Bathed in the warm glow of the Texas Hill Country sun, Ray Hadaway wields his paintbrush like a wizard casting spells of joy onto the canvas before him. This Houston-born artist has found his muse amid the wildflowers and rolling terrain, conjuring up a "Contemporary Folk Fusion" style all his own. Though inspired by masters like Van Gogh, Warhol, and Picasso, his whimsical folk renderings have an unmistakable Texas twist. Vibrant brushstrokes seemingly dance across landscapes and stylized portraits, evoking an irresistible sense of happiness with each study of nature's beauty.
1. When did you know you loved creating art? Tell us more about your schooling and the evolution of your unique style.
“That’s a good question, that resonates with me quite a bit. When did I “know.” I always had an active imagination as a kid, I especially liked to play games on paper, where I drew characters and objects and interacted with them. I found that my learning style is to actively doodle when I am listening to something I need to retain. The act of drawing and visualizing has a strong impact on me and in general I just like to create as it puts me in a calm and happy state of mind. My mother and father were both artists, I enjoyed being around them, listening to them and watching them be creative. When we moved to the hill country near Luckenbach, Texas, I spent almost every summer day playing in a clear spring-fed creek making rock sculptures and molding clay collected from the creek banks.”
As an adult Ray realized he had a gift of visualization. “One day my wife and I were looking at a home we were considering purchasing and admired the art and how it was styled. She said she would love a home with some art.
That was it. That was the moment I became an artist. I had a Forest Gump moment, with no formal training I just started painting and painting. In much the same way a musician passionately learns an instrument, I did the same, and became persistent in learning how to paint, adapting the colors and styles I liked to my own tastes and technique. I reflected on my past and realized, I have always been an artist.”
2. I especially love your donkeys. The first painting I saw was the Donkey Rodeo. It made me smile, study it and then sit back and just admire the composition and how happy it made me. How do people respond to your work?
“Thank you, that painting kind of has two names. I released it as Donkey Rodeo and now I call it Donkey Sunset, but it’s the same painting. Generally, the responses I get are on par with what you mentioned. It makes people smile and gives a bit of lighthearted energy to the viewer.”
3. What is the most unique commissioned painting you have ever done?
“A unique commission I recently completed is called Hare and Prickly Pear, which features a jackrabbit jumping over prickly pear with the sun beaming diamonds of colorful light down. It’s a very large mixed-media piece framed in birch. Sometimes, like with this commission, the patrons put together a little dinner party to celebrate the completion, and though I don’t expect it, I have found these celebrations to be the icing on the cake.”
4. Tell us about your next chapter.
“Right now, feels like the next chapter is to continue to be creative and build art that is identifiable as a “Ray”. It’s now possible to reach a larger audience than the former well-known artists dreamed about. For that reason, I can share this journey in real-time. I believe my art is an inner reflection of my heart, and as long I remain true to that, the possibilities are endless. I’m fortunate to have good friends like the owners of Richard Schmidt Jewelry and Melissa’s Art Shop, in Round Top, Texas, who represent my art year-round. In addition to that I have a current show in the fabulous Lockhart, Texas at Commerce Gallery.”
With a warm smile, Ray leans back, surveying his latest vibrant landscape rendering the iconic rolling hills and bright wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country. His brushstrokes are bold, capturing the rustic charm with a stylized, primitive flair.
"Art should make you feel something," he says, "For me, that's the pure joy of this beautiful place and the profound love for my wife Meredith - my endless muse and inspiration for picking up the paintbrush again."
Ray's heartfelt works have struck a chord far beyond the Lone Star State's borders, with commissions arriving from across the globe - the Netherlands, Chile, London, and Mexico.
However, he remains humble about his growing reputation. "If I can share that feeling of hope, sunshine, and happy simplicity through my paintings, well, I'd say I'm one fortunate fella." As our interview concludes, Ray heads back outside to his easel, dripping brush in hand. The Hill Country's kaleidoscope of colors awaits - a boundless source of inspiration for this gentleman artist's charming, uplifting vision.