Matt Duckett

2012-01-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

Thanks to anyone who has voted in the Pfister Artist in Residence poll on Facebook (here and here). If you don't have facebook, you can send an email to: amyhansen@marcuscorp.com. Just throw Artist in Residence Vote and Matt Duckett in the subject, and that should be fine.

Here are a couple more pieces I've done over the last few months. I told myself I'd keep on top of this blog a little better than before, and here's the next batch of work. These are a couple drawings I did last fall.


Cave Man, charcoal and graphite.

This self-portrait was for a drawing show, so I wanted it to be as much about the act of drawing as it was about me. For a self-portrait, I went back to a park where I spent quite a lot of time as a child. But the imagery really is a commentary of drawing itself. The large steel doors behind me had hundreds of dents in them, both tiny and quite impressively deep. The deepest seemed to form the initials 'RS,' visible over my shoulders. Maybe it's because I was there in a particularly introspective mood, but the act of marking a place with initials seemed to parallel those prehistoric cave drawings. They both seemed to say "I was here. I did this." They are both a record of experiencing a particular place and time. I picked up a rock and scrawled my own initials on the concrete. I remember using rocks to draw on sidewalks being a somewhat earth-shattering discovery as a kid. I wrote my initials to say that I, too, had been there.

All of this is captured in my own record of the experience, using graphite and charcoal. I wanted to stack these frames of experience on top of each other, and see drawing—basically mark-making on any level—as a rather vain attempt to capture the act of being present, a small moment in time made nearly permanent with rocks and sticks.

Portrait of Frances, graphite and charcoal

This is a drawing of our friend Fran, who just gave birth to a beautiful little daughter. Though this was done months ago, I suppose it makes this a double portrait.

Recent News...

2012-01-21T22:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a pretty wild few months. There's a little bit of news to share, so I'll be updating this blog (and my website, finally) over the next few days.

My work was accepted into the exhibition "Au Naturel" in Astoria, OR. I hope I can make it out for the opening in February. Better start saving my pennies. Or have a garage sale at the studio....

I am also a finalist for the Pfister hotel's Artist in Residence. It's a year-long residency at one of the best hotels in the nation. They built an artist studio on the ground level of the building, and support the artist while he/she creates work and interacts with the public. The artist will also help folks check out the surprisingly large collection of Victorian art the hotel has.

The public can vote on facebook for the winner, at both the Pfister's page and their sister hotel the InterContinental's. The six finalists all have an exhibition at Gallery M in the InterContinental hotel. If you'd like to support me, please check out the show if you're in the Milwaukee area, or go to the two links and vote for me. Unfortunately, this year they've ceased text voting and other options, so facebook is the only way to vote. That rules out quite a few of my friends and family, which is probably one reason I'm second to last in voting! Oh well, there's still time. Thanks to everyone who has voted so far!

I haven't posted any new artwork in quite a long time, so I'll start. Here's a couple new pieces I've made in the last few months. I'll be updating the blog with more work throughout the week.

Welder, oil on canvas

This is of my friend Josh. Sadly, the beard and most of the hair are no longer a part of him. That's okay, I guess, I think I have met my quota of paintings of beardy guys.

Self-Portrait, graphite

Poets and Artists Magazine

2011-09-14T09:39:00.000-07:00

I am very fortunate to be included in the current issue of Poets and Artists magazine. It's an incredible publication, and the list of past featured artists reads like my weekly blog-stalking list. It includes artists like Michael Klein, David Kassan, Tony Pro, Jeremy Geddes, Brad Kunkle and soooo many more. You can check out the online version or order a print one, if you're so inclined. There's a ton of art and poetry in there beyond my meager contribution, and you'd be supporting a top-notch, AD FREE magazine. Didi really does an admirable job putting this magazine together.

Back from New York!

2011-09-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Well we had a GREAT time in NY. Much better than I could have even hoped for. We met some really great people there (despite Vernil's warnings!) and really fell in love with the city, like everyone else that has been, I'm sure.

We got to see some music at the famous Birdland jazz club, which was an amazing experience. Thanks to Vernil for inviting us. Our food there was like two sculptures. Some of the prettiest food I have ever seen.

We also saw a great Irish traditional session at the Landmark Tavern, complete with authentic Appalachian songs...via some Swedes.

Of course the art was unbelievable.

We got to see the legendary Arcadia Gallery, where so many of my heroes are represented. That place just reeks of artistic brilliance. I can only hope I brought some of the stink home with me! We even met the owner, Steve, who is every bit as genuinely nice as his artists' blogs claim he is.

