Collection: Remembering Dad

My dad, Joseph Ray, was a lifelong artist and designer. At age 70, he retired from a career as a product designer of picture frame moulding for a national chain of craft stores. When I was in elementary school, he owned a small picture frame shop just a walk away from our home. 

Dad helped me get this business started and offered some of his artwork to me for "repurposing". We enjoyed coming up with new ideas and sharing them with customers at local craft/art markets, and although we tested each other's patience at times, I was happy to have him as my mentor. I coaxed him into telling me stories behind why he created the pieces. You'll find many of them on the back of the notecards or art prints we created.

In December 2023, dad was diagnosed with an aggressive stage four metastatic lung cancer. He entered a hospice house, where he passed away on January 28, 2024, in the small town where he was born. Before his passing, we spent many hours talking about his artwork and what he wished for me to do with it. He said for me to "keep it going" because he loved sharing his artistic "stories" with those who were willing to receive them.

So, you'll find many of dad's pieces merged in here with mine. He wanted it that way, and so do I.

Pops, you're missed terribly.