May in Ragonia (2020)

Hello patrons and friends, and happy Friday! I’m glad to be writing to you from my Seattle apartment, still thankfully safe and healthy, with my partner Zach and our tortoiseshell cat Pumpkin. Pour yourself a glass of ice tea and pull up a comfy chair, I’d love to talk all about this month’s happenings!

First things first, I’m so excited to welcome some new patrons to our group this month. Hello hello to Lana, Nat, Carolyn, Celia, Kylie, Carmen, Rock, Niccole, Terri, Hannah, and Emily! My friends, thank you so much for your donation. I totally understand that times are hard lately, so now even more than ever I deeply appreciate your support. Please let me know if you have any requests or suggestions for how to make this corner of the Internet even more awesome. THANK YOU!

Now let’s see, what did I get up to this month...

NOISSUE CO. INTERVIEW 

I mentioned last month that I was interviewed by sustainable packaging company Noissue Co. as a part of their Brand Story series. It was published this month, so you all are welcome to head over and read it if yo’re interested! Let me know if you do, I’d love to hear what you guys thought about it!

BOOK PROJECT UPDATE

The big book project of 2020 continues this month! This month was spent reading through the manuscript, choosing possible topics for spot illustrations and poses for the main portraits, and sending those chosen topics for review from the Art Director, Editor, and Author. This is functioning as the thumbnail stage, since the book has a general layout and flow already agreed upon.

Roughs are due in August, so I’ll be spending June and July going through and drawing those. I was happy to finally get started this week on the rough drafts for the portrait rough draft, like the piece of the example. The roughs I send in August will have a first draft of the limited color palette I’ll be designing, so there’s still a long way to go. But it is truly relieving to get started on the actual drawing portion.

SHOP REOPENING

After two months with the Ragonia Etsy closed, I’m now getting ready to reopen! Before I do, I’m trying to get some new products ready to list, like the WASHI TAPES that I ordered last month!

Aren’t they cute?! I already used some of the veggie tape to decorate my studio art collection.

I’m also working on finally getting these 20 or so block printed t-shirts that have been hanging around in my storage ready to list! In preparation of listing them I took these photos of the shirts, with me and Zach as models. For some reason I usually skip taking modeled photos of my apparel pieces, but I think people are more inclined to buy something if they see it worn by someone. So I don’t know what’s taken me so long!

I’m excited to re-open the shop, but it has actually been really nice taking a break from mailing orders to focus on client projects and Patreon content. However, it’s starting to look more and more likely that most or all in-person conventions and markets for 2020 will be canceled (understandably), and selling products is a big part of my income. So opening will happen soon!

CONVENTION OFFICIAL MERCH

My biggest focus for May has been a very exciting project: a set of official merchandise for a comic convention! Last month the organizers of a (secret for now) convention reached out to commission me to illustrate their tote bags, shirts, scarf patterns, and program cover for the year. They requested animal designs rather than humans, which is exactly my kind of commission”

The final designs are on the down low until the release date, but I thought I’d share some of the rough sketches with you all as a little sneak peek! 

It’s been a very fun project, but also pretty difficult for me to get in the swing of. Not only am I really rusty from not doing much real creative work this year, but I also had a hard time getting to a ‘look’ that I liked. I feel like I naturally lean in a more illustrative and representational style, when what I want to push towards is more something more simplified and design-y. I think a big help in my design process is working with big shapes and color rather than small line work from the get go, but damn is it still hard!

I’m really loving how the designs are turning out and I absolutely can’t wait to see them on shirts and totes and everything at the convention! This project is particularly satisfying to me because two years ago just tabling at a convention seemed absolutely impossible, and now I’m designing the official merch for one. It’s just a good reminder to keep at it with this career, even when things feel slow or stuck. Good things are coming. Optimism!

NON-ART LIFE

Cause life does go on, even if it’s completely from inside your apartment!

• HAD AN AWESOME ANIMAL CROSSING MEET UP WITH PATRONS!! 5 different patrons were able to come hang out on my island for a little party, and it was so lovely and amazing! (Photos above!) We traded items, toured my island, checked up with each other, and took some pictures. Thank you, guys, for coming, let’s do it again!
• Watched this wonderful socially distanced talk show hosted through Animal Crossing, with actual guests like Elijah Wood, T-Pain, and Danny Trejo.
• Learned about finances with so many videos from financial education YouTuber The Financial Diet.  Took some big steps with my financial health by starting a budget with Mint and applying for my first credit card (oops again. Don’t judge me, please.) Next steps: starting a retirement fund and maybe even investing for the first time? I’m an adult don’t worry about it.
• Exercised every other day with the free trial of this hippie new age-y HIIT workout livestream called The Class. I’ve been signing up for a new trial with a new email every two weeks so I don’t have to pay the $40 subscription fee. Turns out doing regular intense cardio feels great and reduces my restlessness a lot? Who knew!
• Educated myself on anti-racism with the help of this phenomenal list of resources. Just as a start.

What have you been up to this month? What have you learned, seen, enjoyed, done? How have you been? Let me know in the comments. 

I don’t know how to conclude this except to say that it’s crazy times, friends. Stay aware, stay educated, and find the places you can take actions. Take care of yourself and take care of others. Tune in when you can, but remember to take breaks.

We can make a better future for us all, together.

xoxo,

Ragon