Artist and Teacher

Bruce was fascinated with art making as a young child, and he never lost that childlike enthusiasm. His formal education began with a Bachelor’s degree in Painting, and a Master of Art Education from Eastern New Mexico University. Bruce went on to study at West Texas State A&M University where he received a Master of Arts in Sculpture, and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting.

Bruce has enjoyed his career as an artist, Fine Arts Professor and Department Chair of Arts and Languages for over 40 years. Throughout his career he has been fortunate enough to teach thousands of students to learn to uncover their own hidden talents and to begin making art for themselves. He is honored that many of his students have become professional working artists and teachers at schools and universities across the nation. Bruce believes that every human being was born with a creative spirit freely given and encouraged by God himself.

Bruce paints in virtually every medium, including oils, watercolors, and pastels. However, he is always experimenting with new approaches that enable him to keep expanding his vision. There are and have been many outstanding artists and teachers who have blessed his path. Bruce is forever working to repay his debt to each of them. Leona Head, Frank Reaugh, Dale Hamlett, Chris Gikas, Henriette Wyeth Hurd, Peter Hurd, Dr. David Rindlesbacher, Lincoln Fox, and Albert Handell are among his most important guides.

Bruce’s works can be found in private and public collections throughout the west and across the United States. Although he always loved sharing the gift of art through teaching, Bruce considers himself first and foremost to be an artist. The act of painting has taught him to recognize truth when he sees it and to pursue it as fast as he dare.

“And my aim in my life is to make pictures and drawings, as many and as well as I can; then, at the end of my life, I hope to pass away, looking back with love and tender regret, and thinking, Oh, the pictures I might have made”. Vincent Van Gogh