Ray Brugler, Pencil Artist

Biography

Ray Brugler moved to Perry County from North Western Pennsylvania. He had lived in Liverpool, Newport and Erly before settling into his old farmhouse between Millerstown and Ickesburg. He lives there with his trusted companion of 15 years (a black Labrador Retriever “Duck”). He has been returning to Central Pennsylvania during the course of his life. His parents are originally from Lewistown and have fond memories of “coming over the mountains” to visit his grandparents in Belleville and relatives in Reedsville, Lewistown, and Pine Grove Mills.
He attended college at Edinboro State College, obtaining a BA in Environmental Studies/ Geography with a minor in Art History in 1986. He returned to the college, now Edinboro University for a second degree in Computer Technology graduating in 1993 with an associates degree. He is currently employed by the PA Department of Environmental Resources working in Network Administration. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Specialized Crew that is on call for out of state forest-fire fighting duties throughout the United States. He has fought fire in Northern California, Oregon, and Montana.
Ray has been drawing most of his life, and has received formal instruction in drawing, watercolor, 2D and 3D design while attending college at Edinboro. For the past 10 years or so he has been working almost exclusively in pencil attempting to capture a photographic feel.

Artist Statement

Pencil drawing is very forgiving – a good thing for the perfectionists among us! I like the surprising richness of the variety of tones of grey shading to black that are emphasized by the white background. Pencil offers the opportunity to work with hard edges for precision and crispness, but it can also be soft and hazy. It lends itself readily to representing texture.
I like the challenge of achieving the same impact in black and white that other artists achieve through the use of color. My projects can take anywhere from two weeks to four months according to size and intricacy. While I am working, I can feel when the drawing is going to be good. I enjoy fooling the eye of the viewer through photorealism. If a viewer mistakes my drawing for a photo, it is one of the highest compliments they can pay me.