My interest in art began at an early age as I
watched my father whittle small rocking chairs, paint and draw. Because I was
too young to use a pocket knife he use to get me paint-by-number pictures for
me and when I was finished my pictures, he used the left over paint for his
art. I guess that is where I learned not
to waste supplies and that anything can be used to create art.
My first real memory of wanting to grow up to be an artist is from second grade, where I earned the reputation of being my classes best dinosaur drawer. I later took art in High School for three years and ultimately chose to major in art in college, earning an A.A. Degree, a B.A. Degree and later a Master's Degree.
After college I served as a Principle and basketball coach at a private school before taking a position as an illustrator in a Texas publishing company. All during this time I kept developing my own art style, concentrating mainly on wildlife paintings and portraitures. One day I had the big idea that I was going to paint ducks and enter duck stamp competitions. So I bought a ‘how-to’ book on carving duck decoys and soon had the ‘great’ idea of carving a combination painting and decoy to get more recognition for my art.
I had recently painted a pair of Widgeons for a competition in Ohio, so I chose a Widgeon drake as the first decoy to carve. During the carving of this duck something began to happen that never happened when painting on canvas. I could actually feel the duck come ‘alive’ as I carved and textured each feather. When this duck was done, I immediately began working on another decoy and from there I was hooked, though still painting, but mainly concentrating on wood carving.
Around 1991 I entered my first wildfowl carving show, the California Open, with a standing, open winged Wood duck. There were three divisions, the Open, Intermediate and Novice in this show and I entered the Intermediate class. I was thrilled when my carving receive a second place ribbon. As I was patting myself on the back, I realized something, if my goal was to learn and to get better, then I had to show against and learn from the best. From that point on, I only entered into the Open classes. Over the next few years, I learned as much as I could form the ‘old timers’, began to improved my carvings, and eventually began winning.
After all this time I still get a feeling of wonder and awe as each carving I create begins to come alive in my hands. My goal is to pass that feeling on to as many others as I can wherever I can. In 2006 I learned of an art position opening here at Lead Hill and jumped at the chance. The thought of doing what I loved on an every day basis and introducing young minds to art was exciting. I appreciate the Board giving me a chance to move into this stage of my career. It has been great experience for me and I look forward to the day when my some of my students take what they have learned and begin pass it on to others. That will one of the highlights of my career.
I am developing a new website for my art at www.bdavidduncanartist.com as well as my main sight on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bdavid.artist Feel free to visit both sights to see more of my art.
Below are a few examples of the various medias I work in.
My first real memory of wanting to grow up to be an artist is from second grade, where I earned the reputation of being my classes best dinosaur drawer. I later took art in High School for three years and ultimately chose to major in art in college, earning an A.A. Degree, a B.A. Degree and later a Master's Degree.
After college I served as a Principle and basketball coach at a private school before taking a position as an illustrator in a Texas publishing company. All during this time I kept developing my own art style, concentrating mainly on wildlife paintings and portraitures. One day I had the big idea that I was going to paint ducks and enter duck stamp competitions. So I bought a ‘how-to’ book on carving duck decoys and soon had the ‘great’ idea of carving a combination painting and decoy to get more recognition for my art.
I had recently painted a pair of Widgeons for a competition in Ohio, so I chose a Widgeon drake as the first decoy to carve. During the carving of this duck something began to happen that never happened when painting on canvas. I could actually feel the duck come ‘alive’ as I carved and textured each feather. When this duck was done, I immediately began working on another decoy and from there I was hooked, though still painting, but mainly concentrating on wood carving.
Around 1991 I entered my first wildfowl carving show, the California Open, with a standing, open winged Wood duck. There were three divisions, the Open, Intermediate and Novice in this show and I entered the Intermediate class. I was thrilled when my carving receive a second place ribbon. As I was patting myself on the back, I realized something, if my goal was to learn and to get better, then I had to show against and learn from the best. From that point on, I only entered into the Open classes. Over the next few years, I learned as much as I could form the ‘old timers’, began to improved my carvings, and eventually began winning.
After all this time I still get a feeling of wonder and awe as each carving I create begins to come alive in my hands. My goal is to pass that feeling on to as many others as I can wherever I can. In 2006 I learned of an art position opening here at Lead Hill and jumped at the chance. The thought of doing what I loved on an every day basis and introducing young minds to art was exciting. I appreciate the Board giving me a chance to move into this stage of my career. It has been great experience for me and I look forward to the day when my some of my students take what they have learned and begin pass it on to others. That will one of the highlights of my career.
I am developing a new website for my art at www.bdavidduncanartist.com as well as my main sight on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bdavid.artist Feel free to visit both sights to see more of my art.
Below are a few examples of the various medias I work in.