~Every piece of artwork generally has a back story.  

I think its fun and interestng to share some of the stories that you don't get see while looking directly at a piece of my artwork.

The Minnesota Pheasant Stamp Contest has been one contest that I have always placed high in, but the win has eluded me up util this last years contest. Contests are generally held the year before the image is placed on the official stamp to allow for production time. The tally so far has been two third places on my first two tries and four second places on the next entries. All my pieces have been different poses or ideas and while second place is great, you don't really get a chance to earn any money or have your artwork on a stamp. People calling and letters of congratulations for a second place are very nice but finding out you missed it by one place or as I have been told "one point" is frustrating after four consecutive second places in this one particular contest. This past summer I concentrated on doing everything I could to push a pheasant entry over the top and get my first Minnesota Pheasant Stamp win. I have already won the Minnesota Duck, Turkey, Trout and Salmon contests / stamps so in a way, I like to "collect" wins!  I worked on two entries or ideas at the same time. One was a redo of the last entry, as I found several areas that I could improve upon and as long it is a "new image" it is considered AOK. The other idea has a farm theme in the background. In the end I choose to do a final painting along the theme of last years second place entry but add another flying rooster, straighten out the background, pump in more color into the entire piece, and put feet on my flushing rooster in the fore ground. Feet up or down, and adding a rooster or hen are actually not easy decisions! These changes might seem small but every decision or change can help or hinder the chances of winning.  I like to get opinions on the nearly completed image from a handful of critics to see what they think of it and then adjust items if needed. Towards the end of a project I have spent way too much time on it and can over think small details, so a fresh set of eyes really helps. Everyone liked my painting and my cousin announced it as a winner. I decide to put on the finishing varnish and send it in with  plenty of time to spare. The Minnesota DNR has decided that they will no longer allow drop offs of your entry at at the DNR offices in Sain Paul.  A final clear top coating and then final varnishing is necessary for my work for several reasons. It helps unify the color, protects the work from abuse, and in this situation I knew they would be judging the images virtually. How judges actually view the entry can make or break your entry. If  the judging is virtual, I view my image on different devices to get an idea of how different an image can look due to the lighing/final varnish and the different devise screens that the judges might use. With three days to go before the mailing deadline, I started the final transparent finishing... This can be one of my most frustrationg things I do on a entry as it is very possible to mess it up after all of the hard work. A seperation clear coat was done and then the trouble started! Streaking and "off" sections kept appearing after waiting for it to dry. I made three trips to different art stores to buy all new items, (old varnish can mess things up) and did two complete sandings of the top coats to remove the ever thickening, messed up final coating. At that point I thought of actually putting the original away and try to fix the last step at a later date and try for the next years contest. I got the final finish they way I wanted it and was able to make it the post office with an hour to spare before the mailing deadline. I'm glad everything turned out in the end and that is the Story Behind the winning 2024 Minnesota Pheasant Stamp Artwork.

Five In The Corner Pocket ~BTA

This was my fifth painting completed, hence the title, and it was inspired by a hunt where we were in a small corner pocket of a western Minnesota lake, much like a pocket of a pool table. My wife decided I needed to get some of my originals paintings properly framed so we went down to our local gallery and frame shop. Owners John and Patrick Schroers asked about the painting and soon there after it was shown to the Executive Director of the Minnesota Waterfowl Association. When the MWA was considering this image It went up against a non released print from one of the iconic Minnesota Artists Les Kouba! 

The final MWA print cut off the area ahead of the hen due to final paper sizing and cost but it was the fastest selling MWA print and sold out in less than a year.

Bud's Minnesota Haven ~BTA

Turn In Poachers MN contacted me to paint an anniversary image and talk turned to adding Bud grant to the team. Things got delayed but I kept painting. When we were just about ready to go to press Bud signed on and we were set to add a few Bud items to the painting. Negotiations between the director of TIP and Bud commenced and I even had some person called Harry Grant call me a few times, that was back in the days of caller ID!

The Print was to coincide with the introduction of the TIP phone number (#TIP) (#847) so Bud thought his beloved suburban should be in the painting. Let's just say that I ended up being the chief negotiator to make the painting work for everyone. I told Bud that "no" we are not putting in his "packer green" Suburban at the landing in the background of  the painting... I told him it was just off canvas on the left side. I told Bud, "Yes, you and your pup can be in a boat using a push pole rather than rowing... "

I added some reeds to the lake make the water apear shallow rather than having Bud row his duck boat and eventually I had to paint out the gloves/ mitts , as Bud told me he never uses gloves/mitts! Hiding interesting items in the painting was a "thing" back then and Bud wanted many items hidden. "We" decided on a deer stand, a buck, and some loose decoys by the blind that he was approaching. Bud put some finishing paint strokes in various areas and called me "coach" when I was instructing him. The printing was done in four color offset lithography and there were some difficulties at press time. In adjustments, we had to have the water slightly more purple than the original to achieve the correct color elsewhere. In the end, the water turned out  slightly more purple than the original! Bud kept the original painting in his house and was in his possession upon his death.

He was truly Bud...

Charismatic, tough, and a great outdoorsman.

2017 Connecticut Duck Stamp BTA

The New London Ledge Lighthouse featured, includes a ghost named "Ernie" who is said to haunt the lighthouse.  Ernie is on the right side of the lighthouse against the rail. Check out the great stories on line and also featured on Ghost Hunters!