My 50 Illustrations Depicting Everyday Life As A Woman And A Mother With A Hint Of Sarcasm
Hello, my name is Giselle Dekel, I was born in Vienna, Austria, and raised in Antwerp, Belgium. I studied arts in high school and later pursued a degree in Textile Design at Shenkar College (Israel). My early life goal was to become a textile designer as patterns were my big passion.
After receiving my college degree I tried everything to find a job in that field. But years passed and nothing happened so I finally gave up. This unfortunately is the story for many art/design students.
While working regular non-creative jobs I fell into a minor depression... Having no creative outlet (other than coming up with kid-friendly meals) really took a toll on me. Eventually, my artistic spark returned, and after much experimenting I started illustrating.
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Magic Trick
And then, someone shows up at the front door... "Sorry, I'm not putting that back on for you."
Right! Give some notice (preferably a whole day) before "dropping by"! Sorry, bra's already off... I'm either not opening the door all the way or I'm not answering at all 🤣! Seriously, I even bought some of the silicone nipple covers for instances when I do actually have to open the door... fast to put on and - once there - you almost instantly forget! Unless your making a bunch of obvious movements, no one would even know your bra-less!
Load More Replies...Under shirt bra removal first seen on film in Flashdance, performed by Jennifer Beals, 1983 flashdance...c0c0a3.jpg
I was at the ER decades ago and the Dr asked me to remove my bra and I did this right in front of him. He just sort of stared at me for a moment, shook his head and said, Well that was efficient!" He was bemused.
Ditto! They're always amazed... Sometimes I worry for their wives. XD
Load More Replies...One of the first things we learn after we start wearing them...
when i was in nsging school, I worked in DC and live in MD. I work every weekend for 3 yrs. 12 + 16 hr shifts and 1 hr drive rt! I could lose that bra in no time!! It is still a thing!!
Yes. Show how we change our clothes in a car.
The way I make them is by combining watercolor and Photoshop. Even though my preferred form of expression is still painting on paper or canvas, I very much enjoy creating art digitally.
A big turning point in my art was 2020. Being in such uncomfortable situations, both physically and financially, really made me push myself and create art that came from this new place. The illustrations that I then created were more honest and started to resonate with a lot of people since so many of us were in that same situation.
Shower Short Story
It's the wet hair for hours afterwards that annoys me, and the entire after shower ritual that needs to happen, three different types of lotion, hair stuff, brushing your teeth. It's a lot lol
Load More Replies...Fun fact: this can be a sensory thing. You don't want to get in because you don't want to be cold when you get out. Get a towel warmer to put a bath towel and a bath robe in, warm slippers, and a small space heater for the bathroom. Turn them all on about 30 min before your shower and you go from warm in the shower to warm and cozy out of it
Yoga Routine
The simple subjects of everyday life are what I enjoy exploring the most, along with a big slab of humor and sarcasm. I’m not sure I could function without humor. It’s what gets me through life.
From that point on, I gave myself the green light to create whatever comes to mind and whatever I feel going on inside.
Thank You Universe
One of my ex-boyfriends from 10 years ago is now my mother's mailman. Great. It's like this all the time for me - I wanna look like a movie star when I see him, instead I look like a slob.
Extra points for some ketchup or some other food stain on the shirt. X2 points for screaming toddler in tow.
That's me on the right, I'm ok with that. I'm comfortable and that's what matters.
Don'y judge me on how I look, but look at me and make your judgement. That's the definition of a woman.
"Mom, Look What I Made"
I struggle with very high blood pressure. A couple of months ago, I went to the doctor, and it was VERY low...not just for me, but in general. I was so excited that I asked them to print it out on their medical letterhead so I could put it on my mother's refrigerator. I'm 46. 😂
Nice one, love seeing parents encouraging their children every step of the way, even as adults, and particularly in their artistic pursuit 🖤 Would've loved to have this myself but alas...
