Rich Charlson never set out to become an artist. Early in his career, art shows dismissed his turnings as not being art, a judgment he initially agreed with. “It wasn’t until years later, with the evolution of my art, that I was finally recognized as an artist.”
Charlson’s journey began in 1985 when a devastating hailstorm destroyed half his crop. As the director of a quarter horse futurity, he needed a sign for a stallion alley. Using a router, he crafted a sign that impressed others and led to orders for stall and house signs. By 1988, scraps from his sign work inspired him to buy a used wood lathe, teaching himself woodturning. “The rest is history,” he says.
Charlson’s work blends Southwest and Native Montana designs, influenced by Lincoln Seitzman, the pioneer of the basket illusion movement, and artist David Nitman. His materials of choice are wood and Corian, crafted with precision using a planer blade.
His achievements are remarkable. Charlson was inducted into the inaugural class of the Montana Circle of American Master Folk Artists and was chosen to create bowls presented to foreign dignitaries. He also became the first woodturner juried into the prestigious C.M. Russell Art Auction.
For Charlson, success is rooted in innovation. “Each year, I try to come up with a new design or two,” he says. This dedication to growth keeps his work fresh and ensures his legacy as one of Montana’s most celebrated woodturners.
From humble beginnings shaped by nature’s challenges to recognition on an international stage, Charlson’s journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and passion for his craft. Explore his work at charliwoodart.com or see him at the Great Western Show in March.