We were lucky to catch up with Raven Blue recently and have shared our conversation below.
Raven , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I would say showing people who you really are in an authentic way is taking a risk. A lot of us were taught to be a certain way when we were children. How to be in the world. How to conduct ourselves. How to dress. And still as time goes on, society tells us who to be. One risk I have taken recently was performing in a Minx + Muse (check them out)Burlesque Show. It was the most liberating but also scary. To perform in front of strangers and strip down to pasties was an incredible experience. There is something about being naked..that letting go of pressures that society puts on me. I was worried. Do I look fat? Am I sexy enough? Will people like my performance? In the end it was about celebrating me and who I really am. It was fun and I will probably be doing more.
Raven , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started out as more of an alternative model in 2013 in Seattle Washington and then moved to Austin, Texas in 2016. I started modeling at the age of 40. I was really drawn to alternative fashion and lifestyle. I still am, but I have grown as an artist. All I wanted to do was create with artists.
I like the darker esthetics, Horror, Fetish but also have a well rounded portfolio of artistic nudes, fantasy, art, fashion, pinup and boudoir. I’ve walked in Fashion Shows and support artists of all kinds. I am not a one show pony.
I have moved into more of the artistic realm. Self Expression is my main focus. Dance and Performance Art. If it’s deep I am all over it. Art should make you feel something. It should tell a story. Make you think.
I am a spokes model for Sinister Magazine. All things horror. That community needs more support.
I have a team of artists and we started an artist collective called Jokers Eye Collective. The meaning behind it is Through the eye of the joker. The joker is the wild one and expect the unexpected. The premise is explore different sides of oneself even the darker sides that might scare you. But it’s open ended.
I am slowly working on this community so if you have questions, contact me.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My journey has always been about pushing past societal expectations and to show my true self.
Yes, I am one of the older models/muse. I am athletic. My body is my body. I’m not changing that for anyone. When I have walked in fashion shows in the past, I felt like the old person in the room that no one could dress. Older women are into fashion too. Designers should be able to fit a model no matter what size. Skinnier is not better. Women and men come in all sizes. That is slowly changing but not soon enough.
But all-in-all, resilience comes with not caring what people think and do it with passion. And be VERY selective on who you work with.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Listen. Watch. Support. Buy their work. Blood sweat and tears come from what they do. It’s not easy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ravenblue.org
- Instagram: @raven.blue13
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Ravenblue13
Image Credits
Candice Ghai Roy Varga Jokers Eye Collective Wicked Vision Photography Brandon Torres Camilla Kaiser Photography