"Art started as a healer for me and continues to heal my soul."

Artist Gail Ragains creates abstract figurative paintings defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. Her earliest artistic influence came from her mother, whose daily painting and sketching became a part of her childhood and eventual vocation. As a young person, Gail explored physical expression through dance, ice skating, gymnastics, and triathlon competitions. She then built a decades-long career in massage therapy. All of these past experiences deepened Gail's connection with the human form. She works in a studio just outside her home, accompanied by music and her dog, Sadie. When not making art, Gail spends her time swimming, hiking, and playing piano.

In this interview, Gail shares her inspirations, process, and journey as an artist.

Please tell us about yourself.

I was born and grew up in the SF Bay Area, and I still live here! I enjoy a simple life with my husband and our little dog, Sadie. Besides immersing myself in painting, I swim or hit the trails for a run most every morning. We maintain a natural garden that caters to all the birds and critters in this area. Outside of painting, a few of the simple pleasures I enjoy are playing piano, listening to live music (mostly jazz), cooking vegetarian meals with friends, reading, or just taking a walk through the neighborhood with the dog.

What are you most proud of—whether in art or another part of your life?

A few years ago, I put my art career aside to care for my aging parents for nearly a decade. I knew that art would always be there. This profound human experience only comes around once. At the same time, I volunteered with Hospice to help other families and patients going through this difficult stage of life. I can’t really say I’m proud of this, more like I’m fortunate that I was able to fully experience this important time period of life.

Do you have any studio rituals that help you get into a creative flow?

About 20 years ago, I invested in a fabulous Italian espresso machine, and it’s still going strong. My only consistent rituals are brewing up a cappuccino to take out to my studio and putting on music.

How do you structure your day?

I try not to have too much structure in my life. However, I would be lost if I didn’t have a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. Then, I would dive into the pool to swim my laps or run the local trails. This sets my day straight. My studio is in my backyard garden, so I don’t have to go far. Most days, I head out there in the early afternoon with my studio mate, Sadie.

Where do you find inspiration for your art?

Instead of outside inspiration, I usually just dive into the creative process. The journey that unfolds with each new piece can be full of unexpected surprises and discoveries, or it can be a bust. And then there are times outside the studio where I am a constant people-watcher on the lookout for physical gestures and human emotions.

Tell us about your evolution as an artist.

I grew up in a very athletic family. When I was a child, I did dance, gymnastics, and ice skating. I moved into triathlons in my 20s. At around age 30, I became very ill and was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. This is when I turned to art, and especially life drawing. I wanted another outlet to express movement, and found it in charcoal, paper, and the live model. From there, I took drawing and painting classes wherever and whenever I could. Here I am, 38 years later, and still learning. The possibilities in art are endless. After about a decade of hard work, I started showing my work and doing open studios. Soon after, galleries began approaching me. I've been represented by galleries all across the US and Canada. It's very rewarding to know that my paintings live on in other people's homes all over the world. I never had expectations of success in a mainstream sort of way. Art started as a healer for me and continues to heal my soul.

How do you decide when an artwork is finished?

When I throw it against the wall, and if it sticks, it’s done. Just kidding. I look for overall balance, variations in shapes, and values. Is there contrast in values and color temperature? Is it compelling? I turn the canvas upside down and do some artistic troubleshooting. I live with the painting for a while. I think I prefer my paintings al dente. A bit sketchy and loose, but if I overcook the painting, it frees me up to start all over again and use the previous painting as an underpainting.

What is the most interesting observation someone has made about your work?

My figurative paintings have limited details. They are more about the gesture and expressing the moment. People often ask me why I don’t have faces with the figure. While I am perfectly capable of painting or drawing a face, I find that it takes the focus away from the body and the gesture. Curiously, people often see themselves or their family members in a painting. This could never have happened if I had painted a face on them.

Is there an artwork from another artist that has had a significant impact on you?

Besides the paintings that my mother painted throughout her life, I am moved by the German Expressionists. Their paintings are raw and loaded with emotion. Richard Avedon’s portrait photography of the West also made a powerful impact when I first saw it in person. His work exposes the soul of the subject. However, my most favorite artists are the second graders. They are fearless!

What’s your favorite museum?

One of my favorite museums is The Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Besides having an amazing collection and 70 works by Rodin, what I really love is the location. It’s situated in Lincoln Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge. So after taking in the artwork, you can take in the ocean air on the nearby coastal trail. What could be better?

Is there anything else you’d like to share to help viewers better understand your work?

I would like people to look at my art and see how intuitively I work. I don’t follow rules, methods, or formulas that bring about predictable outcomes. I break rules and try to work outside my comfort zone. I think it would be really hard for anyone to make a copy of one of my paintings. People have asked me to paint a copy of my own work, and I find it to be impossible. Each piece is unique.

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If you enjoyed this article about Gail Ragains' life and artwork, we recommend reading about Mary Pratt's impressionist paintings of women.