Ray studied painting and drawing at the University of San Diego, earning his BA in Fine Arts, with a minor in art history. He received his BFA from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, where the fundamentals of painting, drawing, ceramics, design, and sculpture were emphasized, and then received his MFA in Intermedia in 1980. Ray is on the Board of Directors at McGroarty Arts Center, where he has been teaching ceramics since 1992. He has taught at Barnsdall Art Center since 1994. His teaching philosophy emphasizes skills as a pathway to creativity. Ray began teaching at Xiem Studio in 2005. www.xiemclaycenter.com/faculty.php