Cheating at Art since 1990

Abstract, multi-media, outsider art meant to hang on the wall like paintings—yet conceived as playful, conceptual works. We invite Ray to participate in whatever capacity he offers on each piece: idea spark, material choices, layout, textures, or finishing touches.

AI Transparency Statement

How We Use AI at this Website

Art of the Fantastic is a studio space for our hand-drawn, painted, digital works and otherwise human created arts and crafts. We don’t believe it helps to pretend AI doesn’t exist, though. It exists, so we have to use it in order to inform it of healthy attitudes. If we don’t use it, the far-right or other nefarious persons will use it to oppress. Burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away. There’s no wishing it into the cornfield. Like any challenge, it must be mastered, not succumbed to. We treat artificial intelligence as one more tool in the studio—like a camera, a paintbrush, or a printing press—not as a replacement for human imagination.

AI-Generated / Heavily AI-Collaborative: Images that began as or remain primarily machine-generated, curated and edited by a human. Whenever AI plays a significant role in something on our website, we will make that clear in the description or caption so you can decide what kind of work you’re supporting. Our 3 mascot characters are something I described to ChatGPT, which then generates the images. The cover for Honeybee was made using an AI program. If AI is a problem for rights, then it’s necessary to well regulate it in the public good.

Last updated: November 18, 2025

How We Make It

Sometimes the idea comes from Ray’s own interests in movies or TV—like the adventure serial that inspired our marquee project The Marquee: Zorro’s Fighting Legion. Other times the seed is more conceptual, and we build from there with friends pitching in across craft, fabrication, and finishing. Ray’s longtime friend and artistic collaborator Dave Owsley creates wood cut prints on rice paper. If a print doesn’t come out too well, he gives it to Ray so he can color it. We’ve made several of Dave’s prints into finished pieces including a Puffin and a traditional Herron. Ray gave his Herron piece to Milwaukee County Rent assistance, which they hung in their office. Dave and Rose Owsley’s pictures and his Herron wood cut are featured in the gallery at the bottom of this page.

Frames & Collaborators

We love unusual frames as part of the artwork:

Dave Owsley (Ray’s friend from Brass Light Gallery) builds many of our custom, unconventional frames.
Rose Owsley has created crocheted frames.
Our neighbor Sue Rockefeller helped craft knitted, soft frames.

Friends frequently join the process—from gathering materials to final assembly—so each piece carries a bit of our community.

Download Dave’s Pewter Doll Project PDF – Part 1: Molding Process

Featured Series: The Marquee — Zorro’s Fighting Legion

A Ray-driven project that riffs on classic theater marquees—lettering, lights, motion, and myth—reimagined as a wall piece. It celebrates serial storytelling and Saturday-matinee energy.

The Marquee — Zorro’s Fighting Legion (view 1) — The Marquee — Here’s Ray coloring the poster for The Marquee, with his own unique esthetic sensibilities.

The Marquee — Zorro’s Fighting Legion (view 2) — Ray spent several afternoons on this coloring project. Ray is retired now, but activities like these, helped develop the skills he brought to his tenure at Brass Light Gallery.

The Marquee — Zorro’s Fighting Legion (view 3) — Framing concept by Dave Owsley. We have a small community of contributors to our creative projects, which is why we collectively call ourselves a Production House.

Gallery (Selected Works)

Art of the Fantastic piece 1 — **Title:** Hapless Hopeful • **Media:** mixed media. We call this sort of frame our Crown of Thorns • **Year:** 2022

Art of the Fantastic piece 2 — **Title:** Turbidity • **Media:** mixed media with Natural Ruby Cabochon • **Year:** 2021

Art of the Fantastic piece 3 — **Title:** The Ray Rustle Production House Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award • **Media:** Pewter and Natural Ruby Cabochons • **Year:** 2021

Art of the Fantastic piece 4 — **Title:** Thoughts and Prayers • **Media:** mixed media with Silver, Pewter and Mineral Rough • **Year:** 2020

Art of the Fantastic piece 5 — **Title:** Solitude • **Media:** mixed media with Natural Ruby Cabochon • **Year:** 2019

Art of the Fantastic piece 6 — **Title:** Peas on Earth • **Media:** mixed media with Pewter, Faceted Topaz and Mineral Rough • **Year:** 2023

Availability & Sales

Many pieces have been donated, sold, or gifted to family. All our artistic projects are for sale. Any reasonable offers will be entertained; we simply ask that the work goes to a home where it’s cared for. We don’t sell cheaply because we don’t want these pieces to end up in the trash.

Inquire About a Piece (e-mail) Inquire About a Piece (e-form) Posters & T-Shirts (Online Store)

Posters and t-shirts are available in our online store.

Traditional Herron wood cut by Dave owsley

Rose Owsley with Ray at a Brass Light Gallery coworker's wedding — Traditional Herron wood cut by Dave owsley