For musician, artist and mother Gabby La La, art has always been a part of life.
Whether it was watching her father sketch bubble letters at the coffee table or immersing herself in her own creative expression, drawing became second nature.
But when La La started participating in Inktober—a month-long daily drawing challenge—she had no idea it would lead to her full-fledged illustrated book, Not the Path of Totality.
The book visually chronicles a year in her daily life as a mother, wife and multidisciplinary artist, including such details as what’s for dinner, wardrobe essentials, art projects, novel rejection letters and what the voice inside her head is saying right now.
“I think my book resonates with anyone who has to juggle more than one thing in life,” says La La. “It’s largely about my experience as a mom, cooking, cleaning, caring, driving, all while trying to maintain a sense of self.”
But beyond the daily grind, her artistic practice also intersects with exciting opportunities, like accompanying her husband, filmmaker Boots Riley, to film festivals and events. “The red carpet really does sound like the ocean if you close your eyes,” she jokes.
These extraordinary moments, along with the mundane, all find their way into her book, offering a rich tapestry of life in all its forms.
La La’s artistic journey began long before Not the Path of Totality took shape. An artist and musician who’s performed on sitar with musicians from Les Claypool to Snoop Dogg, she was immersed in the arts early. Her father, also an artist, set the example of daily practice. And though she had attempted the Inktober drawing challenge in the past without completing it, she decided to commit fully in 2023.
“When I reached Halloween and drew that final image, I felt both triumph and sadness,” she recalls. “The excitement and camaraderie of Inktober had come to a close, and now I would be left without a purpose.” But a friend’s suggestion to continue her daily art practice resonated, and she said “yes” to the challenge.
What began as a daily art challenge soon turned into something more—a deeply personal and relatable documentation of her life, blending humor, insight and artistic exploration. The result? A book chronicling a year’s worth of moments, reflections and experiences.
While La La’s art practice is deeply personal, it thrives within a community. And that is one of the keys to her success.
“Community is everything to me,” she says. “My friends and family are my life, and they are the heart of this book.” Posting her drawings daily on social media, she found an unexpected connection with fellow artists, parents and everyday people navigating the complexities of life.
“I discovered how similar my life was to that of my fellow humans, especially moms,” she notes.
The feedback was encouraging. And as more people resonated with her work, she felt motivated to keep going. “On some days, I didn’t feel like drawing or was too exhausted to capture why I was exhausted, but then a friend would ask, ‘Where’s your drawing? What’s going on with you?’”
This accountability fueled her discipline and creativity, evolving her book as a shared experience rather than a solo endeavor.
Initially, she stuck to line work, a style that served her well during Inktober. But as her visual journal evolved, so did her artistic approach. Now LaLa’s work exists at the intersection of two styles: black-and-white line drawings and vibrant watercolor paintings.
“I got a little bored with black and white, so I started adding color—first a pink pen, then green, then blue, then all the colors,” she explains.
This transition was further influenced by interactions with other artists. On a trip to San Jose del Cabo, fellow artist Kathy Lerner encouraged her to experiment with watercolor. “Kathy suggested that I paint first and then do the comic over it,” LaLa says. “I said yes, and it changed my life.”
Watercolor added a new dimension to her work, enriching the storytelling and emotional depth of her journal.
One of La La’s greatest artistic influences thus far is Lynda Barry, a celebrated cartoonist and educator. “Barry’s book, Making Comics, is my bible,” she says. “I used it as a class at home to get better at storytelling through pictures and words.”
Barry’s philosophy of embracing imperfection resonated deeply, encouraging La La to let go of artistic self-doubt. “Because of her, I stopped trying so hard to make things perfect,” she recalls.
Name Game
The book’s title emerged during the April 8, 2024 eclipse, when La La kept hearing people ask, “Were you in the path of totality?” She noticed how those who were seemed to be deemed special—having witnessed a rare, extraordinary moment—while those outside the path were considered “mid” or average. Laughing, she reflects on how social media often pressures people to appear as if they’re always in the spotlight. “But really,” she says, “we’re all just doing our best—and that’s totally OK.”
“My greatest fortune in life has been the emotional support and permission to be myself,” she shares. She also acknowledges the challenge of balancing art with self-care and parenthood. Her mornings start with fresh air and a skincare routine—“I had bad skin in my teens, so I never want to see another zit again”—before launching into breakfast and school prep. “They don’t tell you this when you get pregnant, but you are going to have to make breakfast and lunch at the same time,” she deadpans.
Once her son is at school, she seizes time for art, errands or social interactions. By afternoon, it’s back into parenting mode. While sometimes longing for uninterrupted creative time, she recognizes that everyday experiences are at the heart of her artistic inspiration.
For others looking to cultivate a creative practice, La La offers simple but powerful advice: “You should love what you do. You’ll know you’re doing the right thing for you if you can’t live without doing it.”
She’s eager to connect with more people and continue sharing her artistic journey. With a unique blend of honesty, humor and artistic exploration, La La has transformed what might initially be seen as daily doodles into a meaningful artistic statement. Whether through social media posts, paintings or published pages, she continues to say “yes” to creativity—and invites us all to do the same.
Purchase ‘Not the Path of Totality’ at gabbylala.com or on March 27 at Copperfield’s Books, Petaluma.
