Welcome to the latest instalment of our 'Artist Talk' series where we interview artists and members from the AAP community. Today we are joined by Gabe, better known as G-Baby on IG and within our Discord server.

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Gabe, thanks for agreeing to chat with us. Could you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and your background?

"I got my start in art at a very young age with my aunt Nana encouraging me to draw and express myself through art as a child. She always gifted me art supplies and told me not to be afraid to experiment and try new things. While I’ve taken long breaks from art throughout the years as I explored other hobbies, it was when I joined the Artist Appreciation Project that art really became a focusing point in my life and a great source of daily inspiration."

What were some of your early creative inspirations that helped spark your passion for art and visual storytelling?

"The first time I really remember being fully captivated by artwork was when I discovered the Goosebumps book series and the art of Tim Jacobus. His book cover art is iconic and really made me want to draw, so I’d make up my own stories just based on his artwork. I remember sitting in my local library for hours trying to recreate his cover art with whatever supplies I had available to draw with. Another influence of mine as a child was all the cartoons I watched including Scooby Doo, The Simpsons, and Courage the Cowardly Dog."

As a lifelong fan of comics and cartoons, you recently had the opportunity to attend NYCC and also exhibit as a volunteer at the first AAP convention booth. What does it mean to you to be able to meet and interact directly with some of the creators you've long admired?

"It’s been so surreal and beyond anything I would have ever imagined! At NYCC I got to meet Tim Jacobus in person and thank him for the impact his art had on me. And at our AAP convention booth I got to meet several Magic the Gathering Artists including Phil Stone who I became friends with afterwards, and it was incredible to me how welcoming everyone in the TCG art community was and that Phil (who is incredibly talented) wanted us to trade signed cards.

 

So I have a card signed by him and I gave him an AAP card of one of my DMC winning artworks signed by me. While there, I also got the privilege of becoming buddies with voice actor Mark Britten who made my day by not only gifting me some signed Dragon Ball Z cards but also giving me his Convention Badge which he signed. I recommend everyone to attend a convention if you can and support your favorite artists and voice actors, it’s rewarding for everyone involved."

In what ways has meeting peers and professionals in the industry impacted not only your creative work but also your perspective on life?

"It inspires me each day, whenever I see these professionals working on new projects on social media or even just admiring my collection of signed artwork and cards. It reminds me of what we are all capable of as humans and how we can all connect with each other through sharing our talents such as art."

You're known to be an avid runner and have helped organize marathon events in the past. Does having an active lifestyle provide you with creative inspiration?

"Yes I believe so, when I lack inspiration or feel burnt out mentally, going for a run is a great reset for me to let go and just exist in the moment. Afterwards I feel so relaxed and some of my best ideas start to pop up in my mind. I think it’s important to switch things up, especially if you feel exhausted or overwhelmed to recharge or reconnect with yourself. For me that’s running but really any activity that makes you get active and be present in the moment is great to get your creative juices flowing when you eventually return to the making of art."

 

What initially drew you to our community and how would you say your involvement with the AAP has helped challenge and strengthen your skills as an artist?

"What first drew me to join AAP was when I saw the incredible artwork being made into cards for the winners of the Draw Monthly Challenge. It blew my mind that such a project existed with such pure intentions and such a supportive community. It instantly inspired me to participate and I dreamed of what it would mean to me to see my artwork on a card. I can’t even begin to capture the scope of how much my artwork and life overall has improved because of this group. The challenges and competition force me to grow and experiment and learn new techniques and technologies. And the incredible lifelong friendships I’ve made and the friends I’ve brought into the group have been so rewarding and inspiring for me as well.

 

It brings me joy each day to see what everyone is creating or working on and seeing others grow and find confidence in their art and skills is beautiful to see. My favorite way to unwind and relax after a long day is to just scroll through the channels on the AAP Discord and see what everyone is up to. This group truly has changed my life for the better not just as an artist but as a person, community is everything."

How would you describe your art style, and are there any recently completed pieces or works-in-progress that you've been especially proud of that you'd like to share with us?

"I would describe my art style as very cartoonish. I’m heavily influenced by animation and games of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. And a recent drawing that I’m very proud of is I drew a Xenomorph (Alien franchise) fighting Homer Simpson (The Simpsons cartoon) after joking around about the idea at work with my friends. It really made me happy because I’ve always wanted to draw a Xenomorph (tried and failed many times over the years) and also it signified a point in my art career where I feel like I can actually bring what I see in my mind to the world through art.

Another milestone art piece for me is when my art was selected as one of the winners for the Lost Love DMC Set. That marked the first time I ever won for a digital work of art. All my previous wins had been with traditional physical artwork and this year I’ve been pushing myself to learn and draw digitally and I’m proud of the progress I’ve been making."

What goals are you working towards in regards to the next step in your future creative endeavours?

"I had wrote a children’s book years ago and one day would like to illustrate it as well and get it published. I even got a United States Copyright for the original character “Prehistoric Pete”. With each advancement I make in practicing my digital art and improving my drawing skills, I feel like that dream becomes closer and closer. It’s one of those things that burns deep within my soul and I just need as an artist, to get it out there and into the world one day. I think that’s what can haunt us the most in life, the things we didn’t do, so I need to do this!"


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Thanks again to Gabe for sharing his story with us. Be sure to keep an eye out for more features in our 'Artist Talk' series.