Smooth Ray Says: Tidepools are a Conspiracy, and Architecture at the Edge of the Universe is Weird.

As you venture out towards the edge of the Universe, the architecture starts to get weird. Scaffolding becomes beautiful. No space is unfilled or full. Distant points occupy the same location.

Could you build a structure out of metaphors?

No souls are injured when Yesterday and Tomorrow collide.

You get used to it. Nothing happening amidst all the apparent chaos.

The Big Bang was on a Tuesday.

We need to talk about tidepools. You need to know the truth: They don’t exist.

Sure, an image search turns up hundreds of pictures, vibrant life, expressive, colorful. But in all your walks on the beach, have you ever found a tidepool teeming with life?

A conspiracy, no doubt. Probably the government.

“The body appears in your mind, your mind is the content of your consciousness; you are the motionless witness of the river of consciousness which changes eternally without changing you in any way. Your own changelessness is so obvious that you do not notice it. The universe is in you and cannot be without you. The world exists in memory, memory comes into consciousness; consciousness exists in awareness and awareness is the reflection of the light on the waters of existence.” —Sri Nisargadatta

Illustrating Pain ... a Sunday Gone Wrong ... Meditation and Vodka

Smooth Ray was having a normal Sunday recently, until it wasn’t.

Funny how time appears to pass like that — bifurcated into Before and After around a never-ending stream of events, most of which we don’t notice.

Some moments, however, are impossible to miss. I’d been shopping for groceries. It was taco night, naturally …

Outside in the parking lot, I put the groceries in the car, closed the door and the world shifted.

There was a moment. Before, it was a good day. After, different.

I’d closed the car door on my finger. How? Who can say. I’ve closed a car door thousands of times without injuring myself.

The universe shifted, the order of operations changed, the door closed and the finger remained.

At first, there was just space … The pain was barely noticed. No sound.

For a moment, as if watching a movie, I could still see the frame of a good day. The injury seemed so small.

In fact the injury was small — just the very end of my index finger. Yet the pain seemed to grow as the day progressed.

It was disorienting to feel so much pain around such a small wound.

I tried meditating. I listened to a wonderful talk on opening up to pain. Thirty seconds in: “Of course, if you slam your hand in a car door, the opportunity to be able to open around that and investigate is going to be very slight, if at all — unless you have worked some with your minor headaches.”

I laughed deliriously. Point taken.

Eventually, the pain seemed more like this ….

At times, the pain filled the entire frame.

Wish that I could say eventually Smooth Ray found his meditation groove and fell asleep with the pain hovering above like a blanket. However, it was meditation and vodka, truth be told. Eventually I fell asleep and woke up to …

An entirely different pain. Diffuse. Manageable. Present but not persistent.

The finger is healing, but the experience leaves a memory.

So much pain. Such a small wound.

How did it happen? And what can be learned?

There was a moment where I observed my body reacting to the pain while my attention focused elsewhere.

Maybe somewhere in there is the difference between pain and suffering.

A Smooth Ray Summer: Tacos, Paddleboarding and Home-Grown Cannabis

Eponymously named for Smooth Ray’s feline buddy, of course.

Hey folks! It’s been a while!

Smooth Ray didn’t spend too many days in the art studio over the summer. Most of the time was spent eating tacos, growing weed and paddleboarding on Cayuga Lake.

It was an excellent summer. And, as we transition into cooler weather the studio is calling again. What will bubble up? Only one way to find out!

But about that weed.

New York recently legalized cannabis, allowing people to grow their own and (eventually) setting the stage for recreational dispensaries. It will be fascinating to watch a legal market develop, and already prices seem to be coming down in the gray market.

So in the spirit of home brew/grow projects everywhere, Smooth Ray presents: Gonzo Bud. The tag line may be “It’s Hector’s finest,” but the truth is this is pretty wispy, average bud. And, there are definitely better growers out there in the Finger Lakes National Forest region. That said, Gonzo Bud is a hybrid strain called White Widow, which is easy to grow outdoors and with a nice uplifting effect.

To be clear: Gonzo Bud is not for sale. But if you live in the Ithaca/T’burg area and are interested in trades, hit me up! I’d love to connect with others also growing their own plant-based medicines.

Frustratingly, federal legalization is still some ways off, but progress is being made — in particular and vitally, to address the social justice issues to which criminalization of this lovely plant has contributed.

Gonzo is also a big fan of cannabis, though he mostly likes to eat the leaves.

