Instagram: @raeganlittleart
Email: raeganlittle@rogers.com
Raegan Little has been a part-time student at the University of Waterloo since 2015 and will be finishing her Honours Fine Arts degree this school year. She studied and briefly practiced law before becoming a wife and mother, and has chosen to spend the past twenty plus years staying home with her family. Working in a variety of mediums, she has yet to find the one to keep her focused. Raegan loves the process of making, and whether taking photos, making prints, painting, working with clay or textiles, her artwork is always made with the goal of spreading colour, light and sometimes humour.
Artist Statement
When considering the scope of this project, which is to be my last as a student, I wanted to push myself to create a variety of work while thinking about the continued strain we all feel during the isolation of the pandemic. bARTer has allowed me to explore a variety of mediums; some that I am comfortable with and many that I am not. Creating a work of art every day, which can be exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, has turned out to be only half of the project. Posting the work on Instagram, focusing on getting new followers to trade with, connecting, engaging, responding, and then doing the actual trade by either meeting in person or mailing… all of this has been such a positive learning experience. Knowing that the work I make is being sent out into the world daily, and that others value it enough to create something in response, makes the disconnect of the pandemic seem a little less apparent and much more tolerable.
bARTer (installation view), 2022, postcards of Reagan Little's original works, letters, monitor, traded works by various artists.
bARTer (installation view), 2022, postcards of Reagan Little's original works, letters, monitor, traded works by various artists.
bARTer (installation view), 2022, postcards of Reagan Little's original works, letters, monitor, traded works by various artists.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Screencapture of instagram feed for bARTer project.
Interview Questions
What aspects of your life inspire your art?
My family and friends, who continually surprise me with their enthusiasm and support of my work, inspire me to continue to create. I find I am productive only when I am happy, and so colour, light and humour are key to my success in making art.
What are your preferred mediums and why are you drawn to them?
Oh, I wish I had an answer to this. The medium that I am working in at the time is almost always my preferred medium. Other than drawing, which I actually like but am hopeless at, I love making art. Whether it is works on paper (prints, cyanotypes, watercolours), getting messy with clay/ceramics, painting or working with textiles, I thoroughly enjoy whatever I’m doing at the time.
Where do you see yourself in the future? Ho do you see your art practice evolving?
I can envision my current project evolving into something less immediate and more long lasting and substantial. The only downside to making a work every day is that I don’t ever have an opportunity to really delve into a large and/or serious body of work. I will continue to take art classes and will look into a residency in the near future, with the hopes of continuing to be inspired to create.
What do you want people to know about you as an artist?
Only that I now consider myself an artist! Making art isn’t intimidating or scary, and having imposters’ syndrome doesn’t help anyone.
What is the most significant thing you will take away from your Fine Arts studies?
It is never to late to go back to school, and it can take a lifetime to find your passion. The staff, professors and students have all been so positive, welcoming and encouraging. ECH is a wonderful building, but it is the people in it who make it special.