Biography

Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. Graduate of ‘Youngstown State University’ with degrees in theology and philosophy. In his senior year Ray backpacked India solo for three months studying their culture first hand and met the Dalai Lama, visited Pakistan, Nepal and made efforts to enter Tibet but was stopped at the Tibetan boarder due to the Chinese restrictions. Ray planned a return to India to live out his years studying ancient language and eastern philosophy but ended up settling down and developing an interest in the arts. First by designing and building rustic furniture as he found in his Gypsy ancestry. Ray gained national attention doing prestigious juried and invitational high-end Museum, Art and Craft shows such as ‘The Rustic Furniture Museum’, Blue Mountain Lake, NY. ‘The Butler Art Museum’, Youngstown, Ohio to name a few along with many top ten rated Art and Craft shows in the N. Eastern and Mid Western US. Ray’s desire for uniqueness in building ‘Museum Quality’ pieces earned him the reputation of “Master Builder” by his peers and public. Today Ray finds his calling in his inner passion through art by creating and designing a limited number of one of a kind and commissioned pieces to be placed in homes, galleries and offices. He strives for a special intrinsic value in each of his works. He states "The kind of intrinsic value where one can feel a ‘special’ inner comfort just by being in the presence of one of my creations. Like the feel of a cool breeze on a warm tropical day or an inner warmth on a cool winters’ morning”. “REST AND BE THANKFUL”