Free Little Art Galleries ... and Other Grand Things in the World (like tacos)

Free Little Art Galleries (FLAG) are popping up everywhere, and Smooth Ray LOVES them. They are a recognition of the joy in art, and a call to make it more accessible and ubiquitous. These galleries, often in front yards and on residential streets, invite passerby to pause, to consider, and possibly to take some art with them.

You know how Smooth Ray feels about free art: There’s almost always something free in the shop. And last week, Smooth Ray Originals started popping up in FLAGs around the country! It’s a rewarding way to share work and connect with other artists.

And so to help artists connect with these galleries, Smooth Ray is publishing a directory of Free Little Art Galleries that accept mailed submissions.

Gallery owners! If you would like to have your gallery included, please send in your information using the contact form. Include your address, instagram account if you have one, and any gallery guidelines.

Artists! Please share the list, and encourage FLAG’s to be included.

January Tacos & The Cosmos ... SRO #126-150

If you often dream of seaside taco shacks, winter can be tough. When the temperatures drop down below freezing, Smooth Ray starts thinking of places like Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Rincon, Culebra and Oaxaca.

Only 153 days until summer. In the meantime, January Tacos abound.

There’s something about a good taco that implies warmer weather and simpler days. It’s a four-bite exercise in hope.

So what is a “January Taco?” It’s whatever keeps you going — in January or whenever; taco or not. A January Taco is a reminder to the soul that experience is impermanent.

And speaking of impermanent …

We had a snowstorm over the weekend, with multiple gray days and temperatures hovering around zero. When the thick clouds finally passed, night skies opened to a view which reflected the infinite.

We are only here for a moment. Enjoy it. Play.
Even in cold weather.

Smooth Ray is a big fan of print multiples — be they photographs, lithographs, intaglios, stencils, what have you … There is something about the repetition and individuality of each print that reflects deeper truths.

This series of small prints, The Cosmos, was inspired by snowstorms and January tacos, frozen pipes and Caribbean dreams. Sometimes, you want to be anywhere else. Other times, you see clearly that there is nowhere else to be.

SRO #126-150
The Cosmos
2x4”
linoleum block print + gouache & watercolor

#147, #127 and #129 are in the Smooth Ray shop and — as always — one is FREE. With free worldwide shipping, that’s not a bad deal!

Stay warm out there, and find you some January Tacos.

9 Bars: Smooth Ray Paints Charleston, S.C. ... sort of ... New Auction Record, Holiday Sales and More!

Hey folks, it’s been a minute. … Smooth Ray has been painting imaginary bars for the last couple of weeks.

After the trip to Charleston, S.C., Smooth Ray was looking for something to paint and used a photograph from the trip — of a wonderful old sign for a furniture store — as the basis for a series of paintings. Reminiscent of classic cocktail lounge signs in San Francisco, details and focus shift between iterations before finally settling into a bar that looks welcoming.

“I’d drink in that bar,” said Smooth Ray. And thus ended the series.

Four from the series are in the Smooth Ray shop, and as always ONE OF THEM IS FREE. … With free world wide shipping, that’s not a bad deal.

In other news…

**A new auction record was set, with the sale of Smooth Ray Original #091 on Nov. 16! For now, it’s an affordable way to own a miniature masterpiece — but prices are rising! Check the sidebar for active auctions.

**Location scouting for the taco stand continues. It’s difficult to find beachfront property in Trumansburg, and creative solutions may be needed.

**There are multiple pieces available in the Smooth Ray shop — for FREE. Art is essential, so please avail yourself. No payment info is necessary. Retail therapy with a $0 price tag? Awesome.

**If you’re looking for holiday gifts, consider art! There are also zines, stickers, postcard and more … The Smooth Ray shop always ships free!

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Blue-Orbed Suns, Biscuits and FREE ART ... Smooth Ray is back from the beach!

Available (FREE) in the shop!

Available (but not free) in the shop!

Smooth Ray spent a week down south, drinking porch whiskey, eating biscuits and watching sunsets. It’s good to get away … and also to return home.

When you look out at the ocean, everything else is behind you.

Many folks walk to calm their mind, but that’s never worked for Smooth Ray. Motion generates thought, which means travel is never relaxing — but is creatively necessary. Some blades have two edges. Both cut limes.

Rather than cheap beach souvenirs, Smooth Ray has returned to the New York Finger Lakes with inspiration. Perhaps the upstate winter ahead can be warmed with creativity, along with several cords of wood.

