Art is a language.
Raya was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan to a family who embraced the creative lifestyle. At 16, she auditioned and was accepted to apprentice with Sculptor and Professor (and co-founder of the Art Department of New College) Jack Cartlidge at his studio in Sarasota, Florida. With his encouragement, Raya set on the difficult but highly rewarding path of self-education, turning away from conventional art school training and forging her own way, occasionally taking a workshop or community college class with a teacher whose work or knowledge intrigued her.
Raya has spent the past 38 years refining and expanding her artistic capabilities and visions; first as a jewelry designer then print maker and now painter. In the mid-1980's she took a two year break from jewelry design to create limited edition prints while managing the etching department for the Phoenix Art Press, a Fine Art Publishing company. While working within that intensely creative atmosphere, Raya saw her work selling throughout the United States; giving her great confidence and a lust for color and paint which continues today. She began to travel to Europe to further her understanding and development as a painter through independent study in France; the most recent visit in 2006, with a month long Artist's Residency in the South of France.
Now living near Santa Fe, New Mexico, Raya continues her personal path as a Creative Expansionist; defined simply as the dedicated and continuous evolution of all creative capabilities, for the full exploration and expression of her visions, interests and understandings (whatever those may be) through her Art Making.
In Raya's abstract landscapes, with their unique aerial views, we see opposites abound; pattern versus simplicity, abstraction versus realism. Yet, there is a unity to her paintings, with their strong compositions and pleasing color palettes. This juxtaposition seeks to spark meaningful conversation in the hopes of discovering a broader perspective.
