 First
off my name is Ron McIntire and I live with my lovely wife of 23 years and
my two sons in McKinney, TX. Thus the company name of McKinney Pens.
Over the years I have been asked many times how I got started in the
wonderful art form of creating both functional and beautiful writing
instruments.
I explain to them that I get to thank a very good
friend of mine for getting me interested in creating pens. One day I was
in his shop and he had just started turning pens and was showing me how it
was done and the tools that are required to get started. After showing me
the process I asked if I could try. So, I proceeded to attempt to create
what I had hoped would be a truly amazing pen. Well, as you can imagine,
my heart sunk as I looked at it and realized that there would be many
years of practice before I could create what my mind was seeing.
Having attempted my first I just couldn't stop
there. I was off to the store to purchase the bare minimum of what would
be required to try again. That was all it took. From that moment on my
lathe was spinning and one pen after another was coming off.
The first question is usually followed by several
more asking me what possessed me to push it to the limits I have achieved
and how I get my inspiration to create the designs I do.
As a child growing up my mom was an artist and was
an art teacher, my uncle is an artist and I loved dabbling in ceramics,
drawing, and writing short stories. It's just in my blood. The artist in
me realized that I could do so much better if I just worked hard to
accomplish it. So, I had made my mind up to create pens that were truly
works of art.
This is when I started segmenting woods to create
some of my works of art. I found that during the designing and creating
process another design idea would show up so I would attempt it next. And
on and on.
My inspiration comes from music. I always have
music playing in my shop that will inspire me to create what it is making
me feel. My favorite is the sound track from the Phantom of the Opera. It
has provided me with many hours of artistic moments and several designs
have come from it.
Thanks to hard work, and this website, McKinney
Pens are enjoyed all over the world and are proudly in the hands of a
published writer, Federal Judge, radio personality, financial advisors,
physical therapists, doctors, collectors and people like me that just flat
out enjoy using a fine writing instrument.
Ron McIntire |
