Artist & Illustrator Gabrielle Rogers shares with us an insight in to the beauty of her illustration work, and the lessons that she has learned while being an aspiring artist:

ymib.com: What was the inspirations behind wanting to pursue a career in Illustration & Fine Arts, and where did you decide to study?

Gabby: I always wanted to be an artist. I thought I wanted to be a famous painter when I was young but then I realized that painters don't usually become famous until after they die (often penniless). Then as a teenager I became interested in fashion. I thought wanted to design women's formal wear but it turns out I enjoyed drawing my ideas more than actually sewing them. I received a partial scholarship to the Savannah College of Art & Design for completing a summer program before my junior year in high school. I visited the campus which was located about four hours from my town in Georgia. Once I saw the beautiful squares and pristine historic setting, I knew I had found my college. Strangely enough, I returned to fashion after college when I began making women's one of a kind accessories for my company, Gift of Gabby. Everything comes full circle.

ymib.com: What are the biggest challenges with being an Artist, and how do you overcome them?

Gabby: My biggest challenge as an artist is to find inspiration so I can continue to create and inspire others. Being an artist is easy compared to supporting myself as an artist. Making a career for myself is harder than I ever imagined. That diploma is just a piece of paper if you aren't resourceful and determined. No one just gives you a job because you have a degree. I stay positive my telling myself that I am "paying my dues" now, success is inevitable if I stay focused.

ymib.com: You are working on a children's book for interracial children called " Somewhere in Between", and have done several other illustrations for children. Are there any beautifully illustrated children's books out there that you would recommend to mothers of color or that inspires your work?

Gabby: Lee & Low Books specializes in publishing books for a multi-cultural audience. I really admire the style of my former professor who writes and illustrates as Violet Lemay.

ymib.com: What tips would you give to someone who wants to pursue and market their illustrations or artwork to publishers?

Gabby: Get an agent! Let someone else do the business so you can focus on the art itself. It's easier said than done. One needs to research the agent to find a good fit. They usually specialize in representing a certain kind of artist.

ymib.com: What mediums do you most often use within your pieces?

Gabby: Watercolor is my favorite medium. When I want to switch it up I use acrylics to get tactile textures. Then with my company, I get to use so many textures and experiment with fabric and embellishments.

ymib.com: How do you come up with the personality and imagery of your characters?

Gabby: I don't have a formula. I usually try to exaggerate a feature (like the oval eyes that a positioned partially off the face of my characters from "Somewhere in Between"). I started this in college. It's important to find a "signature" style that sets you apart from other artists.

ymib.com: What inspires your artwork the most and what things in life keep you focused and inspired to continue being an artist?

Gabby: My work is inspired by my life. I draw from my memories from childhood, stories passed from my elders, things I see... I make mental notes all the time. My family and friends have always been supportive. They keep encouraging me to try to get my children's book published because I have let it rest for about two years now. It is such a personal subject for me so when it didn't get the immediate response and approval I expected, I got discouraged. I am considering self publishing because I believe in it so much and my supporters won't let me give up on it.

ymib.com: What has been your most memorable project while being an artist & why?

Gabby: Definitely my book "Somewhere in Between." It's a sweet picture book with a biracial main character. It celebrates being different. As a mixed race child, I didn't have books that I could relate to like this. I think it is necessary in present times as racial lines are becoming blurred.

ymib.com: How would you like to see your art career grow and how do you want to use your artwork as inspiration for our communities?

Gabby: When my book gets published, I will have accomplished something big. That is a major goal. I am also in the process of opening an artist collective in Bridgeport, CT. The city has been severely neglected in recent years and with the opening of the artist community in which I live, there is great potential. I want to provide an opportunity for local artists to gets their creations to the public. It will be a place for meeting and learning through classes and presentations from the various artists in the collective.