Daily Inspiration: Meet Tabitha “Tabs” Wekerle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tabitha “Tabs” Wekerle.

Hi Tabitha “Tabs”, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was practically raised on animated movies and TV shows. I sat in front of the television for hours at night watching VHS tapes of movies like The Lion King, Aladdin, and Hercules. During the day, I’d watch shows like Spongebob, Rugrats, and Bear in the Big Blue House. This is a habit that most people usually fall out of as they grow up, but I wasn’t one of those people. In middle & high school, I’d come home to watch shows like Gravity Falls and Steven Universe and spend my free time making fanart for those shows.

It was never a question of what I wanted to do when I grew up. As soon as I was old enough to understand that there were people behind these movies & shows that I loved so much, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Cartoons got me through the roughest situations growing up and inspired me to keep pushing forward, regardless of how hard things got. I could escape into these cartoon realities and pretend I was there, too. I want to do the same thing for the next generation: to inspire them to keep pushing forward, regardless of their challenges.

I never gave up on that dream. I pursued Graphic Design and animation at a technical/magnet high school in Las Vegas and started focusing on art as a real career path. I did a project on CalArts in my freshman year of high school, and since then, every day, I thought about applying. My school didn’t have much support for this career path, as it was geared towards more STEM-focused careers. Despite that, I pushed forward.

We didn’t have any figure drawing classes. There wasn’t a 2D animation course. I didn’t know anything about storyboarding. So, when May 2020 rolled around, I got an email that it was time to apply to CalArts. I had nothing prepared, and I panicked. I had only thought about applying for years but had nothing to show. Because of that, for six months, I did nothing but draw. I tried learning figure drawing online, learned about all the different career paths in the animation industry, and did everything I could to craft the perfect CalArts portfolio. I really did learn how to draw professionally in about six months.

Surprisingly, I was accepted into the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City for their Animation program. That decision came out months before CalArts, and I was preparing to go there. I was at the doctor’s office getting papers signed for SVA when the decision letter for CalArts came out. I’ve never cried harder than opening that letter in that parking lot.

I’m still blown away that I got accepted to CalArts on my first try. The odds were completely stacked against me, yet I somehow made it.

I’m in my third year at CalArts, and I’ve had experiences I couldn’t imagine before attending. I’ve changed completely as a person. I’ve met the showrunners for Gravity Falls and Steven Universe, and I’ve started to imagine becoming a showrunner myself. I’ve met so many amazing people, both teachers and students, and I am beyond grateful for the experience I’ve had here.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been a tough journey, for sure. I faced a multitude of problems throughout my life, including bullying, family struggles, and just feeling alone in the world at times. I had days where I would completely shut down and nearly give up on my dreams.

Making that portfolio during the pandemic was the lowest point I’ve ever been at. I had gotten so completely attached to CalArts that I couldn’t imagine a reality where I wouldn’t get in. Thinking about getting rejected would rip me apart to such an intense degree I would find it hard to get out of bed to get back to work.

I had (and still struggle with) such severe mental health issues that were roadblocks throughout this journey. My anxiety was so debilitating; I was always so insecure about my work, and I just felt so unconfident in myself. It created a real struggle throughout my schooling and the application process.

Sometimes, I look back and wonder how I overcame my toughest moments. I feel incredibly proud of myself and think I could make it through anything now. That’s the kind of message I want to convey to the next generation with my work. I believe anyone can make it through anything if they keep pushing forward. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a storyboard artist, character designer, comic artist, animator, voice actress, recruiter, director, and producer. Talk about multi-faceted!

I specialize in storyboards, however, and I strive to become a showrunner in the future. I’m most known for making slice-of-life comics on Instagram and for my 2nd-year short film, “Lump The Frog.”

I would say I’m most proud of my 2nd-year film at CalArts. Taking everything I had learned throughout my life and my education at CalArts, I made a short film that’s funny and charming and tells a story I’ve been trying to tell for most of my life. Every time I show the film to someone, they laugh, and that’s what I create art for.

My slice-of-life comics on Instagram are sometimes a bit vulnerable, and I tend to share personal bits of my life in these comics. We’re still in a stage where many people don’t feel comfortable sharing the most emotional parts of themselves online, and that’s completely understandable. I try to share the things that I feel most insecure about so that other people might be able to relate and know that they’re not alone. So far, I think I’ve been very successful in that. It brightens up my day when I get a comment about how someone’s “never felt so seen before” or how they “thought they were the only one that felt that way” about a certain subject.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Always remember that you’re not ever alone in your journey. Whatever you want in life, you will get there; don’t give up. Keep making people smile, brightening someone’s day, and spreading kindness! I believe in you!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tabsers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabsersart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabs-wekerle-730528233/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/tabsers