Since 1981, Tony has made his living as a self-taught artist by carving intricate sculptures out of the antlers of deer, elk, and moose.

Ramer, who now resides in the small Western South Dakota town of Custer, grew up in the east central North Dakota area of Kensel and Wimbledon. His childhood ranch home proved to be fertile ground for the budding talent of an imaginative boy.

"When I was three, " he says, "my grandfather would come in from the field for lunch and draw a cow or a horse and I would sit beside him and try to copy his work. I graduated to sculpting when I found some nice clay while digging fence posts. I formed horses and deer and baked them in my mom's oven."

"The idea for carving antlers hit me one day while I was sitting outside the barn trying my best to chip an arrowhead from a piece of flint I found in the field. I looked up and saw this pile of antlers and asked if I could try to make something out of them. In my family trophies aren't to be taken lightly, but after I carved the first one, they said I could carve all I wanted."

An avid outdoors man, Ramer, has studied wildlife and Indian history in his quest to create. As a meticulous perfectionist, he uses a precision rotary carving tool and dentists bits to execute the painstaking detail in capturing the majestic splendor of each animal's posture, coloring, muscle form and its seasonal changes. Ramer chooses to use acrylic paint when working on antlers. He feels it gives him more control to blend different colors together.

Ramer's unique works have been purchased by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., the Heritage Center in Bismarck, N.D. They have also found their way into the collections of two U.S. Presidents, along with numerous other prestigious locations. His timeless art has won many trophies, top awards, and honors, including first in show at the Omaha Great Plains Indian Art Expo in Nebraska. FIn 1998 & again in 2000, his carvings garnered blue ribbon awards from the Crazy Horse Memorial. The Blue Ribbons bestowed the honor "A GIFT FROM MOTHER EARTH".

Two sculptures were created for the North Dakota Centennial. The first of Sacajewea pointing west was entitled, "First Lady of the Western Movement." The second sculpture of Lewis and Clark accompanied by Sacajewea, standing beside a canoe on the Missouri River was presented to Governor George Sinner at the Party of the Century at Bismarck, N.D. The Professor of Surgery at Tulane University in New Orleans petitioned Ramer to carve the emblem of the University's Medical Center for display at the school. Ramer was also asked to carve a piece designed for the Surgeon General of the USN.

One of Tony's carvings of an eagle with the presidential seal will soon be presented to President George W. Bush. Another of his carved moose antlers of an eagle is currently being raffled off as a fund raiser for building a skate board park for the youth of Custer, S.D.

Nearly all of Tony's original work is done on a commission basis. Currently, Tony has a waiting list of 6 months, with 3 sculptures currently available.

The people of Wimbledon, N.D. and Custer, S.D. have watched and supported Tony through the years as he has progressed in his carvings. They have collected and treasured his work and welcomed him into their communities.

Tonyramer.com is owned and operated by Phillip LaQua, an independent distributor, authorized by Tony Ramer.