Meet Pearce Richardson | Bladesmith and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pearce Richardson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pearce, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Patience. Most people aren’t patient enough to let the best in them come out. We live in a world where everything is fueled by instant gratification and searching for the next dopamine hit. We can order something online and have it the next day, we can instantly contact anyone in the world and get a response immediately, and yet the most valuable things continue to be the things that take a long time to make. Sometimes I may have a few hundred hours into a piece and I’m on the final stages when something happens that I can’t fix, I’m then forced to make a choice. I can either try and hide the flaw, sell it as is, or start over. Every time this happens the hardest choice is always starting over, but it is always the right choice; and I have learned my lesson so the next one will be even better. Often in life we’re faced with trying to cover up mistakes or admitting we screwed up and starting over. May we never grow tired of starting over, of trying again. My work has taught me that with enough patience anything is possible.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a bladesmith which means I create functional art in the form of edged tools. The most fun thing about what I do is that I get to combine so many different forms of craftsmanship and art. My trade is part blacksmith, part machinist, part engraver, part jeweler, part carpenter, part leather worker, part designer; there is always something new to learn and so many different skills to develop that it is always exciting. What separates me from others in my field is that I try to create and tell stories through my pieces, many of my pieces have a theme to them or some deeper meaning. I really don’t care that much about knives, swords, and axes; I care about people connecting through shared stories. Humility is a key trait for anyone that is truly successful and that is the same in bladesmithing. Those that think they know everything don’t last long and those that seek knowledge from masters will go far, those that are humble enough to fail and start over again and again will go even farther. Like I said before, it’s really not about the art, it’s about the people that experience it. I’m currently working with some other very talented smiths to create a father-son initiation experience. Our society has lost the value of initiating boys into manhood and we are reaping the consequences of that, I believe the cause of many of our issues is lack of or poor fathering and it begins with un-initiated men. This is really where my heart is at and it’s such a blessing to be able to use my talents and my craft to build that experience for boys and men that are seeking the next step in their journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
You can’t visit Colorado and not go to the mountains. This doesn’t have to be a crazy expensive trip or very touristy. The best spots are found along any of the canyon roads going up to the mountains, pull off and go for a hike or hang out at the river for a day, it’s great to get out in nature and experience the highlands. One of our favorite restaurants is Rio Grande Mexican restaurant in Boulder, CO. They have a great menu and the best margaritas, the rooftop dining is a great experience and it’s not too expensive. Other fun experiences are to visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park or check out the Denver Zoo.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person is my father. When I was sixteen he took me on an initiation experience and presented me with a sword as a passage into manhood. Now, years later I am working to provide similar experiences for fathers and sons, that experience also is what inspired me to make my first knives for the men in my family as an ode to that tradition. My father has also directed my towards my Heavenly Father who I get most of my inspiration from, whether it be nature, math, stories, or scripture. The second person is my wife Kaelyn, without her none of this would be possible. She has always supported me and encouraged, especially when I am doubting myself. She is a great person to verify my ideas with, she has an amazing perspective and always seems to see things that I don’t.

Website: icarusforge.com

Instagram: @icarusforge

Facebook: Pearce Richardson- Icarus Forge