Ray has painted big murals in many small towns across Missouri. " One of the main beauties of public art is it goes to the public; you don't have to go to it, " he says. " People see it every day and it kind of becomes almost like a friend to them. Big paintings are my wheelhouse. To me, murals are highway paintings, so they have to look good from the road. " Most of the murals Ray has painted have been funded by private donations or groups. Of course, the cost of a mural depends on the size and complexity. Ray says the average cost is $15,000, but smaller ones can be $5,000. MAY 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 35http://www.RURALMISSOURI.COOP