RayHarveyArt

From the minute I saw this potential mural wall on Charlie’s Pub, I knew what it should be! I wanted a mural of a B2 as awesome as the original. Flying through the clouds giving you the feeling of flight. Eighty feet wide was enough space to legitimately give homage to this inspirational plane. Just down the road from Concordia in Knob Noster, MO is Whiteman Air Force base which is the only home for this airplane. Residents see the actual aircraft fly across the skies regularly. And if that was not enough, my wife and I were along for a tour of the bade and not only viewed the B2, but we actually sat in the cockpit! That’s what I call a successful mural project.

I’ve always said the life of an artist takes many turns but what happened on November 7th, 2023 I never saw coming. On that evening at the monthly Hannibal City Council meeting Micheal Dobson, mayor pro tem, presented me with a proclamation on behalf of the city. This proclamation describes the large body of work I’ve created in Hannibal since 2018. About twenty-five murals and hundreds of new friends have developed since the first phone call from local developer Brad Walden that Spring of 2018. Dobson stated that the work I’ve created has become its own tourist draw in the city. Then, along with the proclamation was a gift of the “key to the city.” A gift that I only believed happened in movies, was placed in my hand. A symbol to say thank you and I’m always welcome in Hannibal. What began with one phone call and one painting has developed into a relationship with one of the best small towns in Missouri!

A small town in upstate rural Missouri, named LaBelle with a population of 660 became the latest to commission and proudly display a new mural by RayHarveyArt! On the wall of city hall at the only flashing signal light in town, a 60’ wide original painting is now complete. Initially the new Mayor hoped to hide the new mural so as to make a big splash unveiling this week but the wind, storms and sun had other ideas. Mayor Zac Sharpe, the 26 year old leader of the town wants to always show progress and one of the many projects was this mural. LaBelle is the home to the longest running Rodeo in Missouri so two things the residents are proud of… America and Rodeo! The design by Ray Harvey was easily chosen as the first mural in LaBelle months ago with the completion of the art just this week. Just in time for Independence Day! The painting is viewed every day as most travelers need to pass by for work and other destinations. There is also a great viewing spot from the newest merchant, the “Handlebar”coffee shop right across the street.
The next time you find yourself on the road about 40 miles west of Hannibal stop at a town that exemplifies rural Missouri. LaBelle!

This week finds me back in Hannibal at a company named Bleigh Readymix. Having already displaying the American flag on all of their trucks, they’ve decided to expand the image onto the building. At a total height of 55 feet tall, it will be the tallest flag I have painted.

This weekend six different artists teams will be participating in the first ever “ Paint the Town” mural festival. Each team was selected by their original design and experience at public art. My submitted design was “ Marie Antoinette, Queen of Hearts!” Assisted by friends and family we completed the 48’ mural in only three days!

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A lot has happened in concordia Missouri since I painted their first mural last May. The Concordia Lions Club has developed an entire art program for the city. Promoted by the local government and merchants. They have financial pledges lasting for the next five years. I painted mural number two last October and now I am back to paint mural number three. Titled Freedom, it will include the founding fathers of Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. Independence hall, and the Liberty Bell will also make an appearance. The wall is 80 feet wide and 24 feet tall.

Now this was different. I was asked to create a dark of night space odyssey seen on the ceiling. The room was used as a gambling arcade in Quincy, Illinois. The ceiling will be up, lit, giving a dramatic affect with the lighted machines.

Indoor work, great light and warmth is valuable in January! I travel back to Hannibal this week to give some bright painting to a therapy room in the new business that now resides in the old CourierPost building. The building was recently totally renovated by Brad Walden. I wanted to do some bright colored natural botanicals on the walls without it looking like a children’s room. I think I succeeded. The customer is quite happy!

Winter is the time to plan and design. Right now I have bookings for new projects scheduled up until November 1 of 2023. What a blessing! Some are old acquaintances, and some are new patrons. The third mural in the patriotic Mural City project in Concordia, Missouri is on the calendar as well as two more in Hannibal, Missouri bringing their total up to 25 murals by Ray Harvey art! In addition, something new for me, is the painting of a mural directly on the street surface in St. Charles Missouri. Here are a few of the mock-ups.