Name: Raquel Antoinette
Twitter: @artbyraquel
Facebook: Art By Raquel Antoinette
Instagram: @artbyraquelantoinette
Website: artbyraquel.com
Age: 25
Title: Artist, Founder & CEO
Married/Single: Single
Kids: 2 fur babies
City you live in: Scottsdale
A typical day in my life includes…
Morning coffee, classes/seminars, designing new merchandise, preparing and shipping orders, reading, studying, painting, working on illustrations, and then ending the day with a workout and quality time with my loved ones.
I was born… in Scottsdale, Arizona.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
I love everything about Arizona. I love the vibrant sunsets, I love how easily accessible hiking trails are, the brilliant desert vistas, experiencing four seasons, and believe it or not, I even miss the dry heat when visiting places with warm humid climates. Needless to say, I’m a desert baby through and through.
I’m listening to…
Audiobooks and Podcasts more than music lately. A few great books I checked out while in quarantine were Atomic Habits by James Clear, Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari. Some podcasts I have been listening to are The Entre Leadership Podcast, The Gary Vee Audio Experience, The $100 MBA Show, and Whitney Cummings Good For You.
My family…
Is everything to me. Although more than half of my family still resides in Sicily, we all prioritize maintaining a close relationship with one another and that is something I appreciate more and more as I get older.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
With my future self. As much as I would love to discuss art and inventions with Leonardo Da Vinci, the advice I could receive from my future self would probably be more advantageous to me.
One thing I cannot live without…
Whether it be painting, designing, illustrating, etc., I need to have projects in my life that keep me productive and creative. Even on occasions when I watch something on Netflix, I always have a project in front of me to stay productive while I watch.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
A singer or an actress. I still think both occupations would be fun to try.
I’m inspired by…
People, nature, architecture, music, athletes, small towns, big cities.. I could go on and on. The world is a very intriguing place. It’s impossible not to be inspired by all of it.
One person who motivates me is…
Kobe Bryant. You don’t have to be a basketball player or even an athlete to be inspired by the “Mamba Mentality”. His philosophy can truly be applied to anything you pursue in your lifetime.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… to eradicate the desires some humans have to inflict physical and emotional abuse onto other humans and animals.
The perfect day would be…
Spent in a bucket list travel destination, painting the scenery, turning my phone off, and not thinking about any responsibilities. I have always wanted to spend a day like that.
My favorite escape…
When the opportunity presents itself, my favorite escape will always be visiting my family in Sicily. However, my more frequent escapes typically look like a sunrise or sunset hike here in Arizona. The views are breathtaking and the trail always helps restore my energy and clear my mind.
My life…
Is a blessing. I’m thankful for every beautiful chapter, especially the ones that challenged my perspective and forced me to grow.
I’m currently working on…
Growing my brand, illustrating my first book, various client projects, and furthering my education.
Always… apologize when you should, help others when you can, begin each day with a grateful heart, and cherish the people you love. Tomorrow is not promised.
Never… argue with or explain yourself to someone who is committed to misunderstanding you.
Favorite Quote…
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”
Biggest Dream…
I don’t have a grand dream in particular, but I know that I want to live a meaningful life that will positively impact other lives around me, and I hope to see the world along the way.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
When a person’s actions are inconsistent with their words and when one judges others with a standard that they do not uphold for themselves.
More About Raquel Antoinette:
My name is Raquel Antoinette and I am a first generation American, born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. My family immigrated to the United States from the island of Sicily.
I am an economics major with a minor in digital marketing, as well as an Artist. When I was 19, I began working as an Artist for a brand called VIDA which gave me some experience in clothing design as well as some insight on how to market myself as an artist.
At 21, I founded my very own brand “Art by Raquel Antoinette” to showcase my artwork in a modern way and reach an audience of young art enthusiasts through social media platforms. We recently launched the brand website which offers art prints, apparel, accessories, and more!
Customers will soon have the option to purchase original artwork directly off the site as well.
