We were lucky to catch up with Santi Ruggeri recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Santi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’d actually like to address the other side of this question. I have what you would describe as a regular job, while my artistic endeavors are my side gig. Let’s just say there have been many, many times throughout my workday when I will catch myself daydreaming about what it would be like to be an artist full-time.

I imagine what it would be like to be able to devote my days to art projects, to have the energy to get my work out there, or to simply not be so pooped after a day of 9-5. I do try to not get stuck in the “grass is always greener” mindset, but that is easier said than done.

Because a large amount of my day is spent on a regular job, it’s simply a lot harder to produce what I would consider a high quantity amount of work. If we’re being honest, that does disappoint me if not a teensy lil’ bit. I want people to recognize my work, but that is quite tough when I don’t have a lot of work to share!

It’s taken me a while to learn that not all artistic endeavors have to be high-stakes or “all-or-nothing” like I have been treating them. So that is one area where I am trying to improve. Why put enormous amounts of pressure on myself when I can just have fun with it? Overall, I am happy with where I am as an artist, but I am striving for something more!

Santi, 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?

My name is Santi, and I am a professional goober. I mainly take up a lot of creative projects centered around cartoony characters that I call “Goobs”.

You can create just about anything with a Goob. I make stickers, prints, hats, and animations centered around wacky fellers and silly dudes. Goobs have also been featured in a children’s book, a music video, and a Goob-themed deck of cards! I love playing cards, so it’s very common for me to roll up anywhere with a deck in hand. At some point I thought it would be so cool to make my own deck, so that’s what I did! I’m very proud of how they came out, so be sure to check out the Deck of Goobs on my website!

Another one of my passions is bags. That may sound weird just saying out loud, but if you were to look in my closet you would find a large collection of different backpacks, tote bags, and shoulder packs. What was once just a passion has turned into a full-on venture as I like to sew tote bags. All of my tote bags are made with recycled materials, mainly blankets, but I like the aesthetic and challenge of mismatched patterns and fabrics. Be on the lookout here because I have plans for Goobs-related hip belt bags!

If you’re looking for a sort of higher meaning to the Goob, then I have to stop you there. Goobs is meant to take the serious non-seriously, to be zany and whimsical, to just have fun :)

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I mentioned this briefly in the first question, but a lesson that I am still in the process of unlearning is that not every art project has to be bigger and better than the last. I’ve described myself as a project-oriented person before, and that’s because I will take up these huge endeavors and focus on little else in the meantime.

For some context, Goobs started out as funny stickers. Once I had my fill of cutting out dozens of pieces of sticker paper, I transitioned into writing and illustrating an entire children’s book. This took up pretty much a whole year, as writing and illustrating a children’s book is no easy feat.

After I had published my book, I jumped into an animated music video for a single that my friend’s band was releasing, shoutout to Alright Party! This again took up most of my year, and I did not do much of anything else besides that.

So as you can see, I load my artistic plate up with these huge projects, without leaving much space for bite-sized doodles and drawings. So what I am hammering in my head is that art doesn’t have to be such a big deal, it can be casual, fun, plain, and simple! Of course, art can be complex, serious, and meaningful as well; both types of art can co-exist. So for me, finding the right balance between the two is what I am setting out to accomplish.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

My favorite moment in creating is “the step back”. This is the moment of the last brush stroke, the final chord to tie the song together, or the decisive and ultimate sentence of a book. It is the moment where you finally “step back” and view the result of endless hours of effort. That step back moment offers the chance to reflect on your process and to fully realize that all that hard work led to creating…this!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.doodlegoobs.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doodle.goobs/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doodlegoobs/featured

Image Credits
All photos taken by me :)