Rising Stars: Meet Gabrielle de Fontanes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle de Fontanes.

Hi Gabrielle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Being creative has always been important to my growth and how I navigate in life. I remember always getting extremely into my assignments in grade school, from drawing elaborate maps and illustrations to filming extravagant video productions for science and English class. My dad would help on these projects and essentially taught me the basics of drawing and bringing to life the seemingly impossible. Looking back, these early experiences really helped me cultivate my craft and how I approach each project. It wasn’t until later, after pursuing a career in the film industry and meeting people along the way, that I fell into illustration as a profession. I’m constantly in awe of the serendipity of one’s life experiences and how each decision can propel you into a direction you never even imagined. I’m a firm believer that all the little things you do in life will help along the way, even though it may not seem like it at the time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think with any freelance and creative profession, you’re going to run into challenges that seem unapproachable. During the beginning of my career, I went into business with a print company based in Downtown Los Angeles. We gained a lot of traction and attracted the attention of nationwide retailers, which seemed like a dream! We learned pretty quickly that with big clients came big lessons and after months of dealing with unpaid invoices and unresponsive accounting departments, we realized even though the potential for making money was there, working with these large corporations just wasn’t a sustainable business strategy. After making the decision to go freelance, it took a long time to regain my confidence as a creative and a businesswoman.

Obstacles will always arise, whether it’s a situation completely out of your control or a bruised ego. An integral part of being a designer is solving the problem at hand for your client. The challenges I’ve faced over the years have really shaped who I am as an illustrator and designer and how I choose to handle what’s tossed at me on a daily basis.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an illustrator and designer whose work can be found across a multitude of mediums, from murals to logos, graphic tees and website graphics. I focus on commercial graphics as well as branding in hopes of breaking the norms of conventional business identity. Using my style, I can offer my clients a full range of services, all catered to their business and story. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside some seriously cool clients who share like-minded practices for the betterment of the planet and society. It’s been extremely fulfilling to help create something of worth for people, be their business support and watch them grow in the process.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My kindness and determination. Drawing is only part of the project, the rest revolves around relationships, discipline, and staying mega-organized. The relationships I cultivate with each client is key for me and I take pride in making sure that they are well supported throughout our time working together and beyond.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabrielledefontanes.com
• Instagram: @gabrielledef
• Other: https://www.behance.net/gabbygubef22