Big Ray's Craft Shack

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Big Ray's Craft Shack Art and crafts designed to bring a sense of Wonder and joy to the world! My name is Ray Crawford and I am an artist. Including music.

I’ve been a guitar player/musician and an avid music lover most of my life but I have always dabbled in visual arts. I studied art in high school and did some painting occasionally but I never considered myself an “artist”. Being born in the early ‘70s I was also a part of the first generation of Star Wars fans. Like so many my age, Star Wars awakened my love for science fiction and my fascination

with space. This led to a lifelong obsession with all things sci-fi and NASA, which bled into all aspects of my life. I was always drawn to the more progressive and “spacey” bands. Recently I rediscovered my love for sci-fi model making. I made a few pieces and wanted to photograph them. I needed a backdrop, but I did not have a green screen or that kind of technology at the time. I decided to do an old school matte painting, so I broke out a cheap airbrush that I had recently purchased and painted my first star scape. The process was so rewarding and the comments were so positive and supportive that I painted five more. After some prodding from a dear artist friend and from my awesome wife, I decided to try some more serious attempts, so I purchased some canvas and started working with my airbrush. I watched a ton of tutorial videos on YouTube and I started seeing artists doing acrylic pours and using them as backgrounds for galaxy art. After consulting my favorite artist/dear friend, I decided to go for it. I started doing acrylic pours and fell in love with that process as well! I soon became more comfortable with the airbrush, so my wife bought me a nice one. This enabled me to start trying other themes, but Outer space is still where my heart is! When I paint these scenes I am creating my own points in the universe. I don’t try to paint Hubble photos or anything real, these are my interpretations of fictional planets. Recently I have also started an undersea series and a nature series. As my skills progressed, my friends and loved ones started suggesting that I make my work available to people. So after some back and forth on my part, my wife set up an Etsy store for me and I was up and running! We have also started selling live at fairs and festivals. So now, one of my greatest joys in life is to put on some great music, fire up my airbrush and get lost in space! I hope you enjoy my work and I hope it speaks to you! And now, after some sales and fantastic reactions and support I finally feel like I can honestly say, I am an artist.

22/02/2026
Day 2 of Big Lick Comic Con was a blast! Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth. Whether you purchased somethi...
09/02/2026

Day 2 of Big Lick Comic Con was a blast! Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth. Whether you purchased something or not, we loved all of the interactions.
Thanks to JD Sutphin and all of the staff for another spectacular event.
We had a great weekend, and can't wait to do it again in August.

Day two of Big Lick Comic Con is under way! Come out to the Bergland center and get your nerd on!
08/02/2026

Day two of Big Lick Comic Con is under way! Come out to the Bergland center and get your nerd on!

The Craft Shack crew hanging out with Diedrich Bader! Super nice guy!
07/02/2026

The Craft Shack crew hanging out with Diedrich Bader! Super nice guy!

Caught this guy clowning around the booth.
07/02/2026

Caught this guy clowning around the booth.

07/02/2026

The celebration is here!

Join us this weekend at the Berglund Center - tickets will be available at the box office and kids 12 and under are FREE with paying adult!

See you soon!

07/02/2026

Sunday Funday - on us!

Nominate a friend, teacher, co-worker, family-member - tag them here and we'll pull 26 names this Friday at 12pm to receive a pair of tickets for our Sunday, February 8th event at the Berglund Center!

It's our thanks to you!

Celebrate fandom and friends at Big Lick Comic Con!

Come out and see us! We are at the Bergland center in Roanoke VA for Big Lick Comic Con! Today and tomorrow! A good time...
07/02/2026

Come out and see us! We are at the Bergland center in Roanoke VA for Big Lick Comic Con! Today and tomorrow! A good time will be had by all!

All set up and ready to go for Big Lick Comic Con! It's nice and warm in here! A great place to escape the cold and have...
07/02/2026

All set up and ready to go for Big Lick Comic Con! It's nice and warm in here! A great place to escape the cold and have a nerdy good time!

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