Meet Gabrielle Fludd | Visual Artist and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabrielle Fludd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabrielle, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I come from a creative family. My father and his siblings can all draw and their sister, Marcella Welch, was a well-known dollmaker and artist. I didn’t see my grandmother’s art until she was in her 80’s. I had no idea she had a talent for drawing too. My mother loves art and her mother was a writer and knew artists so she was always supportive of my interest in art. So I only envisioned creative careers for myself when I grew up. It was just a matter of deciding what field to enter. I received a partial scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design from completing the GA Governor’s Honors Summer Program.  It was the only college I applied to and when my mom encouraged me to apply to other colleges as a backup, I replied, “I don’t want to go anywhere else.

I’ve always enjoyed drawing. I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer but when I got to college, I realized I just liked to draw women IN clothing and had no interest in constructing garments so I chose Illustration as my major. At SCAD, we were required to take digital courses to learn Adobe Creative Suite and those skills have been invaluable. It’s a vast industry and I like that I can work in a range of styles depending on the client. I usually juggle a few freelance projects at a time: children’s book illustrations, logo design, layout artist, digital renderings, etc.

I am inspired by nature, music and life experiences. I can get an idea and I won’t be able to get it off my mind until I at least sketch it. Once it’s on paper, it make take months or years to move to an actual piece of art. Or sometimes I just feel compelled to explore with art supplies without a plan. I will doodle or begin collaging with different materials and see what develops. I can’t see myself doing anything else, it’s just in my DNA.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a young artist I tried to mimic the art styles of people that were finding success. I made decent art but it was forced and never felt authentic. In 2010, I started a retail business and took a hiatus from art as a career. In 2015, I started a part time job teaching painting classes and realized how much I missed painting. While at that job, I found a new passion for teaching art. That job led to a job teaching for a non-profit. When the pandemic hit, I decided to close my business and that left me with plenty of time and no excuses to not make art. I spent the first months of the quarantine making art. In the summer of 2020, I found a Facebook group of aspiring authors looking to self-publish and shared that I was a graphic designer and illustrator and I have been busy ever since! I am in the process of finishing the 8th and 9th children’s books that I have illustrated. My next goal is to publish a book that I have written AND illustrated.

Having a creative career can be challenging. I think the most important lesson I have learned is that everyone is not my client. I spend a lot of time vetting my clients now – especially for book illustrations. The book illustration process can take about 6 months up to a year and it’s important to know if we will gel as a team. So, I ask lots of questions to potential clients and make sure they know what to expect from me. I require a paid test page before committing to the full project. That’s a good way for me to gage if the client and I are a good fit.

The other thing that I have learned is how to be comfortable talking about what I do more often. You never know who could be in the grocery store line or elevator with you. It’s important to have a business card or be ready to share social media and my website with a potential client. Even if the person I am speaking with isn’t in need of my services, they likely know someone who does. Networking is key!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend and I were in Miami, I would definitely take them to the Wynwood Arts District. I could look at the murals and wander in the galleries all day! There are great restaurants and nightlife too. Also, I love being near water so the beach is a must.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am who I am because of my family! My parents have always encouraged me, made sure I had art supplies, and helped me pay for college. I was confident because I knew I had their support. Now that I have my own family, they make it possible for me to have a creative career. My husband works hard so I can have an unpredictable workload and be there for our children. My kids adjust when I have to work long hours to complete a project and we are always making memories together when I’m not working. It’s important for me to show my kids that they can pursue their dream job if they are dedicated and passionate.

Website: https://giftofgabby.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftofgabbyllc/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gfludd/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiftOfGabbyLLC/