A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ron decided early on to pursue the arts. First as a professional musician and now as a full-time artist, he is a lifelong student studying in museums and galleries around the world. In addition to numerous workshops, he has studied at the University of Minnesota and the Edina, Paramount St. Cloud, and Minnetonka Centers for the Arts where he has taught Impressionism. He now specializes in figurative cityscapes and plein air landscapes. Currently gallery director at the Robbin Gallery, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, he also teaches oil painting through the St. Louis Park Lenox Center, the Hopkins Center for the Arts, the Minnetonka Center for the Arts and his studio in south Minneapolis. Merchant has exhibited internationally and has won numerous awards including top honors. His twenty piece collection, "Exploring the World, Treasuring the Revelations", was a jury selected feature in the Walker Art Center's "5 Minutes of Fame" webcast.