During a childhood vacation Ryan and his parents stumbled upon a blacksmiths studio. The noisy machinery, blazing forge, and fascinating showroom left a detailed impression in his memory. After high school Ryan had explored almost every artistic medium except metal, so when the opportunity to take a summer blacksmith course presented itself, Ryan’s father was quick to sign both of them up. Father and son labored through the week long introductory blacksmith intensive taught by journeyman blacksmith Mark Aspery and learned everything from tool construction to making artistic roses. Ryan’s artistic metalwork consists of cold forged copper and brass flowers.