Today we’d like to introduce you to Santi Ruggeri.
Hi Santi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
This story all began with a smiley face 🙂
I have been doodling silly characters doing silly things since I could hold a pencil. While my teachers were explaining vital educational concepts, I would be drawing smiley-faced characters in the margin of my notebook. While my parents were listening intently to the pastor’s sermon every Sunday, my brother and I would be trading nonsensical comics drawn on tithe envelopes.
I had been drawing for so long that I figured if I was going to start putting my art out there, I had to have a name. With lightning cracking across the sky, thunder roaring in abject terror, and cows flying left and right with the winds, the name Goobs was born. To me, it felt like a perfect representation of my drawings. It also helps that it is a super fun word to say. Goobs, Goober, Goobify – try it for yourself!
Of course, as soon as I came up with the name, all the cows were safely placed down to continue on with their grazing.
In my last semester of college, I enrolled in an entrepreneurship class where the focus throughout the year was to create a business. The first thing that came to mind was Goobs. Not just any old Goobs however, this would be Goobs in sticker form. My hopes were that I could sell Goobs-branded stickers to the general public, become an overnight sensation, and buy a pool big enough for me to swim in my millions of dollars.
Unfortunately, that was not a very sustainable business model, so that pitch did not make it very far.
I tend to be a project-oriented person. When I get an idea, I can’t stop thinking about it until I actually do it. Despite not making it far in class, I decided to make my stickers for fun.
Once I had my fill with stickers, I got the idea of writing a children’s book.
Once I published my book, my friends approached me to make an animated music video for a song in their upcoming album.
Once we shared that for the world to see, I wanted to learn how to sew a tote bag. My sister’s birthday was coming up and I thought it would make for a good present.
I’ve made a whole lot of tote bags since then, and people really took a liking to them! Because of my bags, I was given the opportunity to open a pop-up Goobs shop during the last Vintagepalooza (the premiere vintage clothing event in Baltimore).
That brings us all the way to today. I now have my sights set on renovating an old camper van, formally known as the Goobsmobile, so that I can travel across the country and create that which gives me joy in as many beaches, forests, and mountains as I can.
At this point, Goobs has expanded beyond just silly little drawings. It has become an adventure into creation. I am lucky to have some Grade-A friends who have supported me long before Goobs was even a thing. I hope to make them proud, as well as myself, by taking this Goobs thing as far as I can.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been bumps here and there, but the hardest part of my journey has been, and still is, finding an audience. Putting yourself out there is one thing but being received by whoever is “out there” is another thing entirely. It’s incredibly easy to get discouraged when something you post online doesn’t blow up or get a good amount of traction. That discouragement is something I have felt many times before!
Though I do get discouraged at times, I am always reminded of the satisfaction I get from creating. I do believe that finding your audience is something that comes naturally from putting your genuine self out there, and so I’ll keep on truckin’.
To all the people who have supported Goobs so far, thank you kindly!
To all the people who haven’t yet, come on in!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Over the years I have picked up many distinctions. I’m a doodler, a dancer, a film photographer, a snowboarder, an author, a vintage collector, a hiker, a whittler, an animator, and most importantly, a human being.
All these different pieces of myself got their start the same way, by diving head in! I find pride in taking up challenging projects or activities where I have little prior knowledge. It’s not uncommon for my friends to ask what random thing I am working on this time.
Of all the different activities I have dipped my toes in, I am incredibly proud of two certain projects.
The first is The Bizarre Bazaar, a self-published children’s book written and drawn entirely by me! I have always thought that it would be a fun challenge to write a children’s book, and then one day the name Bizarre Bazaar came to me. From there, all sorts of ideas started pouring out and I ended up with a finished book! I learned the whole process behind self-publishing, all the way from how to use the drawing software to how to format the final print copy.
The second is an animated music video for my friend’s band Alright Party! I love animation as a medium and I think it’s one of the most expressive forms of creativity. I have created small animations just for fun, but nothing close to the scale that I did for this music video. I watched countless YouTube tutorials to learn Blender (an amazing modeling tool that’s completely free) and just got so much satisfaction from watching my finished video. This project absolutely cemented my love for animation which makes me want to pursue it further and learn how to get better. Be sure to check out Party Invitation by Alright Party, and don’t forget the popcorn!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I tend to be more on the introverted side and will immediately put my earbuds in if I’m out and about. Rarely would I ever strike up a conversation with strangers out in public. Then the whole world was struck by this crisis, and it wasn’t until then that I learned how important it is to be part of a community.
Interacting with your community can be as simple as a wave to the regulars you see at the gym or a pleasant chat with the vendors at the farmer’s market. When quarantines started to lift, I decided to take the earbuds out and meet some people. I’ve now become more involved within my personal communities and have genuinely grown from the experience. I’ve met some stellar people and have shared ideas, drinks, and contact information.
Pricing:
- The Bizarre Bazaar – $15
- Rag Tag Bags – $30-$55
Contact Info:
- Email: doodlegoobsdrawing@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.doodlegoobs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doodle.goobs/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyKQCu7ccmcm6Z_FJ2pV3Gw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D5isoSbMSw
Image Credits
Santi Ruggeri
