Ronald Severson is accustomed to living with contrasts.

He grew up in rural southern Oregon and now lives in the Portland metropolitan area. Being in the outdoors allowed him to appreciate the beauty and interrelationships of beings on the earth. His father was an independent logger and his mother was a creative and industrious business woman.

Rich in history, his family of origin traces back to the Vikings of Norway, on his father's side and the Sioux Tribe of Native Americans on his mother's. He is enrolled as a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in South Dakota. Although his formal education emphasized the separateness of humans from nature, as he grew, he resonated more with the contrasting Native American spirituality.

His paintings and sculpture are his way of expressing the belief in the spiritual unity of all beings. The pursuit of this message through his art is a major part of his striving for peace and serenity.

Formal Education
M.Ed. - Curriculum and Instruction
B.S. - Biology and Chemistry