My bio is different than many artists as I had no formal art classes until I took a painting class in my late 40’s. Since my mother was an artist and people were always telling me I had an “eye for artistic things”, my feeling was a medium existed that would allow me to express myself artistically in a way satisfying both to me and others. Painting was close, but woodturning is it!
My earliest interests had always been financially related. I started following the market at age 8, because my father had an interest in it. At the time Getty Oil sold for over $3000 per share and that somehow was very intriguing to me, as most others stocks sold for less than $100 per share.
So I ended up going to business school and could not wait to get to “Wall Street”. At age 19 I started working part time at a brokerage firm while going to school. My fascination with the market took off from there. Over the course of my career I was a corporate finance and research analyst, institution stockbroker and founder of an investment advisory firm, which I sold before moving to Montana in 1999 and basically retiring.
In retirement I returned to my fascination in wood and began a series of different wood related activities ranging from furniture refinishing and repair to building rustic furniture to ultimately woodturning, which is the probably the last stop, as I enjoy it so much. Woodturning in the last 30 years has changed dramatically in its use. Once used primarily for making household and industrial products, woodturning has taken on nearly unlimited reaches of creativity. One has only to read current woodturning magazines to see the changes. Pieces are now done that are both concentric and eccentric in shape, painted or not. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go to take creativity to the next level. For myself, turning basic forms and letting the wood express itself is enough.
Three Bears Turner 
April 8, 2010 at 3:16 AM
Ron, Great to see you and go to Joe T’s..Really enjoyed looking at your website and now having seen pictures of Montana we will be checking our calendar to see when we can make a reservation at “Three Bears”
We can bring our own shovel..Also have previous skills in a barn..Judie even has a pair of “muck” boots..
C U Soon…
April 9, 2010 at 2:08 AM
Dick and Judy, we are always looking for experienced hands that work for meals only. Sounds like a great opportunity to exploit you both! Look forward to your visit.
February 13, 2014 at 4:56 PM
Beautiful and stunning wood pieces. Very impressive and unique!
May 2, 2015 at 4:12 AM
These are amazing, beautiful pieces of art! Thanks for sharing your site with me.
May 17, 2015 at 2:06 AM
I think I forgot to respond to your email. If I did it again does not hurt to say thanks for looking.
February 15, 2016 at 1:21 AM
Ron, I was “turned on” to your site by Linda and Jimmy C. As a fellow woodturner, I love the natural-edge and void laden pieces. Here in Indiana our wood choices vary quite a bit from what you find in the western states. That being said, any interesting and unusual wood, especially burls of any species, are what I look for. Keep up the splendid work!
Rob Roby
February 15, 2016 at 1:55 AM
Rob, thank you for your kind note. We just had a splendid visit from Jimmy and Lynda and got caught up on what we are all up to and the half truths supporting those stories! Jimmy had just finished some wonderful candelabras for us and were delivered during their visit and then they are off to Western Montana to see more friends. As to wood, the selection in Montana is pretty limited unless you enjoy pine and fir. However, on occasion a good burl shows up from a cottonwood, boxelder or lodgepole pine. But I tend to buy wood from either Oregon, Texas or Arizona as I enjoy manzanita, black or tan oaks and mesquites. I currently am working through a Texas osage shipment of about 3000 lbs. Take care, ron
February 15, 2016 at 5:45 PM
Rob, good to hear back so soon. We have a wealth of good woods here in southern Indiana. Hard maple, black cherry for natural-edge bowls, many kinds of oak and some boxelder and osage.. Always on the lookout for burls of any kind! On our next trip out west, we might be able to hook up.
later,
Rob
February 15, 2016 at 6:10 PM
Just give us a ring 406 582 8300
February 15, 2016 at 9:50 PM
Thanks. Will do.
March 14, 2016 at 5:43 PM
The new neighbors feel very lucky to be so near such friendly creative, artistic, rare books, financial-legal folks. We may be a few years too late, but are looking forward to making up for lost time. Will keep our eyes peeled in for maple burls back in NH…Your work would impress even the NH Furniture Masters and juried League of NH Craftsmen turners.