Flapper Doodle Illustrator, Blogtress Extraordinaire Kate Gabrielle.

1. Name / occupation / location:
Kate Gabrielle / Illustrator / New Jersey
2. How long have you been doing what you’re doing?
I’ve been selling my artwork since 2004 — I started off doing outdoor art shows, but in 2009 I started selling on etsy, and have done so exclusively for the last year or so.
3. What was your last ‘day’ job (or what is your current day job)?
My last day job was a student intern at the local Mayor’s office in high school! I’ve been doing the art thing full time since I left school.

Flapper Doodle illustration by Kate Gabrielle.

4. Favorite writer / artist / photographer?
Kurt Vonnegut / Rene Magritte / Diane Arbus
5. Who or what inspires you to create?
Classic movies, random ideas that pop into my head in the shower, music, my cats…
6. Describe your last DIY project:
This weekend I took an old bridesmaid dress (high collar, banded sleeves, super noisy taffeta lining) and turned it into something actually wearable :) It’s one of my favorite projects ever!

Flapper Doodle illustration by Kate Gabrielle.

7. Decade you wish you could visit?
For fashion I’d really love to visit the early 60′s, but lately I’ve been aching for the kind of quiet, slow-paced life that existed at the turn of the 20th century. I’d love to go back to a time before noisy cars and airplanes, the rat race and constant connection!
8. A place you’ve visited that was almost too beautiful to capture?
I haven’t traveled too much, but of the places I’ve been to, the mountains in Vermont were definitely the most beautiful!
9. Describe your pre-work ritual:
First comes the idea. Then things go one of two ways:
1- I hurry up and grab my pen/paper/ink/paint/canvas and execute my idea as fast as humanly possible. It’s usually accompanied by music or Turned Classic Movies.
2- I write down my idea and dwell about whether or not it’s worth executing for six or seven months before I decide to follow through. Then things proceed as they did in the 1st route.
10. Piece you created that is nearest and dearest to you:
I don’t think it’s my absolute best work, but it’s my favorite… My drawing “cozy” of a cat and her human standing in the window watching a snowstorm. It’s an ideal scene for me, and I think it’s one of the few instances where the idea in my head ended up exactly as I imagined it would when I put it on paper.

“Cozy” by Kate Gabrielle.

11. Something you care deeply about:
Animal rights and rescue. The rest of my family is sort of defensively carnivorous, so I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut about vegetarianism, and buying vegan clothing, but honestly I wish I could just shout it from the rooftops constantly. I feel like great strides have been made on wearing fur, but most people still consider leather to be an acceptable (if not admirable) luxury, when it’s obtained in just as gruesome a way as fur.
12. Current project you are working on:
My 2013 calendar for Flapper Doodle! I’m having a little rough time coming up with the 12 new drawings — I keep spending hours doodling away only to end up with an inadequate drawing that won’t be in the calendar. It’s coming along so slowly, I’m beginning to suspect it’ll take me until 2014 to finish!
13. Goal for the future:
I’m saving up to get a little studio condo in Princeton. It’s years away, but each day I wake up with that goal in mind, looking forward to my future. I can’t wait to walk outside my door and wander around my favorite town :)

Flapper Doodle illustration by Kate Gabrielle.

You can follow ALL of Miss Gabrielle’s creative endeavors; daily vintage-styled ensembles; and see more of her glamorous Flapper Doodles via: http://www.kategabrielle.com

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