I had this weird hope that when I became a ✨published artist✨, things would start making sense. I thought my hair would start falling perfectly and I’d magically start to like having my photo taken. But my book birthday came and went I found and I was a bit disappointed to find I was the exact same person I was the day before.
If I’ve learned anything from Serendipity though, it’s that there’s magic in showing up. I might not be the dream artist I was hoping I’d be one day, but I wrote and illustrated an entire graphic novel. I’m REALLY proud of it. If you have a young reader in your life who you feel might enjoy it, I’d love for you to pick it up. (Might I suggest your favorite local indie bookstore?) For every part I wish I had done differently, there are 5 parts I wouldn’t change for the world. I really hope Serendipity and her little world become as special to you as they have been to me these past four years 🩷
I’d like to thank my phenomenal agent, @ladygoofus . If the would ever starts hiring real life superheroes she’d be my first nomination. Another huge thank you to my fabulous editors Della and Mary, my amazing designer @chrisrussodraws , and the rest of the superstar team @holidayhousepeachtree who have treated me like a princess these past few years. You all have made the perfect home for my story. I’d also like to thank my husband, my mom, and my amazing friends for keeping me sane these past few years. You all have put up with so much comics babbling it’s frankly amazing you still let me into your houses.
My last thank you would be to my younger self, that crazy, delusional kid who had a fire for comics. Even when I had given up on my dreams and tried to have a ‘normal’ job, she screamed so loud I couldn’t focus on anything else. We’re already collaborating on our next ten projects, and I hope I’ll be able to share another with you soon 🩷
Happy late book birthday, Serendipity!! 😭😭🍀🥳🎉🎉🎊👯♀️🍀🍀👁️👄👁️🙄✨✨🩷😭
🎈🎊 Happy book birthday to A FAMILY OF READERS! 🎊🎈
So humbled and intensely joyful that this beautiful story is my very first published project ever! In a world of book bans and targeted attacks on libraries, arts, humanity, and learning A Family of Readers celebrates libraries across the country and the amazing community space they offer us ALL.
To the most amazing and special author @robsanderswrites , @erhartscribbles , and the rest of the wonderful team @charlesbridgepublishing - thank you so much for your trust in my work. It truly means the world to me and I couldn’t be happier with what we created together!!!! To my local librarians (and librarians across the country!) thank you so much for everything you do, seen and unseen. It’s a special thing to walk into a library and feel the sense of belonging and acceptance you offer us. Your work is always important, but it feels especially so these days. ❤️🩹
A Family of Readers is now available wherever you like to find your next read! 🩷📚🥳🎊
April🌿
Just posted a big (and totally free!) newsletter on Patre0n chatting about all the craziness of this past month, plus some really fun updates for May 🌝
#artist #sketchbook #painting #printmaking
I’m turning 28 on the 28th!! I only feel a little old 🥹 I had an amazing weekend, starting off in the studio fiddling with some new riso prints, then headed to senior expo to cheer on my amazing senior commarts students. Sunday I got to go to the Richmond Earth Day festival and grab one of the posters I designed. On Monday I closed out my last semester of teaching for a while by sitting in the park with my amazing students and a bunch of sketchbooks. I really don’t think I could have asked for a better send off to 27. I’m feeling very loved, and I’m so honored to have so many amazing people in my life to grow with ❤️
It’s crazy to think that this time ten years ago, I had no idea where my life would take me. I had this crazy dream of being an artist, but absolutely no idea how to get there. I wish I could go back and give 18 year old Gabbie the biggest hug, and thank her for being so brave and stubborn. It’s been a long road, but I’m truly humbled by this life, and the fact I get to do this professionally. If I could tell my past self all the amazing things we’ve accomplished I don’t think she’d believe me. 🩷
Spring always feels like a time of change, and the time around my birthday always seems to fly by. This year is certainly no exception, as I’m looking at a lot of ends and beginnings coming for 2026. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the way life looks right now, but I also can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for me. I have so many cool projects tucked up my sleeve already that I can’t wait to share! 28, here I come!
I had a really fun start to my birthday weekend printing these sweet little slug prints for April Patre0n! I went super indulgent by reviving one of my favorite sketchbook doodles and turning it into this riso print! I’m really happy with how it came out :)
If you’re interested in grabbing this one, it’s a part of my new snail mail club! I’ll be creating and sending out a new riso print to all my snail mail members every single month, starting with this cutie. I also post lots of newsletters and behind the scenes stuff there, which is available for free! It’d really mean the world to me if you checked it out 🐌💌
#artistsofinstagram #risographprinting #slug
Happy Earth Day! Thank you so much to this beautiful planet for everything we have. We are quite literally nothing without it❤️ I only hope that we move towards treating our planet better, and being the stewards that our earth deserves.
Also- a very happy birthday to my granny Estelle, who I always end up thinking about in April. I hope that things are blooming where ever you are 💕
Is this my audition to be an asmr account? I will not be getting a callback
So happy with this poster! If you’re local you should definitely come out to the Earth Day Festival!! 2 days of all the good stuff our amazing little planet has to offer 🥹🌎❤️
Huge thanks to @studiotwothree and RVA Big Market for all the trust on this one!!!
#earthday #risograph #illustration #printmakersofinstagram #riso
This book has been such a big part of my life. Everyday, I would sit down at my desk and focus on one tiny portion of the project. Just sketches, just lines, just color. While I was in the middle, it felt like I might never finish! As I worked, I would take screenshots of little moments in the book that made me smile.
And now, the book is real and I can hardly believe it. All those little moments, all the days spent drawing the smallest details are now out on the shelves, available for anyone to read. Creating comics can be a really lonely experience, but the reward of sharing what I love with the world is the sweetest reward I could ever ask for. <3
That’s all I have for my takeover today! I really hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me and Serendipty. I would LOVE for you to pick up a copy and give it a read. Thanks so much to Holiday House for hosting me, and thank you for reading!
#kidlitart #illustration #graphicnovel #serendipity
I thought it would be fun to share a bit of my cover design process! I know people say not to judge a book by its cover, but I would be lying if I said designing covers didn’t make me nervous. I ended up finding it a really fun process though! It was neat to get to share my cover art with the rest of the team at Holiday House. Everyone had great perspectives and advice, and it was fun to take all the directions and put it into one concept. After a few sketches, we finally landed on one we were all in love with! After that the rest was easy- refining sketches, color planning, lineart and final colors were a breeze! In the end, I don’t think I could be happier with what we ended up with. Our final cover definitely feels Serendipity approved. :) Swipe all the way to the end to see some of the rejected (but still fun!) cover sketches I worked on.
#art #graphicnovel #serendipity #kidlitart #kidlitartist
I started working on Serendipity in 2022, and while I don’t think anyone is really prepared to work on a 200+ page book for the first time, I was /really/ unprepared. I very quickly had to streamline my workflow, and figure out how to work as efficiently as possible.
One of my favorite parts of the book is seeing how comfortable I became drawing all the characters. I’m not sure if other people would notice, but I can see Serendipity and Basil get cleaner, using less lines and less second guessing from my art over the course of the book. This clip is from halfway through the book, and I can see such a difference in my confidence compared to when I started!
#illustration #comics #graphicnovel #serendipity
Hello! My name is Gabbie and I’m so excited to be doing an ig takeover with @holidayhousepeachtree today! I’m going to be sharing a little bit about the process of making my new book, SERENDIPITY!
But first, a little bit about me!
Like I said, my name is Gabbie and I’m an illustrator, graphic novelist, and printmaker based in Richmond Virginia. When I’m not making graphic novels, you’ll probably find me making some other piece of art! I especially love risograph printing and screenprinting. I also absolutely love drawing in my sketchbook, creating anything from silly doodles to life drawings of the world around me. During the rare times I’m not making art, you might find me playing sports, knitting, taking long walks or spending time with my two cats, Cleo and Flea.
#art #graphicnovel #comics #illustration #serendipity
