I am a US Air Force veteran that spent the last 22 years working as a Network Engineer. I started forging in 2015 and joined the Saltfork Craftsmen Artist Blacksmith Association as well as ABANA. Through them I have been able to meet many talented blacksmiths in and around Oklahoma. I have been a demonstrator at the Muskogee Ren Fair and the Tulsa State Fair for a few years and help teach the beginners blacksmithing course.

I have always enjoyed creating things. Prior to finding a love for metalwork, I spent about 15 years as a woodworker. My desire to add metalwork to my woodwork led me into blacksmithing. I also enjoy sculpting and leatherwork. I am most passionate about working with iron though. I am very critical of my own work and always striving to improve.

In that spirit, before I go full time blacksmith I have decided to take a year off work to visit and learn from as many craftspeople as I can. I have had many amazing mentors and decided that their stories should be told as I undertake this project. Brian and Ed Brazeal, I cannot thank you enough for your mentorship over the last few years. Not just to me, but to the blacksmithing community as a whole.

I will be filming the journey and interviewing the blacksmiths in their own shops. My goal is to get their story, discuss various aspects of smithing, have them demonstrate their forging techniques and provide a tour of their shop. I will be visiting shops at various skill levels as I really want to highlight the differences in techniques, shops, local support groups and the various specialties. I firmly believe that everyone has something that is worth sharing.

I am trying to stretch my budget as far as possible to visit as many smiths as possible. I will be couch surfing where I can, trading work for lodging, camping/sleeping in truck as needed.

If you like what I do and are interested in supporting this effort, there are lots of ways to help out. Buying merch, Patreon membership, donations, offering up a couch or even just putting me in contact with smith’s that would be willing to participate.