Ramsey studios creates custom made carved wooden doors, carved wooden fireplace mantels, nature, wildlife, and traditional architectural wood carvings, wood sculpture, custom relief carvings, carved wood signs as well as custom fine art jewelery rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Ron Ramsey, a third generatio … Read more Ramsey studios creates custom made carved wooden doors, carved wooden fireplace mantels, nature, wildlife, and traditional architectural wood carvings, wood sculpture, custom relief carvings, carved wood signs as well as custom fine art jewelery rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

Ron Ramsey, a third generation woodcarver, has been a professional woodcarver/sculptor for more than 40 years. He received his first set of tools from his woodcarver grandfather at age 11 and spent his adolescence experimenting with various carving and woodworking projects. Beginning in 1971, he served a two year apprenticeship at the professional woodcarving studio of his then father-in-law, Glen Coppedge, in Roseville, California. In 1973, Ron moved to Lake Tahoe and established his own woodcarving studio. For the next 11 1/2 years, Ron carved doors, mantels, award winning sculpture and signs in the Lake Tahoe area.

In 1984, Ron moved to Europe, where he spent a year perfecting his dynamic high relief style. He established a studio in Zermatt, Switzerland displaying work at the Capricorn Gallery and completing commissions for clients in Switzerland and Italy. He spent five months carving decoration aboard a 135' tall ship in San Remo, Italy.

After returning to the United States, Ron served a stint as artistic director of Artistic Woodworks, a woodcarving studio in Vermont. In 1986, Ron returned to Northern California, reestablishing his woodcarving studio where he produces commissioned pieces for clients worldwide.

Karen was first inspired to be a jeweler when, as a child of four, she collected pretty pebbles and sea shells on the shores along the Pacific Coast. She first studied jewelry making and design at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. After a short mentorship with Jima Abbott of Mendocino, California, she set up studio in a room in her home and attended classes at the Revere Academy of Jewelry in San Francisco.

In 1990, Ron and Karen purchased 20 acres overlooking a canyon on the west slope of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range, with the vision of turning the land into a creative art center. They immediatly began planning their individual studios. In 1992 they built an arts & crafts revival home along with Ron's studio and where Karen situated her temporary studio.

As an artist with the mind of a perfectionist, Karen needed time for her vision to form. Seven years later, she completed her vision of the ultimate studio for a jewelry artist. Here, under the pines, combining complementry metals and precious stones, she is inspired by the nature around her to create the exquisite pieces you see here.

Ron's studio overlooks a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains that are populated by abundant wildlife. “Every day I am inspired by the wildlife and natural beauty of my surroundings. I often go for a hike out my back door to gather samples or take photographs to use as models for my carvings.”