ABOUT
ABOUT ME
My name is Ulysses Hurliman. I have been a blacksmith since the age of 15. When I first decided I wanted to try blacksmithing, it was little more than a whim. However I very quickly fell in love with the process of forming usually ridged and unmoving steel into nearly anything my mind could dream up. I love working with my hands and have dipped my toes in many other crafts, but none have captured me quite like the art of the blacksmith.
TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS
With the encouragement and support from my family, I sought out local mentors and learned as much as I could under their tutelage. I have taken classes under Nick Rossi, Emiliano Carrillo, Anna Koplik, Ellen Durkan, Jordan Borstelmann, and more, both at Peter's Valley School of Crafts in Layton, NJ, and at Arc and Flame in Rochester, NY. I also was mentored by Mark Emig in his shop in West Hurley, NY. I continue to explore and study blacksmithing techniques to expand my knowledge and skills while creating in my shop.
ABOUT THE NAME
I chose decent because, initially, it made me laugh. But becoming a master smith is a serious endeavor. Therefore, I like to use the old-fashioned meaning of the word decent: conforming to the recognized standard of propriety; marked by moral integrity, kindness, and goodwill.
When I say my work is decent, I mean I am proud of my work. It also means I am embarking on this journey with modesty and humility because it’s a life-long learning process.