There are currently 10 Smooth Ray Originals available in the shop — and THREE ARE FREE! With free worldwide shipping, that’s not a bad deal. Sometimes, you just need some free art. Please spread the word, and help Smooth Ray spread the good vibes.

Taco shop update: The last two weeks have been spent on research — can you get a good taco in the South? Does Charleston, S.C., have good fish tacos? … Well, let’s just say the biscuits were better than the burritos. So to speak. The work on menu design continues.

Smooth Ray Paints ... 1st Auction Sale, a Solo Show, New Collectors and MORE FREE ART!

Smooth Ray’s 1st solo show!

It was a big week for Smooth Ray! Where to even begin?

First off, a huge thanks to the new Smooth Ray collectors out there. Multiple works were purchased from the shop, and your support is much appreciated. Smooth Ray Originals were shipped to Portland, Oregon, Washington, D.C., Syracuse, N.Y., and Birmingham, England!

Second, Smooth Ray scored a (brief) solo show at the free_little_art_gallery_flx … check out the gallery at 107 Penny Lane in Ithaca (Smooth Ray’s work was quickly snapped up, but there’s always something interesting on the gallery walls).

AND, Smooth Ray notched his 1st auction sale! Sure, for $1 on ebay … but it’s all about the energy, not the money. And you gotta start somewhere!

As for new work this week … everything came up purple. And purple is not Smooth Ray’s favorite color. So it made for some strange time in the studio.

Check out a couple of new works in the shop, including this week’s Smooth Ray Original priced at just $0,00. With free world wide shipping, that’s not a bad deal! Because sometimes you just NEED some free art.

Smooth Ray taco shop update: Recipe testing is in progress for a vegan crab cake sandwich. A perfect plant-based beach snack, made with shredded lion’s mane mushrooms and seasoned with the classic Old Bay.

Smooth Ray Paints ... Buildings! Plus: Free Art, Unwanted Visitors, and More!

Smooth Ray has an unwanted house guest at the moment. Some animal (perhaps a groundhog) has found its way into the walls of this old farmhouse, and is scratching around. Time to get out the Havahart trap, which fittingly came with the house.

For the moment, however, Smooth Ray is ignoring the beast.

There are a bunch of new Smooth Ray Originals in the shop, and as promised there is another priced at $0.00. Not a bad deal, with free worldwide shipping!

Sometimes you just need some free art in your life. Smooth Ray is committing to offering a piece of work each week, absolutely free. Need something to brighten your day? That retail therapy experience with no co-pay? Got a tiny space to fill on your wall? Check out the Smooth Ray shop!

In other news: Last week, SRO#009 was aquired by a European collector. Another miniature masterpiece sent out into the world, making the Smooth Ray taco shop dream that much closer. … it doesn’t matter that the price was $0. The taco shop will manifest around positive energy, not money.

Smooth Ray spent the last week painting buildings. Why? There is no reason. Not for the paintings, or for anything. That’s just what came up. … and what came up reveals a deep discomfort with cities. The paintings are not always pleasant, though there is some whimsy. There is also a sense of density, dis-ease and aggression, that comes across.

Smooth Ray spent many years working as a reporter in Washington, D.C., loving that city life. Like a cat that switches chairs, things change for no reason. Now, life is is all about that rural, small-town vibe. And in the future? Who knows. Maybe it depends on the groundhog.

Smooth Ray Originals #101-106 are all new. Four in the shop (including the giveaway), one left in a random place, and another donated to Kadie Salfi’s Free Little Art Gallery.

Monday Art Giveaways, Smooth Ray Original #100, and The Secret to the Universe! All in this blog!

First off, the secret to the Universe is extra lime — just like Smooth Ray has been saying forever.

So what’s this about an art giveaway?

There are a bunch of new Smooth Ray Originals in the shop right now, and among them one is priced at $0.00. With free worldwide shipping, that’s a pretty good deal.

Sometimes you just need some free art in your life. Smooth Ray is committing to offering a piece of work each week, absolutely free. Need something to brighten your day? That retail therapy experience with no co-pay? Got a tiny space to fill on your wall? Check out the Smooth Ray shop!

If that’s the only thing you “buy,” then the system shouldn’t ask for any payment info, just a shipping address. Smooth Ray is grateful he can spread some art love.

As for SRO #100, that’s an epic milestone. "Truth Does Not Have Meaning.”

