James Gonzales was born in a small rural town in Colorado. He was raised on a farm and developed an interest in wood-working at an early age. Any wooden tools or wooden parts that were needed were usually made on the farm by Jim.

By his teen years wood-working was a hobby that was pursued at every opportunity. Although his university major was physiology, he managed to take wood working classes too (to keep him from going crazy with all the chemistry labs...)

In his work, Jim has traveled throughout the west. This has afforded him the opportunity to learn special techniques from many other wood workers.

Since his retirement in 1999, Jim has turned his hobby into a full time career. His time now is equally divided between working in his shop and studying with local woodturning masters.

Jim is member of the SDFWA.