08.12.16

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” – Francis of Assisi

The Federal Duck Stamp. It’s time! Brian’s painting is complete! With 3 days to spare before it makes its way to Virginia.

The contest will be held September 9 & 10 in Philadelphia. One person will be the winner of the 84th Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (or as we call it, Federal Duck Stamp).

Each year, I sit on my computer and watch the contest live online. With great anticipation and on the verge of an anxiety attack…

I cannot even put into words how excited I am for him right now. I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful this painting looks. I stood with tears in my eyes, in utter awe, as he held it up for me to see last night. Purely magical. I even told him that, “that one (as I pointed to the wall) may no longer be my favorite…” – that ONE painting that is “old” and I refuse to let him sell to the world because “it’s mine”… may have a contender.

I wish I could show you all! But… unfortunately, right now, I cannot.

As I stated in my last post, “he has yet to become frustrated. So that only tells me that it is coming soon. There comes a point in every contest painting he does where, ‘something just isn’t quite right’– and the whole process halts.… That hasn’t happened yet… It could be that he has and is growing so much as an artist that it won’t occur.”

It never happened.

He, not once, in this entire process this go-round got discouraged. It has been smooth sailing for the past few months. I truly believe that this piece was a turning point. A huge leap of personal development. To watch him continue on, for hours, and enjoy each moment. For days, weeks, months. To pour his entire being into this one painting – and never once doubt himself in any way. He is making waves and moving mountains with his artwork. And I could not be more honored to share in his experience.

I want to wish all artists who are entering, Good Luck. There are so many great painters out there. It’s “the largest art contest in the world” – or so I’ve heard. A true honor to win.

If you have free time, I would highly suggest watching The Million Dollar Duck. It is a newly (just this week!) released documentary about artists, and the history/world behind the Duck Stamp Contest. It can be viewed only through iTunes or Amazon; rented or purchased. Brian and I purchased it on Wednesday and have already watched it twice. Very fascinating and informative.

Until next time…

 

 

07.12.16

We are alive – I promise! Beyond the art, we are just your average human beings. We have jobs. We have an 8-year-old boy to give our attention to. We have two furry boys who need love and care. We have a family. Brian also has a second job. He is a jack-of-all-trades sort of guy. He does not sit down. Only usually to eat – or paint. Unless he is in a tractor… but that is work that takes away from his painting… We are always on the go, or so it seems. And to be quite honest, most days our lives are just busy with “work” and “life” and nothing truly exciting to tell the world! (And I can only be the doting wife so often without becoming annoying…)

Brian is currently working on several paintings at once. Most importantly, his entry for the Federal Duck Stamp. I am so incredibly excited for this painting and the direction that it is heading. Once he begins, there is very little room for error and I am loving the way the gears are spinning this time around. (Oh how I wish I could show you all the progress!)

As of today, there are exactly 35 days for him to complete his painting and send it off.

He has yet to become frustrated. So that only tells me that it is coming soon. There comes a point in every contest painting he does where, “something just isn’t quite right” – and the whole process halts. Usually not for long. Sometimes minutes, sometimes hours, once in a while just a few days… That hasn’t happened yet… It could be that he has and is growing so much as an artist that it won’t occur. I’ll believe those words until I see it.

His vision of the natural world amazes me each and every day. He submerges himself into great depths to always learn more. To be inspired. To do and be better. He always manages to find this “light” that I believe was put in this world simply for his own viewing and no one else’s.

Why the ducks… Seems to be a common question I get often. “Why does he only paint ducks?” – He doesn’t. He paints so much more. But his passion lies in nature. He has this concept, this idea, that it is his calling – his job – to paint the world as we know it. Because someday, these things won’t exist anymore. He is history in the making. Mark my word.

“There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. Like winds and sunset, wild things were taken for granted until progress began to do away with them.” -Aldo Leopold

He makes fun of me and my passion for his work. “You didn’t know anything about ducks or what the Duck Stamp was until you met me!” – He is correct. I didn’t. But now I do – and I cannot imagine any other knowledge I would like to possess. So what’s the deal with the ducks… The Duck Stamp is much more than a painting, a stamp… more than meets the eye.

