Richard Iams was born in 1950 in West Virginia, near the borders of Ohio and Pennsylvania, an area of coal mines, steel mills, and chemical companies. His parents worked in a toy factory. Iams attended Marietta College in southeastern Ohio, intending to major in mathematics until he was exposed to his first art class as a sophomore. Initially he considered it just another avenue to explore, but exposure to the works of such artists such as John Singer Sargent, Sidney Laurence and Richard Schmid brought forth the desire to learn and master the fundamental disciplines of fine art. He graduated in 1972 with degrees in art and education.

While teaching junior high and community college art courses for five years, Iams wanted to have mor...