Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle Howard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Gabrielle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most significant project I have undertaken is my comic book series, Luminous Sage.

This endeavor was initiated during the pandemic. From a young age, I possessed artistic talent, and in 2008, I developed a profound admiration for what is now recognized as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The superhero film genre inspired me to begin selling my artwork at comic conventions in 2015. Initially, I was uncertain about my ability to create a superhero in the contemporary era, as it seemed that every concept had already been explored. However, I began to reflect on my passion for marine biology and my desire to see a female superhero take charge of the ocean. Luminous Sage tells the story of a bioluminescent entity striving to restore the ocean’s health. I independently developed this entire comic book series. This project has challenged me to exceed my expectations as an artist. With each issue I produce, my confidence as a comic book creator continues to grow.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Gabrielle Howard, and I am the owner of a business called Californiablend. From an early age, I recognized my God-given talent for artistry. I merged this passion with my enthusiasm for superheroes, which led me to discover comic conventions. In 2015, I learned about a local comic convention and prepared a series of acrylic paintings. At that time, I was a fourteen-year-old aspiring artist determined to sell every piece I had created for the event. During the two-day convention, I managed to sell one painting towards the conclusion of the event for $100. Although this was my first experience selling at a comic convention, I felt disheartened by the limited sales despite my hard work. Initially, I considered stepping away from this pursuit; however, I soon learned of another local comic convention, and something within me compelled me to continue. I dedicated several months to creating new artworks and honing my skills. At my second comic convention, I successfully sold 16 paintings. Since that pivotal moment, I have consistently participated in comic conventions and have sold hundreds of paintings to date.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing an idea come to life is the most fulfilling part of being an artist. I’ve come to understand that possessing the ability to envision something in your mind and having the skills to bring it to life is a remarkable quality. I am able to perceive and have tangible contact with something that used to exist only in my thoughts, as I have successfully brought it into reality.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

In 2019, I established a YouTube channel (@Californiablend). From a young age, I have captured various facets of my life through film. On my YouTube channel, I produced content focused on comic book reviews and art-related videos. Initially, the viewership did not meet my expectations. Consequently, I shifted my approach and began creating reaction videos to newly released movie trailers. This marked the beginning of my experience with viral content, as I quickly garnered over 10,000 views on a single video within 24 hours. To maintain a consistent output, I sought additional material to react to, which led me to the Marvel television series available on Disney Plus. Each week, I would rise at 3 a.m. to watch the latest episodes and record my reactions. Editing these videos typically took me between two and a half to three hours before I uploaded them directly to YouTube. The engagement from fellow Marvel enthusiasts was remarkable. After several months of reacting to television shows, I expanded my content to include reactions to films I had never seen before. A distinctive feature of my channel during this period was my practice of dressing as the characters from the movies I reviewed. This approach resulted in significant growth in my subscriber base, ultimately leading to the monetization of my channel. However, with the increase in views, subscribers, and financial success came the inevitable downside of negative comments. The high volume of views attracted both positive and negative feedback, and I faced criticism regarding my personality, speech, and even my ethnicity. I have had to confront the challenge of not allowing others’ opinions to dictate the direction of my channel. Although some comments have been hurtful, I occasionally take breaks from the YouTube platform to maintain my well-being. My foremost advice for anyone looking to build a social media presence is to identify their passion and find ways to enhance that talent. For me, I always prioritize placing God at the center of my endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.californiablendsart.com
• Instagram: @californiablend
• Youtube: @californiablend