Judy Ragagli Fine Art announces the launch of a new website WWW.VintageBarbieArt.com featuring life-like original oil paintings of vintage Barbie.
Judy Ragagli, "Gala Abend," Oil on Canvas, 36" x 30."
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
LOS ANGELES, CA - October 2019 - Los Angeles artist Judy Ragagli, is pleased to announce the launch of a new website WWW.VintageBarbieArt.com. The new website features hyper-realistic original oil paintings of Barbie and her glamorous couture days beginning with her spectacular debut in 1959 as the ultimate fashion model.
The newly designed website invites visitors on a visual journey through time and fashion showcasing Ms. Ragagli’s hyper-realistic oil paintings of vintage Barbie. Ms. Ragagli has always been fascinated with Barbie and took on the challenge of painting the world’s most famous doll as her subject matter. At first glance, Ms. Ragagli’s creations are so life-like, many have mistaken them for photographs. Ms. Ragagli states, “By presenting Barbie through portraiture, my goal is to create a vision of Barbie that is still and noble, I see her as possessing a soul and positive spirit; her true persona extends beyond the plastic facade.”
To achieve accurate tonal properties of the flesh-colored plastic, Ms. Ragagli employs an arduous process of mixing all the oil colors. Using only seven original color tubes of oil, she is able to precisely translate the vast color properties of Barbie's skin, hair, and wardrobe as they interact with reflective light. According to Ms. Ragagli, “What I hope to achieve, is that my painting process and style culminates in a cohesive vision of the beauty and grace of Barbie.”
The new website offers original oils and giclees on canvas. The giclees on canvas are a line of fine art reproductions of Ms. Ragagli’s oil paintings and are offered in four sizes to fit any wall space. “I am excited to have the reproductions of my oils available, they look amazing and are affordable,” Ms. Ragagli says.
The site incorporates a visually enhanced home page with a modern design, improved functionality, and enhanced rich content. Additional features are a lookbook and a blog highlighting valuable information with topics centered around Barbie and art. The lookbook section features the artwork in rooms that will help visitors visualize the Barbie that best suits the room and space. “I am excited to introduce the new website. The new site offers a richer insight into Barbie and art,” Judy says. “I want visitors to have easy access to essential information, and an engaging experience,” Ms. Ragagli states.
For more information, please visit www.VintageBarbieArt.com
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About
Judy Ragagli
Growing up, Judy Ragagli took great joy in self-expression through the visual arts. It was not until adulthood, however, when she fell under the tutelage of master artist, Paul Bedard. What ensued was a passion for oil painting. During an intensive study, Ragagli unleashed and honed her inner talent for creating stunning, life-like depictions in oil. During this period she poured herself into the craft to create a unique method of handling the paint which is reflected in her one-of-a-kind creations. Ragagli's very first canvas was a portrait of vintage Barbie, a subject that she would later assume as her primary inspiration and focus.
To achieve accurate tonal properties of Barbie’s life-like skin hues, Ragagli employs an arduous process of specialized mixing of colors that few artists have been able to master. Using only seven original color tubes of oil, the artist precisely translates the vast and scintillating color properties of Barbie's skin, hair, and wardrobe as they interact with reflective light. The effect of her process and style culminates in a cohesive vision of the beauty and grace of Barbie and the artist's commentary on the significance of this great American Icon. Her creations are so life-like, many have mistaken them for photographs.
I have always loved vintage Barbie and her mystique of elegance and worldliness. I see her as possessing a soul and positive spirit; her true persona extends beyond the plastic facade. She represents and contains knowledge of culture and society thus becoming more significant that an object for child's play. She is an indicator of trends, a marker of historical eras, and a positive role model for the past, present, and future.
My goal is to pay homage to this surviving icon of modernity, femininity, and style. I want my viewers to recognize nostalgic Barbie as an important and positive influence within American society on both the individual and aggregate levels. Here is a powerful and determined woman who always dresses the part. By presenting Barbie through portraiture I aim to create a vision of Barbie that is still and noble. I strive to elicit veneration from Barbies legacy while painting a mark of beauty and grace into the world.
-Judy Ragagli