I painted “Wine Sommelier” so I could design wine labels to place on bottles for my art opening at The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho (TAM). My friend has crafted wine from grapes imported from France for years. At the reception on April 19, 2012, from 7-9 p.m. we are having Rooster Wine, Chicken Wine, appetizers (chicken skewers!), and different desserts. Should be a grand time.

Once I get my labels designed in Adobe’s Photoshop I will make a test print, adhere it to a bottle and post it on my blog.

In the mean time I better get back to taking pictures and painting!!!

The 1960 Dodge pickup in the painting is owned by my wife’s cousin Brian Rolston from Forsyth, Montana. Most of my paintings use my aunt Barb Rolston’s Triangle Ranch and Castle Butte as their backdrop. My father-in-law Alan has fond memories of this truck. The license plate is the actual plating. 29 stands for Rosebud County, Montana and the 1960 in self explanatory.

Thank for looking!

I added a cloth napkin I made from duck canvas and added the stylish napkin ring. I am contemplating whether I should add some green leaves to garnish the cheese plate or not. Maybe an Eiffel Tower cheese knife too? Decisions to make. Oh well, I’ll at least sign my name.

Thank you for looking!

This one was fun to paint. Enjoy!

“Cock & Bull Story” is my largest painting to date at 48″x72″. Much fun to work on. The sculpted bull’s head was made layering an acrylic binder called stucco. The lasso rope was made using some clothes line I purchased in Billings, Montana in November. I borrowed the idea of a leather glove and metal saddle star from one of my previous pieces.

I started this painting right before I left on my photography shoot for YAMAHA Snowmobiles. A 9-day trip to an unknown location in the Rocky Mountain West.

The secrecy of this shoot is on par with the classification office for the Department of Energy: very tight.

Despite the lack of snow the 2013 photography was a success.

When I returned from the YAMAHA shoot I had to process all the pictures I took and disseminate data. Much work and not very fun.

I started back up on “Cock & Bull Story” the week before Christmas. I figure it took me about 9 days to paint. A little too long probably, but it is 48″x72″.  Gigantic. Huge. Would not fit in most homes!

“Northern Cheyenne Indian Girl” I painted before Thanksgiving weekend as a speed test. It took about 3 days…

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I am currently painting “Cock of the Walk” at 36″x48.”

Happy New Year!

Cans are attached to painting.

Before I could start this painting though, I had to paint “Chicken Soup,” which measures 24″x30.”

When “Chicken Soup” was complete I took a studio picture with my photography strobes and designed a label in Adobe Photoshop.

I made several test prints before settling on a HP thermal film print from Walmart. Very durable. It passed my finger grease, spit, smudge and water test!

While painting I bought several flats of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. I lucked out because it was on sale; two for $1.00. The kids and I polished off 15 cans of soup. I needed more empty cans so we had a chicken soup party! My wife is now officially sick of chicken noodle soup. Can’t blame her.

I used a special can opener, which my parents gave me, that opens cans without sharp edges. Great for recycling and safety, but even better for my project because it allowed me to re-attach the lids. This makes the soup cans look real.

Enjoy!

Those last two sentences were difficult to get through, I know. That’s why most employees that work directly or indirectly for  the Department of Energy (DOE) talk in acronyms. It is a whole different language. Acronyms that make “newbies”, like myself, ask the dreaded question: “What does that acronym stand for?” Most people look at you like you are nucking futs. Then they calmly tell you. Others simply do not know.

After 2.5 years of contracting for the DOE I am talking in slang. It is a BFD. I am part of the TEAM now. I am no longer the SNAFU!!!

Acronyms are everywhere today in our technological world! Most people know these acronyms: WTF?, LOL, OMG, LMAO, etc… We use them everyday while surfing the internet.

If I need to learn something, which is most of the time, I “google” it. That’s my information system. I am looking up acronyms all the time, or asking my wife what it stands for.

Damn. IMO we live in one beautiful and twisted world! I love it!

At any rate…

here R pics of HFEF-6 Cask

Now, let’s see how many people develop carpal tunnel syndrome from texting and answering emails on their phones.

Before you know it everyone will be wearing wrist braces, taking pictures of their naked lower half and sexting! Instant gratification!!!

Now I better go get my Weiner and Favre on!

Chicken Xing - Acrylic painting on 60"x48" canvas - by Kort Duce

I am pretty much finished with my latest acrylic painting titled “Chicken Xing.” I need to sign it and finish the last little details.

Details. Details. Details.

Some time in the next few days I’ll start my new painting titled “Mother Hen.” Not sure the size yet: either 24×30, 30×40 or 36×48. The largest size will probably win.

Below is a sketch of “Mother Hen.” Same color and style as the painting above! Bold colors and heavy texture.

"Mother Hen" sketch by Kort Duce. Soon to be an acrylic painting on canvas.

I feel like my rooster and chicken series is slowly coming together. I’ve completed much research and have at least 150 painting ideas. Should keep me pretty busy for quite some time.

As soon as I finish this painting I will start “Free Range Chicken.” I have a 60″x48″ canvas for this one, but I really want to paint this huge (like 90″x72″).

At any rate, below is that sketch posted again.

"Free Range Chicken" sketch by Kort Duce. Soon to be an acrylic painting on canvas.