Creative Couples: A Life In Art, The Journeys Of Rae Miller And William Martin

By Judith Jenya

Few artistic partnerships are as intertwined—in life, in work, and in spirit—as that of painters Ray Miller and William Martin. Their paths began miles apart, shaped by very different landscapes and early influences, yet converged years later in the creative corridors of San Miguel de Allende’s Fábrica La Aurora. Today, after years of movement, reinvention, and dedication to their craft, the couple have returned to San Miguel i with renewed plans: to teach, to create, and to build the art school they envisioned.

Ray Miller’s journey began in Corona, California, though her childhood soon shifted to Texas, where an early love of the arts first took form. As a young girl, she joined a junior ballet company, immersing herself in movement and performance before discovering her deeper passion at age 13: visual art. By the time she reached high school, she had already distinguished herself, winning second place in a statewide art competition.

At 18, Miller became fascinated with textured art—a fascination that would ultimately guide her toward encaustic work years later. She lived in a variety of places during her early adulthood, including Scottsdale, San Francisco, Sausalito, and Novato, developing her skills in figurative painting with both oils and acrylics. But it was encaustic—an ancient medium involving heated beeswax—that captured her heart. She embraced the medium fully, eventually teaching it to others.

In March 2017, Miller moved to San Miguel de Allende and opened a studio-gallery at Fábrica La Aurora, the city’s renowned arts center. She maintained the space for 10 years, becoming a familiar and respected figure within the community. Her work culminated in a solo exhibition at Bellas Artes titled The Weight of Light, a show that highlighted her signature use of texture, depth, and luminosity. During her years at La Aurora, Miller also taught at the International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she both instructed and demonstrated techniques to artists from around the world. Teaching, she says, is one of her greatest joys, and she hopes to return to it.

Born in México City in 1953, painter William Martin grew up at the intersection of Mexican and American cultures. His Mexican mother and American father raised him between two countries, but it was his time with his grandparents—his grandfather a Mexican senator—that remained most vivid. The young Martin spent summers in Querétaro, impressions that continue to filter into the moods and colors of his work. After relocating to Southern California, Martin initially pursued architecture, but soon realized his passion lay elsewhere. A job producing watercolor renderings led him toward fine art. After reading Lust for Life, Irving Stone’s biography of Vincent van Gogh. Martin has recalled. “I knew I wanted to be a painter.”

He trained under notable artist Larry Gluck in Los Angeles and quickly developed a classical technique grounded in careful rendering, glazing, and attention to light. Within a year, he was teaching alongside Gluck, eventually co-founding Martin Strong Studio in Culver City. Over the years, he taught more than 200 adults and children.

His career took him to galleries in Beverly Hills, Palm Desert, Carmel, Aspen, and Denver. A collector’s recommendation led him to visit San Miguel de Allende, and the artistic energy of the city convinced him to relocate in 2005. He opened a gallery in Fábrica La Aurora, where he would eventually meet fellow artist Ray Miller.

Miller and Martin became a couple in 2017, after years of working in studios at La Aurora. Their relationship grew from mutual respect and shared passion for their craft. “He is a very good-hearted man and is true to himself always,” Miller says. Martin speaks of her with equal admiration: “She has a beautiful spirit and a very kind heart. The world needs more people like her.” The couple later moved to Taos, New México, and then Tucson, and continue to rely on each other for critique, support, and “fresh eyes on the page.” Both say that living as full-time artists is challenging, but doing so together makes all the difference.

In 2025, Miller and Martin returned to San Miguel, where both maintain studios in their home. They are currently planning workshops—Miller offering private sessions and Martin semi-private classes—and hope to open a small art school focused on technique, mentorship, and creative community. Together, they carry forward a shared belief: that art is both a discipline and a way of life—one made richer when practiced side by side.

Miller can be reached through her website at raemiller.com or by email at rae.miller.art@gmail.com, while Martin continues to showcase his work through williammartinfineart.com