Marianne Kelley
Oklahoma City, OK
405-808-9173 405-752-0444
Mkengraving15@gmail.com
I began my engraving journey after finding GRS while attending the Dallas Safari Club in 2015. I signed up for her first basic class which was the summer of 2015. When I began engraving I thought that I would engrave knife bolsters never imagining that I would engrave guns. For me, it all began when I attended a class taught by Rex Pedersen at GRS the “Henry Receiver” in 2016 then followed by the “Start to Finish Firearm” in 2017. At the time of my first class, I had a full-time job as a veterinarian which didn’t leave much time for practice. I am now retired and have the time to study the art of engraving. I occasionally fill in for veterinarians keeping my skills sharp! In 2018 I had the opportunity to join a group of ladies called the Lady Sharpshooters. My first class was with Rex Pederson. Since then we have met yearly and studied under various instructors such as Diane Scalese, Layne Zuelke, Mike Dubber, Sam Alfano and Lee Griffiths which has allowed me to improve my skill level immensely. In 2019 I was in Grand Masters at GRS with Mike Dubber and later that year I was nominated to participate in the Bobby Tyler Engraving Extravaganza for which I was chosen as one of the 10 finalists who would then engrave a Colt SAA. I would go on and be chosen the winner in 2021. I have been featured in “Ballistics Magazine”, “Guns of the Old West” and “Triggered” by Michael Bane on YouTube. In 2022 I received the FEGA Emerging Artist Award along with being elected FEGA Treasurer as well as becoming the Project Manager aka the “Wrangler” for the 2023, 2024ans 2025 FEGA Auction guns. I also had the privilege of working on the 2023 and 2024 guns! I have been the recipient of many FEGA awards not only for engraving but for publications and participation. In 2023 I was in Grand Masters at GRS with Damien Connolly. She is a member of Colt Collectors Association, Firearms Engraving Guild of America, and American Custom Gunmakers Guild. Just recently, January 2024 I became a “Professional” member of the ACGG in the “Engraver” category. I have written several articles for “The Engraver Magazine”, the GRS “Learn Magazine”, “The Rampant Colt” as well as presenting a seminar with Diane Simpson at the FEGA convention, a seminar at the Colt Collectors Association with Mike Dubber and Brian Powley and Q&A at the Rotary Club in Emporia, Kansas in 2024. This year, 2024 I was chosen to engrave the Colt Collectors Association Auction Gun making me the second woman to become “Colt Collectors Association Master Engraver”. January 2025 I became a FEGA Master Engraver! Making me only the fourth female in the history of FEGA to achieve this certification! I continue to practice and strive to improve while enjoying time with my husband, going on safaris, and hanging out with her 2 dogs! |