We were lucky to catch up with Allison Ragle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Allison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change when I started my creative career. I initially began pursuing biology with the intention of making it my career back in 2016. I was deeply invested in the field, but as time passed, I found myself burning out. The heavy coursework and constant pressure gradually drained my passion, and I started to lose my sense of direction.

When the pandemic hit and I found myself in online classes I hit a mental low. During this low point, I was asked by a garden id been volunteering at to paint a mural. This 500 square foot mural was what kickstarted my path back towards art. Painting again felt so freeing, I promised to myself I’d never take a break again. The more I allowed myself to create, the more I realized that I didn’t have to choose between art and science. In fact, blending the two not only revived my passion for biology but also opened new doors. I learned scientific illustration and began studying softwares to blend the two fields. Bringing art back into my life led to more opportunities in the sea turtle conservation field because I had skill sets a lot of conservationists lacked. It felt like I found myself again, and the balance between the two disciplines restored my energy. I now do sea turtle rescue and research half the time, and paint half the time.

Had I started art earlier, I might not have had the scientific foundation that now fuels much of my creative work. And if I had waited longer, I might not have realized the importance of balancing both passions. So, looking back, I think everything happened at the right time. The struggles I faced in biology led me to reconnect with art, and both now play an essential role in my life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As an artist, I’ve always been fascinated by the relationship between nature and emotion, which stems from my early background in biology. I initially pursued biology as a career, but after experiencing burnout, I turned to art as a way to reconnect with myself. That’s when I realized I didn’t have to separate science from art; instead, I could merge them to create unique, expressive works that explore both.

I focus on creating mixed-media art that draws inspiration from natural forms, biological patterns, and organic textures, often blending them with human emotion and abstract elements. My work ranges from large-scale paintings and prints to custom commissions, where I collaborate closely with clients to bring their vision to life, often by translating scientific or personal themes into visual storytelling.

What sets me apart is this fusion of art and science. My background allows me to offer a perspective that is not only visually captivating but also intellectually engaging, making my work stand out in both fine art and academic spaces. I help my clients by providing them with custom pieces that evoke a deep connection to nature or science, offering art that speaks both to the heart and the mind.

I’m most proud of how I’ve been able to channel both sides of myself—scientist and artist—into a cohesive brand that resonates with a diverse audience. What I want potential clients and followers to know is that my work is about connection: connecting nature with emotion, science with creativity, and people with their own stories through art. Every piece I create is an invitation to see the world through a lens that’s both analytical and deeply emotional.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I survived losing my apartment and recovered from sexual assault by creating and selling my artwork.

In 2021, my roommate at the time got involved in a domestic violence situation. After one particularly traumatizing weekend I had to leave my apartment for good. After a month of couch surfing, I finally found a 1 bedroom near my university that I could call home. This was all happening only a few months after I was drugged and sexually assaulted by a stranger on a night out. My health had taken a huge hit after that event and I was fighting kidney infections what felt like every other week. In just a few months it felt like my whole life had unraveled in front of me.

The price tag of the new apartment wasn’t in my budget. However my options were running out, so I signed the lease and decided I’d figure it out. The first few months were dark. I donated plasma to get by and posted that my commissions were open nearly every day. I had panic attacks in my classes and I was failing all of them.

I was deeply depressed but I was devoted to my healing process. Slowly those commissions came in, and I got to work. Painting helped soothe all of the trauma that I was recovering from and living alone gave me the space I needed to create and heal.

Now nearly three years later, that apartment has become my safe haven and my first true studio space. I took time off of school, healed myself through art, then returned strong and finished my degree in August of 2023. I had straight A’s and took on a whole new research project my final semester. I had a full time biology job by the next April.

Now I look back at where I was a few short years ago and am so proud because I almost gave up on myself. But since I’m stubborn as hell, I just kept pushing and now my art business is booming with huge commissions, regular live paintings and a bustling little online shop, plus I have my dream job doing sea turtle research. All thanks to my resiliency and determination to overcome obstacles.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by a desire to explore and reveal the interconnectedness between the natural world and human experience. I aim to bridge the gap between science and art, showing that they’re not separate realms but two ways of understanding and interacting with the world. Through my work, I hope to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity in others, encouraging them to see the beauty and complexity of nature, while also reflecting on their own emotions and inner landscapes.

Ultimately I believe if people reconnect with nature we can begin to heal the wounds we have left as a society on this planet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://allisonragle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allison.ragle?igsh=b2hzaTlkajNtazg1&utm_source=qr