1957 Born the 5th of 6 boys to Harry and Evelyn (Trahan) Istre of Crowley Louisiana. Grew up Cajun with brothers who were artistically and musically inclinded. Went to Redemptorist Catholic Elementary School and Crowley High.
Worked for my Uncle Glady Trahans printing shop (Gladys Printing) where I learned to clean a proof press. We set type using an old linotype machine which incorporated lead molds. The set type was sent to the proof press to run one copy for proofing before the edition was run on the large Heidelburg press. I later purchased a press like this to produce mono-prints and block prints.
1975 Graduated from Crowley High School, Crowley, Louisiana.
1975 - 80 Went to LSU-E on an art scholarship for one year. Borrowed to go for the third semester and figured it wouldn't be prudent to go into debt to learn art. Made the deans list while in college (as long as I could avoid math classes). I guess there were more scholarships available but hey, I was young and really preferred an apprenticeship type of arrangement.
1980 Moved to Russellville Arkansas. Made wooden toys with John West and Sons Toymakers. Used wood working tools and the finest woods available in the northwest Arkansas forest such as Walnut, Cherry, Maple, Sycamore and Ash. We traveled across the nation and sold the toys in the best arts and crafts shows.
1984 Moved to Waco, Texas.
1985 Showed my portrait work to WORD, INC., the worlds largest Christian music company. They commissioned me to paint an oil portrait of Tom Netherton of the Lawrence Welk Show. It was used on an album cover and published internationally. I also worked for Dietz Memorial engraving granite tombstones (it's a dieing business) before opening an art studio in downtown Waco, Texas.
1986 Moved into an upstairs loft studio/apartment at 414 Franklin, in Waco, Texas. Built an apartment area and lived there. Other artists eventually filled the bottom story and I sub-let the upstairs area to artists and friends. Had art shows including local artists such as Mark Smith and Owen Towels who rented space in the building. Local art instructors from MCC and the artist in residence at Baylor University, Karl Umlauf displayed work in a show put on by the artists in the building.
1986 - 1995 Worked on creative projects including mono-prints on the subject of time. Produced a series of mono-prints, some hand colored utilizing the numbers normally seen on a clock face... 12, 3, 6 and 9 surrounded by abstract colors and shapes. Used a Reprex Proof Press to pull prints from blocks I made by hand.
Worked for Gaechter Outdoor Advertising and Great Big Signs during these years and learned to paint on a large scale. Marriott, Hilton, Baylor University, I-HOP, Denny's, Dr. Pepper and McDonalds were a few of the corporations I hand painted advertisements for. The signs were mostly for the interstate billboards and were as large as 14 feet tall by 48 feet wide.
1991 Designed and did portraits of the 4 original Dixie Chicks (before Natalie Maines) for their very first poster. They were playing one of my songs at the time to get feedback. I wish I had a copy of that poster, but you can call B. J. Buzze (my old neighbor at the studio) at Buzze Music Co. in Waco, Texas to verify. He saw it. The Dixie Chicks might be hard to get a hold of these days and that original cast of members is long forgotten. Kind of like me... hummm... they don't call asking for favors anymore.
1997 During this time I also worked with a company out of New York called Evergreen. We were a contract crew to do an aluminum leafing on a dome at the new Sachs Fifth Avenue in Austin, Texas. Evergreen is one of the largest mural, graphic and design companies in the world doing work for the Olympics, the US Government and Corporations all over the globe.
1995-2004 Moved to Whitney Texas after declining to purchase the building at 414 Franklin. Continued to do small works of art and signs for local companies. Began to branch out on my own doing murals and gained a good reputation. Examples on this web site include the museum wall in Whitney Texas portraying local history, numerous murals in the then "Papa Joes" Restaurant and work in the Micro Title (Land Title Offices) office spaces in Hillsboro and Corsicana Texas.
1998 Recorded my first taping for the Texas Music Cafe, produced in Waco, Texas. During the studio years I had written over 50 songs and did travel a bit to showcase this work. One of my songs was seen on the very first broadcast of the Texas Music Cafe. Each of two tapings for the show produced one song for national broadcast. The first song is called, "Long Golden Hair" and the second "Kitty Kat". I had great musicians backing me for the live recording including but not limited to Edgar Riley Jr. and Dick Gimble.
1999 Bought a fixer-upper house in Whitney and renovated the place while living there. Learned to build web sites as well and communicate online. Sold my interest in the house in 2004.
2001 Landed a large mural job in Waco, Texas featuring the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent. Commissioned by Calvin Ross at Lone Star Music, the mural was painted on panels and measures 10 feet tall by 34 feet wide. Ted was there for the unveiling and pleased with the work. He now lives in the Waco area.
2003 Began working on a short story called, "Self-righteous Blues" based on a song previously written. In then story telling tradition of Mark Twain it will be family friendly with a thoughtful punch. Presently at 30,000 words it is a work in progress. Stay tuned for more on that. I intend to publish a book of short stories based on songs I've already written which would be downloadable with purchase of the book. Original artwork will complete the creative triology. I want to have a series of short stories based on songs already written and art work. Recordings would be available as a download with purchase of the book. After playing original music in a handful of honky-tonks I realized that selling beer was not my cup of beerr... uh, tea. Playing a few tunes, reading from my book and showing a bit of art work at a bookstore is more to my liking.
2005 Began a series of sketches called, "Ugly Jesus". Presently at 80 sketches and counting... the work will be published as a 2005 Began a series of sketches called, "Ugly Jesus". Presently at 80 sketches and counting... the work will be published as book with art and short commentary on the history of artistic portrayals of my best friend Jesus of Nazareth. I may write a song or 20 minute musical experience based on the sketches for download at a later time.
2005 I have plans to put a script together based on other of my songs. Stay tuned for more on that.
Ray Istre :)
