The Million Dollar Duck

K

ken yacavone

Active member
Just want everyone to know the documentary " The Million Dollar Duck' about the Federal Duck Stamp competition is on tonite at 9:00 on Animal Planet.
Adam Grimm who started out as an aspiring artist at the ODCCA shows in Ohio is one of the featured competitors in the film. He is the youngest artist to win and won twice now.
Thanks
Ken
 
I enjoyed it. It put many things into perspective.

Remembering Adam as a child, always drawing & sketching at the Westlake Show and his dad always helping at The Pool Contest. Now Adam is a grown man with a beautiful family, and a 2X Duck Stamp Artist to boot. Man how time flies...

The "alternative artist" that keeps entering, with no chance to win also is a eye opener. As waterfowlers and waterfowling declines, the stamp keeps evolving, very interesting. What will it look like 50-75 years from now?

Thanks for the tip Ken.
 
Was a interesting show. Too much time spent on alternative art. Doesn't conform to rules and they let him enter.
Real wildlife artists spend month on art. Still was a nice show. Could have gone on to show more about how the artist benefits from winning.
 
yes I remember Adam working the Easton MD show selling prints. Just goes to show its a lot of work even when you win.
I don't think its a " once you win you are set" deal.
ken
 
I heard one of the artists mention online once they sell the original, the print stuff and with all the other licensing, they make on average 150k to 200k off that winning entry if they know what they are doing.
 
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Being a artist, of any kind is much like being a monk. You should have to take a vow of poverty. About 1% make it BIG. They do it because it's who they are.

Even after Adam won the first time (million dollars?), he states in the program that "things get tough." That IS the life of a artist. No regular paycheck, no vacation, sick days or paid health benefits (unless your a illustrator). Where many of the best in the past came from, such as Norman Rockwell and Bob Kuhn

If it were a "million dollars". I doubt they would squander it away. Artist = Frugal

When a famous artist was asked - What is the key to being a successful artist?

He replied - "Being independently wealthy."
 
Enjoyed the show except the artist entering alternative art, too out of the box. Reminded me of entering my duck decoys in "World Championships" in Ocean City , Maryland shows, feelings can totally stress the most conservative decoy carver. All in all a great T V special.
 
I thought the alternative guy was a hoot. I guess he got under some peoples skin though.
Kind of presented a different perspective to the stress of competing.
Ken
 
Ken, thanks for letting us know about this. My wife is a art teacher for middle school aged kids, and she has done the jr. duck stamp competition with her students in the past. Neat to see how the judging is done, and all the unbelievable entries that don't make the cut. My whole family was amazed at the effort these people into their work.
Thanks, Jeff
 
I need to check into the kickstarter campaign. I don't have any cable/satellite but I donated to their fund and was supposed to get a DVD. I'm looking forward to seeing it.
 
The ODCCA is doubling down on their efforts to mentor young people who want to carve or do flat art. Every year we have a painting event for kids at the show in Strongsville Oh. We are now trying to use social media as a way to attract kids. It is just in the planning stage.
Good for your wife in what she does with her students.
Ken
 
Ken - Just a FYI. I do several free decoy carving demo's for children and adults each year. A good way to get groups of children is by contacting Boy & Girl Scout groups, 4H, conservation clubs in schools, local rod & gun clubs.

Also any inner city organizations helping to keep young folks busy and on a correct path. The diversity that attends never ceases to amaze me. Many are from non hunting & fishing backgrounds but very interested in learning.

When ya just sit there and carve or paint and not lecture, it draws attention and many questions. Always very rewarding for everyone.

The ODCCA was always a family friendly club, and that is part of what made it so great. I wish the best for all involved.
 
Dave is no alternative carver, true carver. He has won Best in Show with a beautiful bird. Have followed his carvings for years and know what it takes to carve a quality bird.
To see these paintings voted on so easy it bothers me. I watch the judging at the Worlds and they take real time to judge. Just seemed to be too fast and what credentials do some have??? I like mergansers, shouldn't be a factor... JMO
 
Capt. Rich, I thought the same thing about the judging. They looked at them for a couple of seconds with a nod onto the next judge. It made me wonder if the paintings were on display prior to the judging for them to get a good look at the entries, and kind of decide who was in the running?
 
Vince
Good points. I had a long conversation with derrick Cross yesterday and he feels if its not on line people his age and younger are not interested. So I think it takes a combination of both approaches to make the young aware of outdoor art. He also commented on how the young are use to gathering information alone with out anyone talking to them in front of a computer on their time frame.
Good points. Maybe ML could video you carving and post it to notify more people on what you are doing.
Just some thoughts.
Ken
 
Ken - Some of the places that I do demos do that already. The best way is to have one of the young people do it. They get the info "Out There" faster than we do. All you have to do is carve, draw & paint, and hold their interest. Just set a good example. They do the rest.


Capt. Rich - I disagree. Judges are judges no matter where, bias does apply. I've judged decoy contests with very good carvers, that would not pick a decoy for exactly what you stated. They don't like them.

As waterfowlers play less of a roll in the duck stamp, it will evolve into something new. Nothing stays the same.

I'm pretty certain Ding Darling, and other pre contest duck stamp artists never thought that photo realism art, would replace the original duck stamp art. That did include dog and decoy down the line. Those days appear to be gone, but not forgotten. Those are the stamps and art that bring top $$$$$.

just my 2 cents
 
Vince, as a amateur carver that does not compete, judging is very difficult. I attend the Worlds for 30 years and watch the judging and a lot of judges try hard.
I watches a ring neck get pushed out away three times and ended winning class as the head judge knew ring necks well [ world open class carver]. Did not know the bird well.
That's just my opinion, I was asked to judge a local contest, but I didn't think I was qualified.
Flat work is totally a different game.
 
Capt. Rich -You are correct, judging is indeed very difficult. I believe no matter what is being judged. Many and most judges do their very best to Do The Right Thing. Even though most times it is a thankless job.

Bias is part of being human, and to set it aside in judging is easier for some and less so for others.

Personal experience has taught me that the best are humble, very knowledgeable and if not admit it, and question if they are completely qualified. (Those are the folks I learned the most from.)

Yet it is a job that someone has to do in contests, unless it's peoples choice.

The words of wisdom that one man that asked me to judge a important decoy contest. "You will have a target on your back, that will not go away."

For anyone to be asked to judge is a honor. Accepting is the tough part for many (myself included) and that is very understandable.
 
OOh I got to see it today! It was great, even better than I expected. I got a kick out of the funky guy that entered the abstract art, he knows he'll never win but he has fun with it.

It appeared as if the judges were looking at monitors as the original was being shown to them... I think they may have had a few seconds longer to look at each one than just the time the actual painting was in front of them.
 
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