Ray DellaMura
Ray DellaMura uses classical painting techniques to capture moments in time as they would exist in someone's subconscious. Largely inspired by archival advertisements, classic films, and Old Master portraits, he works primarily in oils and stretches each canvas by hand in his studio in Brooklyn, New York. DellaMura completed his undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College with a Bachelor's in Art. He then studied realistic oil portrait painting at SVA's Extended Learning Program.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Ray DellaMura: To me, growth means acceptance. Accepting what has come before and accepting what could come in the future - always trying to improve in one way or another and learn from my experiences.
Collect Bean: What does an ideal day in your studio look like?
Ray DellaMura: I get to my studio on preferably a sunny morning - I work best in natural light. Then I put on an audiobook or a really long album/playlist; something I don’t have to keep skipping or have to pick up my phone at all to interact with. Sometimes, I even put my phone on the other side of the room and try not to touch it for at least 4 hours. To me, my phone is my biggest studio enemy. I hate it, but I’ve gotten better at not looking at it. I’ll have lunch around 2 - probably tuna fish - then back to painting till around 5 or 6. The perfect day.
Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?
Ray DellaMura: I have a bookshelf in my studio with a hoard of old magazines, vintage Playboys, art books, and vintage baseball programs, which I constantly look at. Even if I’ve looked at them 100 times before, sometimes I’ll see something that I haven’t noticed before, or I’ll read an article from 1972 or whatever time period the magazine is from and it’ll spark some inspiration. Of course, there is always the internet, but I like something physical to hold and look through.
Collect Bean: If you could be in a show with any artist, who would it be and why?
Ray DellaMura: If I could be in a show with any artist it would be someone like Ed Ruscha. I’ve been obsessed with his work for as long as I can remember and I think our paintings together would complement each other. Not to mention, it would be a total dream to show alongside him.
Collect Bean: What is something that you do to stay focused?
Ray DellaMura: Something that I do to stay focused is being obsessed with the end goal of the painting. Seeing my progress keeps me going and helps me stay focused. Coffee helps, too.
Collect Bean: How do you decide on the subject matter for a painting?
Ray DellaMura: I decide the subject matter of a painting by initially being drawn to a certain thought or image. I love looking at vintage ads because some are lit so well. I believe that some of those photographers used to emulate old master paintings or movies to try and draw the viewer's eye to something beautiful, even though they are trying to sell a sofa set - it’s something I’m really drawn to.
