The original Duck Hunt painting was made for a collector who wanted a still life to reflect his love of the sport. He had just lost his beloved hunting dog, so I incorporated this joyful 1960s toy with two racing retrievers to honor the life of his four-footed friend. I love how joyful the pups look as they race out to fetch their master’s waterfowl (The duck decoy remains aloof, however.)
This image is all about drama! I used a spotlight positioned from the lower left to cast sharp shadows on the background, tool box, and shelf. With this effect, I feel like the shadows become subjects of the painting, too, adding to the image’s visual interest.
As I mentioned earlier, the toy with the black lab and golden retriever is from the 60s - all wood, with painted details. As you pull the toy, one dog lifts up while the other drops down. It makes for a happy scene to see them cavort across the floor.
The decoy is an antique, not a replica. It came from one of my favorite antique stores and has made an appearance in several of my duck-themed paintings, including one of my very first paintings with a pun in the theme, Duck Tape. The toolbox - also an oft-featured item in my work - was a gift from a friend who rescued it from a yard sale and brought it to me.