Friday Thoughts (Ep. 17)

Hello darlingest and dearest Patrons, and another happy Friday to you!

 I am back baybee, from my family trip to the southern Caribbean. That’s right, back in Seattle where the lovely PNW summer weather has finally set in. Lots has happened and there’s lots to do coming up. Thanks for joining me in this update!

I can hardly believe it but this past week I completed ALL of the art that I have planned for my upcoming Art Walk show, while I was on vacation in the Caribbean! I had planned a (probably crazy) 11 traditional gouache paintings, and 8 digital reworks of older illustrations, and I finished them all in time to send to the art director! 

The small series above is a set of three 8x10 gouache paintings on objects from my kitchen, objects that mean home to me. I’m happy to say that you patrons are the first to see these works!

How the hell did I do all of these paintings while so far away from home? I did all of the prep work before I left. I planned, took reference photos, bought paint and paper, and did the finished sketches at home before I flew out, so that when I was away all I had to do was the actual paintings. 

Remember the process photos of my Produce Rainbow series last week? Here’s the completed series, another super special patron preview!!

Each of these paintings is 5x7 gouache on thick watercolor paper. I’ll be selling the originals of these paintings as well as prints in the future. I bought cute little glass only frames to sell the originals in at my art walk show. I also envision all kinds of products with these, like prints, cards, stickers, and all the other goodies. I think my favorites are the purple, red, black, and white. Which ones do you like best?

I also (almost) finished the digital reworks of my animal floral illustrations! You can see I still have one more cat to finish!

I’ll be selling individual 8x8 prints of these at my art walk show as well. I love both of these, but it was fun to rework them to match my current tastes. When I made the originals it didn’t feel like I would consider buying, now I love them so much more. I said it once and I’ll say it again, make art that you would buy!!

What do you think of these reworks? Are there any fun products you can see them on? Maybe stickers?

SPEAKING OF PRODUCTS, I recently made a Redbubble account because I like the commission rate they give to artists a little more than Society6. I quickly uploaded one of my Kitchen Objects pieces to see how it would look on some products and I LOVE THEM:

Look at that dress!! It definitely wouldn’t be to everyone’s tastes (haha spice joke) but it is SO my taste. I am getting so happy with my style and color palette. Finally!

My Redbubble needs a little more quality work but you can still check out the goods at Ragonia.redbubble.com if you like!

One last piece of news! On my last day of vacation while I was preparing for my Fremont Art Walk I was emailed by an employee of a local store called Annie’s Art & Frame. I had bought some of my frames for my show there, and was so nervous that I chatted with the man who rang me up, telling him I was having my first art show and that I was nervous. I gave him my card, he looked up my instagram, and asked me if I wanted to show during the Ballard Art Walk! This art walk will be a week after my Fremont show, takes place in my neighborhood in a store that I really admire for their quality and stylish atmosphere.

I don’t know what to say except that I am so excited, so nervous, and even just an art show feels incredibly surreal.

Now that I’m home I have a lot to do to prepare for my now TWO art shows. Cue my heart beating like crazy. I am really hoping that this is a sign of my little art business starting to take off.

Heart beating beating beating.

I am nervous about this, but I have been nervous at every step. Nerves won’t stop me!

Non-art Life:

Please enjoy this picture of my sister and patron Kenna and me in the Caribbean! Happy Summer!

 I’ve been using this fun app called Huji after another awesome patron Alissa posted about it! It’s edits your photos to look like a disposable camera from 1998 and it’s so cute and confuses all parents. “Why would you WANT your pictures to look like that?”

That’s all for this week! I couldn’t do any of this without all of your sweet lovely support. Thanks for being my strength in this crazy amazing endeavor.

xoxo

Ragon