Meaning is for the mind, to make stories. That which is true has no meaning.

Taco shop update: Considering adding an egg sandwich to the menu. Because there is something wonderful and perfect about a simple egg sandwich.

YOU ARE LOVE: What does it mean?

If you’re reading this, it’s possible you’ve found a YOU ARE LOVE print and are understandably curious about a few questions:

• What is this thing?

• Did someone forget the ‘D’ on ‘LOVED?’

• Why does it have a number on it?

• Who the heck is Smooth Ray?

Some of these questions have answers, and others do not.

The ‘thing’ is a relief block print, made by Smooth Ray. He makes a lot of these, and then gives them away. The prints are numbered, allowing people to come to the site and find their print (and perhaps leave a comment, and connect with others).

What does ‘YOU ARE LOVE’ mean?

There are a couple of ways to think about this phrase.

In one sense, it means We (you, Smooth Ray, everyone) can be that act of love. We can act with care and compassion for ourselves and others and infuse even our most seemingly-mundane moments with connection and love.

There is also a more literal way of thinking about it.

The experience of love is the experience of connection rather than separation, wholeness rather than lack.

The thing is, this sense of separation and lack that we often walk around with is an illusion. We are not separate. And seeing that clearly — knowing the true nature of our connectedness, of our being — that is the same experience as love.

You Are Love is an invitation to know ourselves as love itself. Ultimately, we are already what we seek.

Smooth Ray Originals For Sale!

There are currently eight Smooth Ray Originals for sale, six in the shop here and two on Etsy.

Another **9** will be distributed around Trumansburg this weekend in random locations.

Trumansburg NY Art Drop!

HELLO TRUMANSBURG!

Smooth Ray is gonna be firing little pieces or artwork out into the village, so be on the lookout for tacos, smoothies, watercolors and linocuts!

Along with the 17-piece ART LOVE JOY series (each one indivdually numbered and cataloged here), watch for other geometric watercolors, sketches of taco shacks, and hellscape city scenes. If you find one of these, IT WAS PUT THERE FOR YOU. Please take it to enjoy, pass along, or put away in a vault to never be seen again in public.

And if you don’t FIND a Smooth Ray Original, don’t forget you can always check the shop.

One of these days Smooth Ray will open a smoothie stand or taco truck around town, but until then he’s making art.

And don’t forget, “The Secret is Extra Lime!”

Why paint small?

Ok, Smooth Ray gets asked a few questions over and over. The first is obvious: What makes your smoothies so damn good?

The second is, “Why paint small?”

We all know good things come in small packages and problems tend to be big. But size doesn’t really matter, it’s all about the experience. What is different, looking at a small or large piece of art?

If you took the Mona Lisa, at about 2.5’ tall, and made a copy 10x as big, do you get the same viewing experience?

Something is clearly different (and that’s a pretty fun idea: considering how different works of art might be experienced differently, at different sizes).

When it comes to small works of art, Smooth Ray thinks about: watching people in a museum lean in to the walls for a closer look; whether details or space make the first impression; and the personal impact of calling someone to close the distance. The mere fact that the viewer has to get right up on a small painting in order to really see it, heightens the personal experience.

There is also a certain intensity—both in observing and making small works. If they are empty, it shows up so quickly. The energy is different, perhaps denser.

There is no answer to “Why does Smooth Ray make small art?” That’s just what’s happening now.

But there is something about it, small pieces of art. They vibrate at a higher frequency.

What is Smooth Ray’s?

What is Smooth Ray’s? It’s that perfect taco stand you hope to find on any beach trip.

Many years ago, somewhere in Ecudaor, friends took Smooth Ray to a little spot where the fish came in on small boats and the catch was immediately turned into tacos and ceviches, with fresh salsas and light beer served out of coolers of ice. It was heaven.

Fewer years ago, Smooth Ray cooked Sunday brunch in a tiny dive bar in upstate New York. It started out with a small menu but eventually shrunk to just one item: breafast burritos. That place was heaven, too.

Do you know the effervescent pleasure of a $1 beer? Or the light, sweet balance of a coconut-banana smoothie? The secret is extra lime.

Sit in the sand and eat simple fish tacos, walking back over and over to order just one more.

Sunrise on the beach, wouldn’t it be great if that taco shack was open? Of course it isn’t … it is? Serendipity. Breakfast burritos, hot sauce and coffee.

That’s Smooth Ray’s.

One day.