Meet Ray Abary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Abary.

Hi Ray, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I fell in love with art as early as I can remember. I enjoyed drawing and painting at an early age. In school, Art was my always my favorite class. Knowing that I wanted pursue visual arts, I went to High School for Creative and Performing Arts in Philadelphia and then got my BFA in Illustration at School of Visual Arts in NYC. Eventually, I ended up in living in Los Angeles. In 2019, a friend asked me to paint signage and a mural for her storefront. I always had an interest in sign painting but never really tried it, so I said yes and figured it out along the way. From that job, I got another job to paint more signs and a mural in a restaurant. I was still unsure if I was doing things the correct way or there was a more efficient approach. In 2021 during the pandemic, I saw a post that LA Trade Tech Sign Graphics teachers Doc Guthrie & Carlos Aguilar were offering a semester of Zoom classes, so I got in last minute. It was the perfect opportunity to learn sign-painting techniques while still getting sign-painting jobs. I’m forever grateful for all the invaluable knowledge they’ve shared and the pleasure of getting to know the other students from around the country and not just in Los Angeles.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Sometimes it’s been smooth, sometimes not, but when it’s not is when you learn hard lessons which can be a blessing in disguise. At times I’ve struggled with overextending myself and learning when to say no to a job. I would always say yes to everything because I needed the work and was grateful for every opportunity. I soon realized that I took on more than I could accommodate for. I’d have to pull all-nighters and it would burn me out. Now, with some experience under my belt, I’ve been getting better at knowing when to say no if it’s not the right time, right fit or I just don’t have the capacity for it. Working hard can be good for your physical and mental health but too much can drain your energy. Maintaining a healthy balance is important.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a visual artist with a focus on hand-painted signs and designs. I use my skill set to work with clients, help realize their vision and create something that honors their business. I haven’t been doing this for that long, so every job has been a new and unique challenge. I enjoy the process of figuring out the most effective solution to each job, even if it’s as simple as placement of a logo on a building or as complex as designing and painting a cohesive visual vocabulary for a client’s business.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Patience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.handpaintedbyray.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/handpaintedbyray