Growing up in a family of artists, he learned to love working with his hands and developed a keen aesthetic sense. At 17, he found his destiny, forging his first blade with mild steel, cheap tools and a makeshift forge. A few years later, Master Smith Burt Foster took him under his wing and taught him about quality craftsmanship; his style and generosity woke in Curtis the desire to make a living from his art. Jason Knight would also be a guide, bringing him into a professional shop where he could stretch his abilities. Today, Curtis soars with his own wings, pushing the limits, in his own shop, built with his dad in the place where it all began.