Ronald Ragland
May 5, 1935 - June 8, 2022
Ronald honorably served his country in the US Army, he attended Ringling College of Art and Design and King's College.
The collector prints that he painted, that are currently on display in 43 States and Canada, take us back to another time and place, when the sky was clear and the air was cleaner. The price and shipping simple to go along with this theme. He never desired fortune from his art, only to share the essence of a simpler time with anyone who was interested
His background in art goes back to the time when he was a first grade farm boy. His teacher recognized his talent and assigned him a 6 foot mural to paint while the other childern were being taught to read. In high school, he had the expected job of art editor of the annuals and other school related projects.
After graduating from Ringling School of Art, Ronald worked for Ferree Art Studios in Raleigh, NC. Ferree Studios was the advertising agency of T. S. Ferree Jr., an commercial artist, graphic designer and advertising executive based in Raleigh, N.C.
For 16 years Ronald was co-owner, vice president, and art director of Percivall Advertising and also a subsidiary company: Agri-Select, a direct mail marketing company.
The variety of his work was very interesting, from small companies to large corporations such as General Electric and Ford Motor Company. He even designed a building for a fast food restaurant and the ad campaign for a presidential candidate.
He won local and national awards for his advertising art.
Before retirement Ronald represented Lockwood Publishing Co. of New York while keeping his office in Raleigh. The advertising art he did for Lockwood Publishing was seen all over the world, a long way from Miss May White's first grade class.
Ronald's hobbies were weight lifting and car shows with his 1957 Bel Air Chevrolet. He's also won first place trophies in these competitions.
In 1959 he was drafted and was lucky enough to be assigned as an Army artist in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. During his 2 years he won National Army Awards for his poster designs and Army training art. Ronald received world-wide attention through the "Army Times" and all the major newspapers in the U.S. for his painting of the new M-60 tank that later hung in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (see photo).
His best award of all was his great family: a wife of over 50 years, 2 sons, a daughter, and 5 grandchildren.
Now his family carries on his legacy with pride and love. We honor his memory by continuing to keep the art that he loved available and affordable. Those were his values, and we are committed to honor them ensuring that his spirit lives on.