Food for thought…

“Ninety-eight cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to  purchase or lease (5.2MB) wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion in the  National Wildlife Refuge System. This ensures there will be land for wildlife and humans that will be protected for generations to come. Since 1934, some $800 million dollars has gone into that fund to protect  more than 5.7 million acres (102.5KB) of habitat. Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated. One of the reasons for the Duck Stamp’s success is that anyone can buy the stamp, which can also be used as an annual “pass” to  national wildlife refuges charging entrance fees. ” (https://www.fws.gov/birds/get-involved/duck-stamp/history-of-the-federal-duck-stamp.php)

Feel free to do your own research to learn more! I promise – it is a magnificent and fascinating world, this “Duck Stamp thing” we do. Until next time!

 

 

 

03.25.16

Some of you may be wondering, “why does this Brian guy talk about himself in third person?” … He doesn’t. I promise. The face, the mind, and fingers on the keyboard behind these words belong to his wife. My name is Tiffany. And I am undoubtedly, Brian’s biggest fan.

I am the one who sits alongside him and sees his journey from start to finish. The one who gets to see it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not just in his art, but in our life.

The other day as I stumbled through Facebook, an old post popped up before my eyes – and all I could do was sit and smile. Reading my own words back to myself…

“He won… Again. He is on a roll. And I am by his side on this roller-coaster of a journey.

…And I could not be more proud. I watch him stand in the doorway… stepping back… admiring from afar… he is at ease… he has sparked something in himself that has been lost for a while. And I am so proud. He will never know the depth of those words.”

Those words were written as I sat and watched him create his painting for the 2015/2016 Ducks Unlimited Print of the Year. He pushed himself farther than I had ever seen him push on a painting. I watched him become something else… something more…

And he won. He did it. That was Number 2. He now holds the trophy for three. Only one, very quickly passed, year later. He currently is working on two paintings at once. With a third drawing for the next in the making…

Determination – NOUN – “the controlling or deciding of something’s nature or outcome”

Brian has more determination than I have ever witnessed in an individual. He set a goal for himself when he was only a teenager… he was going to win the Federal Duck Stamp. I have never seen him give up. I have never seen him quit. Ten years have passed, and he has yet to win. But each year, he continues on. He gets the camera out almost daily and takes his own photos. He sits on the computer, or on the couch flipping through books of images belonging to other Duck Stamp artists – usually Robert Bateman… as he is by far a favorite inspiration. He invests his own time into the worlds of other artists; in contests; in shows… because this – this art, this skill, this passion – is what makes him who he is.

He is a son, a brother, an uncle, an employee, a husband, a father, a friend… yet none of those things interrupt his desire to create. To share his portrayal of the world with others. We, by no means, become second… nor placed on the back burner. Brian is not only determined, but also unselfish. Our entire family, our entire world around us, plays such a large role in his work. With every aspect working together – he has no choice but to achieve success.

 

Accomplishments

Walking into 2016 has already been an exciting year for Brian.

On February 13th, Brian won the Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year & People’s Choice Award. For the third (3rd) time, in a row. Based on our research, several individuals have won this contest multiple times; however, no one has ever won three consecutive years. That’s a very big accomplishment, and very exciting.

Some of the achievements Brian has received over the years are as follow:

2005 – Iowa Junior Duck Stamp – Best of Show & Honorable Mention

2006 – Iowa Junior Duck Stamp – Best of Show & 3rd Place (National)

2006 – Duck’s Unlimited “Arrowhead Chapter” – Feature Artist

2008 – Delaware Duck Stamp – Honorable Mention

2009 – Duck’s Unlimited “Arrowhead Chapter” – Feature Artist

2009 – Massachusetts Duck Stamp – 2nd Place

2009 – Michigan Duck Stamp – 2nd Place

2010 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – 3rd Place & People’s Choice

2014 – Iowa Duck Stamp/Sponsor Sprint – 2nd Place

2014 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – People’s Choice

2014 – Duck’s Unlimited “Mid-Iowa Chapter” – Feature Artist

2015 – Nevada Duck Stamp – 3rd Place

2015 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – 1st Place

2015 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – People’s Choice

2015 – Duck’s Unlimited “Mid-Iowa Chapter” – Feature Artist

2016 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – 1st Place

2016 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – People’s Choice

2017 – Iowa Duck’s Unlimited Print of the Year – 1st Place