Retirement revelations: This Cedar City man discovered a passion for wood-turning wonders at 67

Written by Jessi Bang
July 30, 2024

CEDAR CITY — One man found his true passion for wood-turning art after retirement, proving that it’s never too late to start a new creative adventure.

Woodturning artisan Ken Ragsdale stands next to his work in Cedar City, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Wood-turning artisan Ken Ragsdale stands next to his work in Cedar City, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I just love doing it,” said Ken Ragsdale, the owner and creator behind R Bar Wood Art. “ It amazes me that people like it so much. It’s been hard for me to accept that. But if they like it, then I appreciate it.”

Ragsdale said he’d never dabbled in wood-turning before. In fact, he hadn’t tried his hand at anything remotely artistic until he took it up in retirement. His journey started as a photographer capturing Mount Rushmore, then took a techy turn as a computer whiz and later shifted to the bustling world of sports retail with two stores in Oklahoma. After selling the stores, he and his wife hit the road in their RV, embarking on an epic 15-year adventure across the U.S.

When the couple decided it was time to settle down, they set their sights on Las Vegas. They moved into Sun City Anthem, a large, active adult community with an impressive wood shop, complete with lathes. The people at the shop then showed him the basics of wood-turning. 

After a few years of creating his art, he found his house overflowing with his creations. He first began showcasing his work at a gallery in Big Bear, California. Next, he sold his pieces at the gift shop at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Wood-turning art by Ken Ragsdale features basket illusion work, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Ken Ragsdale, St. George News
Wood-turning art by Ken Ragsdale features basket illusion work, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Ken Ragsdale, St. George News

He began with segmented and open-segmented turning but wanted to explore further. When he discovered basket illusion turning online — a technique introduced in the 1950s that had become a dying art form — he was intrigued. After watching a few videos online, he taught himself the art of basket illusion turning.

“I shape the piece on the lathe and cut the circular beads,” he explained, holding up one of his artworks. “I made an indexing wheel for my lathe so I can index it, and then I draw radial lines with a pencil. Then, I take it off the lathe and sit here in my chair, where I hand-burn each of those lines. That’s how I achieve the woven basket look.”

He then goes to his computer to design a pattern, painting each individual square with Indian ink. He prides himself on never replicating a pattern or copying others, including Native American designs.

 “There’s probably half a dozen of us that are doing this nationwide and doing it well,” he said about his designs. “It’s very intricate.”

Initially, he extended his patterns to the center of his pieces but said the tiny lines there often looked like a “mess.” To improve the look, he began incorporating cabochons — semiprecious stones custom-cut for jewelry. At first, he used only the turquoise cabochons he purchased. Later, he decided to source materials from a local rock shop and cut his own gemstones. He has since added black-on-black pottery to his collection, a process that can take up to 10 hours to complete.

While living in Las Vegas, Ragsdale attended a wood-turning class in Cedar City and quickly fell in love with the town, which reminded him of a small town in Oklahoma. After five years in Las Vegas, the couple relocated to Cedar City. And that’s when his wood-turning career truly began to thrive.

A variety of wood-turning art by Ken Ragsdale is on display inside his home in Cedar City, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A variety of wood-turning art by Ken Ragsdale is on display inside his home in Cedar City, Utah, July 10, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

He joined the Southern Utah Arts Guild, which helped him connect with various galleries. In St. George, he has exhibited his work at The Arrowhead Gallery, Red Cliffs Gallery, the St. George Arts Festival, the Kayenta Spring and Fall Show and the annual Sears Invitational. His pieces have also been displayed at DeZion Gallery in Springdale. Currently, you can find his work at the Artisans Gallery in Cedar City.

“It’s been a great life,” he said. “It really has.”

To snag a piece from R Bar Wood Art, visit their website. For a daily dose of art adventures and behind-the-scenes fun, follow @rbarwoodart on Instagram and Facebook.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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