As for the Salmagundi Club, it was such an honor to be a part of something of that caliber. Truly humbling, and incredibly inspiring. The reception was a great time. I feel like I didn't even talk to anyone, since it was so packed. I'll post pictures soon. Thanks to everyone for the well-wishing before we left...it must have worked because we had such a great time!

Sneak Peek

2011-07-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at my studio space. You can catch a glimpse of some of the work for my upcoming show at the Pump House. This was taken a little while ago, so it's a bit different now. A bit messier, more paintings, and the burn pile got bigger.

I Heart NY!

2011-07-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

I just found out I was accepted into the Salmagundi Club's 34th Annual Non-Member Juried Exhibition in New York City! I can't believe it. My art will be hanging in the halls that have hosted some of my biggest art heroes, and the Salmagundi Club has had as members some of the greatest American painters who ever lived. Blakelock, William Merritt Chase, Frederick Stuart Chase, Inness, Howard Pyle, N. C. Wyeth, so many others.

My painting, "The Turn," of musician, sage, friend, and overall happy place Tim Jenkins will be exhibited in August. Tim taught me everything I know that's worth knowing about music. I am honored that Tim let me paint him, and happy that the painting conveys even a fraction of the respect I have for him.

I am extremely honored to be a part of this exhibition. The Salmagundi Club has a rich and prestigious history woven with the best artists of the past and present. I can hardly believe I'm going to have a painting hanging on Fifth Ave.

Now, I just have to figure out a way to get to NYC.

Updates Coming!

2010-11-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if anyone is watching this at all, but in case you are, I have a few updates in the works. Until then, check out the studio blog. There's been a lot happening there and plenty of updates to be read (and posted yet). Our Studio Warming party was a blast, and had a great attendance from the community. Thanks to everyone who came out. I finally got my painting stuff unpacked at the studio, so you should have some more posts soon.

odalisk (in progess)

2010-07-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here's another from the series of paintings of Mary. It's not quite done yet; there's work to be done on the figure. Maybe I'll post a picture when it's done, but just in case, here it is.

My friend Tim

2010-07-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Tim is one of the most intriguing people I know. I've learned a lot from him about life and music, and how the two combine. I painted him once before, and wasn't happy with the results, so I decided to paint him again.

I really feel I turned a corner on this one. I'd been reading and analyzing artwork rabidly before starting, and I think this time something finally stuck.

This painting was recently accepted into the 23rd Annual Northern National Art Competition.

while I'm at it

2010-07-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

Here's another painting. This one is of Jenn standing out back behind the studio. Probably grilling some burgers or watering our gardens or something.

I'll post a few of this process too.

It started out pretty smoothly.

Then it sat in this state for a few weeks, looking disdainfully at me from my easel as I played Super Mario Kart and did anything but paint on it.

Then the deadline came for an exhibition Jenn and I were entering. I had all but given up. I had entered my painting of Tim in a different show, and another painting was similarly spoken for. So I played some Mario Kart and meandered the internet and drank some PBRs and did a bunch of other things that were not painting, all the while trying to deflect the hairy eyeball this painting was shooting me. At about midnight I finally grew tired of the looks I was getting, so I picked up my paintbrushes, and, over the next four hours, finished it.

I ended up winning Best in Show. Imagine that. I'm not sure what exactly that says about procrastination.

The show we were in was the annual Walls of Wittenberg exhibition. This year they had a theme: Wisconsin, our home. I figure the studio seems more like our home sometimes than our apartment, so it had to be a fit.

Long Overdue Update

2010-07-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty busy in the studio lately, so I thought I should update my blog with some art. I can't imagine anyone really seeing it, but here goes, for posterity's sake at least.

I've begun a series of paintings of one of our models, Mary. Here is a bit of the process behind the first one. Sorry for the bad cell phone pictures. I haven't had a chance to take any proper ones.

After this point, the figure gets a bit washed out in these pictures. I really need to take some better ones.

2006-11-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I just created a blog so I figure I have to throw up a useless post that says just that. I suppose I will try to make it worthwhile, and throw some photos up for yas.

My band, Nine Yards, recently wrapped up the American leg of the Nine Yards World Tour, with two dates in Duluth. And that, I guess is the entire world tour. However we had a great time playing in Duluth. We went up with our friends County Vernon, who are, well, from Vernon county. They were kind enough to let us slide a set in between their two, and even let us sneak on stage to accompany them with their last set. Here are some pictures from the trip. The band website, nineyds.com, has much more info and pictures.

[edit: removed some pictures]