Thinkspace Projects is honored to be hosting the sophomore solo exhibition from RAYMOND ARGUMEDO ‘You’ll Find Yourself.’ Known for his unique style that incorporates the best elements of the art nouveau movement mashed up with modern day graphic design sensibilities and Mesoarmerican Mythology, resulting in work that has garnered admiration for its clean execution and minimalist aesthetic, which belies the profound depths of emotion and meaning contained within.
“’You’ll Find Yourself’ is something I say to myself when I’ve gone through life’s hardships or experienced a sense of loss. Saying those words helps remind me of how beautiful life is and encourages me to remain grateful, even during difficult times.”
Our interview with Raymond shares what’s on his bucket list, explores his dream collaboration, and reveals his guilty pleasures.
• Could you walk us through your creative process from conception to completion of a piece?
My creative process usually begins with drawing. I’m always sketching new figures or developing ideas that I can build on later. For this upcoming solo show, I’m actually revisiting illustrations I created five or six years ago that I never fully finished. It’s been exciting to give those ideas a new life and see them evolve with where I am today as an artist.
Once I have a drawing I connect with, I transfer it into a digital format where I can experiment with color palettes, compositions, and patterns before committing to the final painting. That stage gives me the freedom to explore different possibilities while keeping the original idea intact.
When it’s finally time to paint, I leave room for intuition. Even with a clear plan, I like to improvise and respond to the painting as it develops. Those spontaneous decisions give each piece a human touch and make every painting feel unique rather than like a direct copy of the original concept.
• How do you feel your style or technique has evolved over time, and what factors have contributed to this evolution?
I feel my work has evolved by becoming more intentional and mature over time. Early on, I was focused on finishing paintings as quickly as possible, but I’ve learned that creating meaningful work can’t be rushed. I’ve come to appreciate the process and allow each piece the time it needs to develop naturally. I also pour a lot of emotion into every painting, making sure each one is an honest reflection of who I am. That shift in mindset has not only improved my technique but has also made my work feel more authentic and personal.
• What do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
I hope people walk away from my work feeling seen. My paintings are rooted in emotion and personal experiences, but I also want them to create space for viewers to reflect on their own lives. If someone looks at one of my pieces and remembers a feeling, a memory, or a part of themselves they haven’t thought about in a long time, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
Nostalgia plays a big role in my work. It’s a feeling that brings me a lot of joy while I’m creating, and I hope that same sense of reflection and connection is something others experience when they spend time with the paintings.
• What do you enjoy doing on your weekends/free time? Tell us about your guilty pleasure(s).
Man, I love skateboarding still. I force my self to learn new tricks and hit the skatepark. I usually hand out stickers or merch if I have some with me to the youth skating around to hopefully keep them inspired. I enjoy going to concerts and showing my kids new bands I hope they possibly like.
• What’s on your bucket list?
Traveling outside of the country and visit ancient ruins from different cultures has always been on my bucket list. Having a solo show at Thinkspace has been on my bucket list as well. Grateful to be back.
• If you could collaborate with any artists in any sort of medium (i.e. movies, music, painting) who would you collaborate with, and what would you be making?
I would love to collaborate with James Jean and make some sorta sick ass print. The creative process all his prints are made is insane.
• How do you approach the naming of your pieces, and what significance do titles hold for you?
After completing a painting usually step back, crack a beer open and listen to some instrumental music. The paintings will name Itself if you stare at them long enough. I try my best to title each piece appropriately with the vibe it gives off.
• If your paintings could talk, what do you think they would say about you as an artist?
They would be stoked that I created them and gave them life! I put so much effort in my paintings. They would say I’m a humbled artist with dreams big enough to fill the sky.
