Since 1975, Bruce’s passion for perfection and innate thirst for knowledge has guided him to hone his artistic skills under the expert tutelage of some of the most highly respected and finest craftsman of our time.
In the mid 1970s Bruce was making furniture and cabinetry and wanted to add hand-carved decorations to some of his projects, so he sought a mentor. His research directed him to Gordon Newby -- a specialist in liturgical sculpture with an emphasis on life-size figures -- whose works graced the interiors of more than ten Cathedrals in Utah and Nevada. Bruce made contact with Gordon, who became a mentor and good friend until Gordon’s passing in 2005.
In the early 1990’s, Bruce’s thirst to expand his artistic abilities and creativity steered him into the world of custom jewelry-making. After investing in jewelry-making books and basic tools, Bruce made some silver rings and bracelets. These creations led to a referral to Charley Hafen, who was opening a jewelry gallery featuring local artists. Bruce’s experience in sculpture gave him the knowledge and skills necessary to carve wax models for one-of-a-kind jewelry designs for Charley, which began a ten-year partnership in the custom jewelry business.
As Bruce mastered the creation of custom jewelry, the desire to expand his artistic abilities drove him to learn the art of fine hand-engraved finishes. He enrolled at Alan Revere’s Jewelry Academy in San Francisco where he studied with European Master Engraver, Hratch Nargizian. From there, Bruce traveled to the GRS Training Center in Emporia, Kansas for intensive training with American Master, Mike Dubber, who was at that time the president of The Firearms Engravers Guild of America. Since then, Bruce has taken seminars all over the country to learn from more than a dozen of America’s most highly acclaimed engravers.
Bruce’s engraving talents have been commissioned by renowned knife dealers and collectors throughout the United States and Canada. His work has been published in Blade Magazine (December, 2006) and the book, Knives Annual 2007.
About half of Bruce’s time is spent working on commissions from knife makers, dealers and collectors. The other half is devoted to creating custom jewelry pieces, which are available exclusively through Charley Hafen.
