Meet AILEEN RA! Bay Area Artist with a big wish for Arts Education in California

Meet AILEEN RA!

Create CA scoured the internet for Californian artists with a unique and exciting style to commission a new impactful design for our public will campaign. We’re pleased to introduce you to Aileen Ra, a Bay Area illustrator with an electric design style featuring colorful hand-drawn digital imagery. Learn more about her work, drive, and wish for the future of arts education in California.

About Your Love of Art

Can you describe the moment or experience that sparked your love for art?

Despite taking multiple art classes throughout grade school, my desire and love for art had occurred in fourth grade—considerably one of the most struggling points in my life. During that time, I had unwillingly left Dublin, a town I grew to love and know, and moved down to San Jose. The new environment that I wished to adapt well to had reality hitting me like a truck. Along with the emotional toll I had in school, I had white hair growing out of my head with no answer to the source or reason for its existence. With the anxiety that I had accumulated as a lonely, quiet, shy fourth grader, I turned to drawing as it was able to enable me to quietly relieve my sensitive emotions onto the lined paper. With the little experience I had, I knew I had to get through the troubling time by acting on something I could distract myself with. I never knew that through this hobby that had taken a part of my heart would later become a passion that I wanted to pursue as a lifelong career.

What emotions or thoughts do you hope to evoke in people who view your work?

I hope that people can be moved when they view my work. Though it sounds like a simple wish, that kind of emotion can leave a huge impression on oneself. As this piece is important to me, as an artist, I want others to remember the pieces that I make as they are meaningful to (hopefully) everyone.

How has your love for art evolved over the years?

At a young age, I had taken art classes as well as drew pictures of my imagination on my own time. However, fourth grade had taken my love of art to another level that not only helped with my mental health but gave me the motivation and passion for art. Even then, I was still drawing objects on my own until I had taken the initiative to take art classes seriously, with the thought of pursuing art for life. After admission to an art school, my love for art continued to gradually get larger as I was able to make pieces of work as homework compared to the typical school life I had gone through. While I was making the “Uncertain Times” series during my last year of college, I had understood what an artist’s lifestyle was like and my potential as an artist. When I had received the scholarship award for my series, I believe my love for art then reached an all-top high as I was relieved to have completed working on my first ever series; I was also proud to have received recognition for the blood, sweat, and tears that I had poured onto my work. Experiencing these challenges had tested my abilities as an artist, but I was able to love art on a deeper level as I was able to understand why artists continue to do art for a lifetime.

Pursuing Art

How did your family and friends react when you decided to pursue a career in art?

After taking me to art classes throughout grade school, my parents knew from the start that I was going to go into some sort of art path, but they weren’t certain specifically where I would end up pursuing. They were supportive, but they were not knowledgeable in the field at all. My friends were just as supportive as they respected my passions.

Can you share a memorable project or piece that you worked on and why it stands out to you?

A memorable project that I worked on was the Uncertain Times series; I wanted to challenge myself into making an anamorphic or illusion-like piece while including illustration in my work. Therefore, I created the series to spread awareness of a part of history based on my cultural background as a Korean. The series consists of ten paintings that are made into five lenticular pieces each describing the before and after effects of Korea’s most difficult times. To further spread awareness, I made one of the lenticular pieces over five feet long in order to stand out. I focused on a short time in history because it was never talked about enough in school or history books. My parents and grandparents would always talk about how the world needs to know what happened then and why. As a Korean American, I’m never afraid to talk about my culture and more than happy to inform anyone through the power of art.

How do you stay inspired and motivated in your artistic practice?

I stay inspired and motivated through social media, taking photos, and sketching almost every day. Social media has many of the artists that I like and look up to. It’s also a good way to keep looking and understanding at different styles of art. Taking photos gives me reference photos. Most of my photos are random like clouds, a pattern design on a gate, or a sticker on a pole of a stop sign, but they stand out to me. Going outside helps give me inspiration as they have outside objects that are new or not something I see everyday. Sketching at least something every day was from Keith Magruder who came to visit my college as a guest speaker. He mentioned to “just keep painting” as it was important to keep your creative ideas flowing by producing something consistently. Although most of my sketches are practice, being able to hone my technical and creative skills have kept me from hitting an artist slump.

What advice would you give to young aspiring artists who want to pursue a career in the arts?

Starving artist is real, but try it if you love it.

As a Korean American, I’m never afraid to talk about my culture and more than happy to inform anyone through the power of art.

Unique Style

How would you describe your artistic style?

My artistic style leans towards more realistic, but I can be flexible and work with simpler or cuter styles when I want or need to.

Who or what are your biggest influences, and how have they shaped your artistic style?

When I was lost in what I wanted to do as a career in high school, I found CatCreature–now Annabelle Gao–on Youtube and I was so fascinated by the college lifestyle she was living in as an artist. Her vlogs gave me plenty of comfort and motivation to apply to art schools. I actually met her coincidentally and I got to be in one of her vlogs! I had so much to say and thank her, but I was at a loss of words because I couldn’t believe it that I almost cried. Little Thunder is another influence of mine that has shaped my artistic style. She designs many figures in her pieces that relate closely to her hobbies and interests. Also she mainly works in traditional mediums on large scales and uses vibrant colors like neon which I have implemented into my works and practices.

Arts Education Experience Growing Up

What was your experience with arts education while growing up in school?

Although I took art classes outside of school, being able to spend school time doing art had given me a sense of relief against the difficult studies and other problems I had. Taking additional art classes made art classes in school too easy for me, but I was able to learn art history and gain practice in different mediums that I wasn’t familiar with. Being able to learn about famous artists and recreate their pieces was a lot more interesting than I thought; I was able to take a closer look and understand their art styles with the background history that I had learned in class.

Were there any teachers or mentors who significantly impacted your artistic journey?

My professors in college were definitely important people that have impacted my artist journey. Because I had no one close around me that knew anything about the art world, I was able to depend on them. I learned a lot of tips and advice from their long years of experience in the professional field. Although I was too shy and didn’t say much to them, I am always grateful for their presence and the support I got from them. Without that support, I probably would’ve pursued a different career by now.

Meaning of Arts Education

Why do you think it is important for students to have access to arts education?

Though I am thankful to have attended schools that provided arts education, I cannot imagine how lifeless school would be without arts education. Outside of learning basic school subjects, being able to explore sound, your body, and colors are elements that are just as important. Of course, not everyone will like it, but at least experiencing it once can spark any form of interest. Being able to express oneself through various ways can help mentally as one doesn’t have to always use words.

Can you tell us about your experience working with Create CA and what this commission means to you?

My experience working with Create CA was amazing. The Create CA team was so kind, understanding, and open about the entire process from the idea planning to the final renderings. They helped so much in the beginning stages with their many ideas and suggestions. I was able to grasp the purpose of the commission and start on the sketching phases easily. Till this day, I question myself many times about how Create CA found me and decided to choose me to design for a huge project, but I’m more than honored to have created a commission that relates to my professional field, values, and passion.

What is your wish for the future of arts education in California?

I wish that all students can have the opportunity to be able to freely express and open themselves creatively through arts education.