focus on his balloon art.  

Lin also met Steven Jones, the famous Seattle-based balloon artist and owner of Balloon Designers. He was his guest at a convention in Missouri in 2019 and 2020 and besides that amazing invitation, and also received a scholarship. “Jones was very kind and always giving support and guidance to Eddie. He saw him on the internet and took an interest in him and we’re very thankful for that opportunity” says Lin’s mom to Nj.com.

Recently, Lin participated in One Million Bubbles of Hope, an initiative started by Jones, the balloon artist in Seattle. The project was created for members of the professional balloon industry so they could share their talents, by reminding people of hope and kindness because of everything happening with the coronavirus.