Robert McKeown (1931-1989) was born in Oakland, CA and studied art at Humboldt State College, later receiving his degree from San Jose State College. He went on to pursue color and design theory at the Mendocino Art Center and at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. McKeown's exclusive process was the result of ten years of experimentation. Much like cloisonné, his designs were created with a combination of inlay and resin cast around wood inserts.