I'm in my 60s and my mother's in her 90s, with dementia. But she still knows me and loves me more than I deserve. Well, just last week I went to her with a story of how I handled a tenant the day before, the way she would have (rather than how others were telling me to), and that it worked out better because of her. Yep, "Mom, look what I did -- because of your example! Thanks, Mom! I sure love you, Mom!" If you get lucky, it doesn't ever stop.
New parents: encourage EFFORT, not just results, and praise failure because it means they TRIED SOMETHING NEW! I wish my parents had encouraged me to try things if he had at and praise my effort, rather than just ridiculing when I didn't do perfectly (or completely ignoring when I did well and instead point out where someone else did better or focus on the things I did wrong even when the result was great)
The fact that so many people all over the world share these feelings gave me the motivation to just go for it.
The question I get asked the most is how I handle being a mom of three, keeping a home, cooking, doing endless loads of laundry, and having a full-time illustration business. I’ll be honest with you, I have not yet met a woman in my lifetime who does not multitask and fully operate in all these different parts of life.
Apart from my kids' schedule, I personally don’t keep one. I have a to-do list for the day that I prepare the evening before and that’s what works for me. It’s a way for me to not feel overwhelmed by everything that is going on.
Blanky For Life
Recipe For Disaster
My ingredient list would probably be: self sabotage, fear, doubt, self hatred, comparison.
Load More Replies...Guess that means I should purchase the book too... That's only fair of me if I'm going to print it, right? Ok! I'm sold!!!
Load More Replies...In terms of creating art (and generally in life) I tend to never overthink. I avoid it at all costs. Whenever I have an idea for an illustration, I simply go for it. If it looks bad, I won’t use it.
By far the best part of this job is the positive response from fans and art lovers from all over the world. The amount of people who find joy in my art and/or see themselves through my illustrations is overwhelming. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t at least have one interaction with a person about the art.
Of course, this is very pleasing to the ego, but mostly this pleasantly confirms my suspicion that underneath it all we are all one and the same.
I'll Do It Tomorrow
Have you been spying on me?😂 Why is it so much easier to be an adult at work and not at home? At work, I do what I need to do. At home, it is harder.
Tomorrow never comes because tomorrow is today, and today will never come because today is yesterday
Please Don't Pick Up
Pride Love
The details in these are amazing. Even the little things, like the “e” you can see a little bit of a purple nail on the pointer finger in addition to the prominent thumb nail. 👏👏🤌
Pride is also a virtue and is very much connected to love. Love yourself, love others, take pride in your accomplishments, take pride in what others achieve, just don't become arrogant.
Load More Replies...Peekaboo
I once said to my grandson 'BULLSEYE' when he bent over. He thought it was hilarious, my daughter was NOT amused as he took every opportunity to bend over and shout 'BULLSEYE' everywhere! Ooopps, naughty nanny!
:D parents are for education, grandparents (and aunt ^-^) are for foolery :)
Load More Replies...I love doing this with my little boy - he has such a naughty laugh that he ends up rolling right over and holding his sides on the floor. Never loved anyone so much in my life as him and his sister - they are bright blossoms that keep surprising me.
Mom vs. Laundry
The Monsters Under My Bed
Monday
Broke my little toe against the sofa in much the same way, it stuck out at 90 degrees and I had a horrible/satisfying moment of cracking it back into place. I week later I broke the chain on my bike and smashed my foot into the ground re breaking it. We’re quite fragile really
and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday...if you're me!
My pinkie toe when ONLY it decided to go into the big crack in the sidewalk
I did this on a door facing when I was turned into a room quickly once and broke it. I've broken my right pinky toe twice and my left once. I still pad around the house barefoot...
The Way To My Heart
Any hot, prepared-by-someone-else-but-me, ready to eat, animal protein for me, lol *shredded pork sandwiches...grilled chicken...anything on a stick...yummmm...nom nom nom*
Load More Replies...This illustrator loves coffee so much. There is so much proof on her IG profile.
