theragsagainstthemachine - Tumblr blog

theragsagainstthemachine · 3 hours

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A special event!

May 11th

Phillipsburg NJ

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theragsagainstthemachine · 11 hours

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POWERGIRL

#power girl #artists on tumblr #rags morales #rags morales art #rags morales comicart #rags morales commission #dc comics

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theragsagainstthemachine · 14 days

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DRACULAURA

#artists on tumblr #draculaura #rags+morales #ragsmoralescomicart #rags morales #rags morales art #rags morales commission #monster high

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theragsagainstthemachine · 16 days

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PAINTING COMMISSIONS 2024-2025

1. Powergirl

2. Dr.Strange

3. Spiderman

4. Red Tornado

5. Turok

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theragsagainstthemachine · 16 days

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I’m populating a paintings only list. Email me for details at ragsmorales at ProtonMail dot com

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theragsagainstthemachine · 18 days

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Yes, it matters.

One pleasure I get-and maybe this goes for every artist- is the “ah” moment I get when someone first looks at a piece they commission from me.

These moments happen at a convention where I’m face to face with the audience. They range from unmitigated joy to discernment from people trying to calculate the resale value.

So clearly it’s the joy we’re after.

(side-note: I really don’t care if someone wants to resell any of my pieces. I assume they eventually go to someone who wants it proudly displayed. Just have the common decency to appreciate it with a smile when you do receive it.)

When I mail out a piece, there’s always the anxiety that something will go wrong with the mail, despite my best efforts. So when I get a response that it got there safely, there’s relief. Sometimes I even get a “wow, it looks so much better in real life.”

That makes me smile.

The “I’m sure you get this all the time,” can be true but it never gets old. Between the beginning of starting a piece and the hundreds of calculations you think through (no, it’s not all muscle memory) to the final “ah” moments, that’s what gives me verification.

That’s why I do it.

And then, there’s something absolutely beautiful:

“Hi Rags,

Alan Neal in Canada writing, with a long overdue final THANK YOU for the incredible "Black Canary and radio" sketch... the one that got lost by the airline before you got to Ottawa!... but did arrive in the mail.

I know I told you how much I loved it, but I really did want to write to say how great it is to have your work up on the wall in our house. Maybe you get sick of people telling you how great your work is, but I figure it can't hurt to tell you again. :) I have been so swamped with family stuff that just having a moment to write seems so hard to come by.

Anyway...

My wife said "I think it's time to showcase the Canaries in the living room", and so we have hung them all up, and just love the way they look.

I know so often you must do these works and send them off into the world and not know what they mean to people. So I just wanted to say they mean a lot. The joy they bring and the discussions they launch, the details that people mention to me, the way they provide both escape and happiness, allow someone to be both nostalgic and present.

Everyone who comes over is instantly drawn to yours. You did such a beautiful job conveying the joy of Dinah listening to music, and it once again showcases your skill with expressions and movement. It's just stunning.

I also think the framer did a great job (I went with harvest gold as the matte because it was the "it" colour of 1973 :))

So I just wanted to send you a thanks and show you what it looks like, surrounded by many who we've now lost... George Perez, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Ramona Fradon... as well as Kat Hudson, Mike Grell, Jamal Igle, Gisele Lagace, and a lovely piece where Gail Simone did the "script" and Tom Fowler did the art. Someday I'll track down Jose-Luis Garcia Lopez and Phil Jimenez :) The living room "gallery" of Black Canaries and radios is below. :)

Sorry that this is a long blathering note, but putting up all the art has just reminded me of how special it is, and how lucky I am, so wanted to say thanks, and hope all is well.

All the best, sir!”

Alan