Ray Hare
“Drawing is like trying to swim on dry ground, but painting is diving into the deep and fighting for your life.” — Ray Hare
Ray Hare's paintings are said to be photorealism at its best. But his art goes beyond realistic likeness. The larger-than-life close-ups are depicted with all their infinite color and details; as if he held a magnifying glass up to his subject and painted what he saw. Hare’s unique vision through enlarged images and illusions is shared through paintings that grasp the essence of his subjects. The emotional impact confronts and challenges us to view reality with renewed emotion.
A native of California, Hare has expressed himself through art from an early age. In high school, he won numerous state and national competitions. He received a full scholarship to California College of Arts and Crafts where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with High Distinction. Ray then went to San Francisco State University to receive his Masters of Fine Art. He is based in Orange County, California where he and his wife Susan raised their three children.
Hare's art has been shown in numerous museums including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, DeYoung Museum, Oakland Museum, Crocker Kingsley Art Museum, and the Los Angeles Art Institute. He was commissioned by ABC to paint a portrait of Oprah Winfrey for her private collection, by NBC to paint a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor for her private collection, and by Fox Network to paint a portrait of Ray Charles. His work is in numerous private collections, and many prominent corporations and institutions throughout the United States and Europe.
