We ran into Reagan Ray’s work via a series of twitter links and connections. His Graphic portraits are stunning. They are what we all wish the Illustrator live-trace function could accomplish. His eye for light and shadow is solid. Cannot wait to someday buy the series of prints of the Ghost Busters characters!
Check out his website ///here///
Make sure and read through this interview. He has some great advice and amazing links to check out.
Tell us a little about yourself and what steps you took to get here:
I was born and raised in East Texas and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Advertising. Bounced around the country after school working on projects in Las Vegas and Phoenix before firmly entrenching myself back in Austin in 2007. At that point two lifelong friends and I founded Paravel (http://paravelinc.com) and we’ve been going strong ever since. We have a lot of fun helping businesses grow while still finding the time to work on projects we are all passionate about.
What’s your go-to source of inspiration outside of art or music?
Netflix. It’s like crack for movie addicts. Outside of the music blog, Austin Town Hall, we run, movies are a huge inspiration. I’m a big fan of 80s flicks like Ghostbusters and Back to the Future, but also love classic film noir and westerns. A typical Monday morning at the Paravel office involves a recap of the movies we watched over the weekend. Outside of movies, art and music, I’m constantly inspired by mid-century architecture and design.
What advice would you give to other artists out there who want to be successful and effective with their work?
I’d advise other artists to start an on-going project outside of regular work that they’re passionate about. It can really leave you with a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day, which is important. It’s easy to get jaded by less-than-glamorous client work, but having something outside of that – whether it be an illustration series, a blog, a documentary, etc. – always seems to keep things fresh and exciting.
What’s your personal favorite piece of work you’ve created?
I’d have to say the Outlaw Series pieces of Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. I still haven’t gotten around to doing the one for Waylon Jennings, but I’ve always enjoyed them. I grew up listening to their music, and I envisioned the pieces as mini-shrines that you would find in the back corner of a honky-tonk bar.
What blogs or magazines do you turn to for creative inspiration?
Well, my 2 co-workers are always inspiring me because they both write much better than I do. Dave Rupert and Trent Walton. I check out the usual web galleries (Best Web Gallery is my favorite). The Mid-Century Moderninst is a blog I enjoy. Public School is a local crew that have a fun thing going. The Styleboost redesign is lovely and has got me visiting again.
What ‘s your all-time favorite piece of art or design. (*not created by you)
I’d have to say Frederic Remington’s A Dash for the Timber. As a young lad I first discovered it at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX . My parents bought a print that hung in our home growing up and I was always mesmerized by it. It just tells such an interesting story and it kind of sums up my ongoing fascination with the western time period. There’s a lot going on in it, and that’s what I love about it.
What’s your current creative obsession.
Movie Posters. It seems like the movie poster is the new gig poster. It has actually inspired us to launch a new side project we’re calling “The Many Faces Of..” with Alan Rickman as the first feature.
It seems like a lot of the illustrators I admire and follow have really gotten into movie related artwork. Guys like Olly Moss, Frank Chimero, Martin Ansin, Tavis Coburn, Tom Whalen, Tyler Stout and Ibraheem Youssef. But for me, the obsession started with the master, Drew Struzan. He created pretty much every important movie poster in the 1980s. I’m talking Star Wars, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones. All the big ones. If you’re like-minded, look for the “Many Faces Of…” launch soon.
Thanks for your Time Reagan. Keep on Rockin’ it. We can’t wait for “Many Faces Of…”
-the AG-