Friday vs. Monday
The Original Child's Pose
Sideways
Tall Boyfriend
My husband and I are the same height (160 cm, or 5ft4, I think). We once got cried on while we were dancing at a street party by tall drunk German who said he wished he could see "eye to eye"/"be on an equal footing" with his girlfriend too (auf Augenhöhe).
I would just hug him around his waist that’s how i like hugs
Starry Night
Bedtime Story
I have CRPS which gives you painsomnia. (It's a thing.) and menopause. This is me for the rest of my life. I haven't slept straight for hours in years.
Skin Care Routine
I love this. If we all applied these products the world would be a better place.
Yes, but then those response muscles are weak and floppy when you REALLY need them, then! A little practice figuring out what the feelings are, and courage articulating things (which too takes practice) goes a LONG way towards feeling like ones' opinions are heard, and someone (you) is looking out for yourself
Load More Replies...Nothing Goes My Way
Get Out There
Thank you, finally! I know we have to sometimes venture outside of it into a harsher reality but my comfort zone is fully furnished and paid off. Edit: I had no idea it was a reference lol
Load More Replies...Mother And Child
why must my cat have to sit in my lap every morning when I am on the toilet???
Weekend Book
My Favorite Place
I CAN'T wait for the weather to cool down, so that I can do this to my hubby
Good At Doing Nothing
Hug Me
There will come a day when you pick your child up for the last time, and you never know.
but this is the artist getting hugged by her significant other
Load More Replies...My son is grown now, but it's true. You'll never know when the last time will be the last time. I miss it every day.
This is the artist and their significant other
Load More Replies...Stripe Lovers
Flip Me
OOOh, if only there were some cosmic flipper out there! (Over easy please!!)
Cloud Of Joy
I love how this is supposed to be happy, but with the way her arms are, it looks like she's walking angrily
Ugh
Laundry Day
the same, I react to the laundry chore as if I had to go to the wash house in the middle of winter, even though I am lucky enough to have a washing machine at home. Stupid me.
If she's a mum of two small children then every day is laundry day
I don't mind laundry, especially in the Winter. Folding warm towels is nice.
It's laundry day for me today. There's just me, my fiancé and our adult son to wash for and I'm already on the 4th load.
Blurry Head
Monday Morning Stretch
Bubble Bath In The Clouds
Never imagined a bubble bath while looking at clouds, but I've been studying and imagining their potential for being canopy beds, or just perfectly cosy, snuggly beds, since I was 6.
Caffeine Emergency
My parents had a gag gift like this that said "In case of emergency, break glass" and there was a cigarette in the glass case. This was in the late 70s/ early 80s when smoking was still acceptable.
Fill Me Up
Aww, I'm going to print your art out to make a card for my precious DIL today💓
You Got This
New Growth
Sunday Sofa
There will be a "rooooooaaaaaaaarrrr" and squealing running children/spouses at the end of it, I hope 😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😄
Load More Replies...Plant Lover
Solo System
Recharge
Coffee Buddies
Just give me two reusable or compostable straws.
Load More Replies...Not Ready
Hehehe I didn't get up until half past ten this morning, it was wonderful
Pizza Girl
Coffee In Bed
Cocktail Dip
Laundry Basket
Head In The Clouds
Floating Around
Monday Vomit
thank you for sharing your work, I really like it, it’s intimate and collective at the same time, I love your style. I had a great time ! :)
*artist. she doesn't hold clothes but I can see where you get confused
Load More Replies...So lovely! Beautiful style and very relatable images. I'd love to have some of them as posters at home. Good news! - there's an Etsy store for these :)
Giselle's Ersy store, if anyone's also interested: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GiselleDekel?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1294601087
Load More Replies...thank you for sharing your work, I really like it, it’s intimate and collective at the same time, I love your style. I had a great time ! :)
*artist. she doesn't hold clothes but I can see where you get confused
Load More Replies...So lovely! Beautiful style and very relatable images. I'd love to have some of them as posters at home. Good news! - there's an Etsy store for these :)
Giselle's Ersy store, if anyone's also interested: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GiselleDekel?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1294601087
Load More Replies...
