by Hanna Singh
Since picking back up her love of art several years ago, local artist Ragan Thorne has created an art style inspired by her own hometown and state. Specializing in oil painting, Thorne creates still life and landscape works, highlighting the beauty of Louisiana’s nature, wildlife, architecture and unique culture.
Instilled with a passion for art from a young age, Thorne initially wanted to attend college to pursue an art related degree in 2015. However, she eventually settled on a different route in the education field. After several years of straying away from art, Thorne became inspired by another local artist to pick up the paint brush again.
“In 2024, after having our second child, a friend of mine, Emily Morris Art, started posting her acrylic paintings,” Thorne said. “She, a full-time working wife and mom, inspired me and gave me the confidence to pour into something I once loved and was so passionate about.”
So, she began painting, this time with oil paint. Thorne started small, posting her artwork on her personal Facebook page. But as her passion grew, so did her audience. With the encouragement and support from friends and family in her community, Thorne launched her art page, “Ragan Thorne Artwork”, where she solely posts her works of art and puts many of them up for sale. While still balancing life as a full-time teacher, wife and mom, Thorne believes that it is important to dedicate some of herself to something just for her.
“Art and painting allow for such a creative outlet,” Thorne said. “It really varies what I choose to create each time I pick up a paintbrush. Sometimes it’s the things around me, whether a landscape and sunset, or it may be little pieces of my life such as a still life of a favorite snack, Ruston peaches, or snippets of Louisiana – a recent joy.”
Thorne’s style of work focuses on the use of texture, blending of colors and utilizing the aspects of oil that sometimes other mediums don’t allow. Leaning into the impressionism style, her pieces use loose brushstrokes and focus on the bigger picture, rather than the small details. Her soft and elegant style highlights a quiet yet colorful side of Louisiana, giving us a glimpse of the way Thorne sees the world.
While her local audience grows, Thorne takes each day as it comes. Even though her art has become a talking point in the town of Ruston, she recognizes that being an artist is only one of the many roles she enjoys holding. As for the future, Thorne plans to go with the flow, creating what she enjoys and savoring the season of life she is in now.
“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing right now; allowing it to be my side gig,” Thorne said. “Although I love having that creative time away, I still thrive in and enjoy my other roles. Maybe one day I could see myself hosting an art camp for kids. But for now, I’ll create and share when I can and continue to participate in occasional markets and art fairs, including the Peach Fest. But who knows what the future holds.”
