Bill retired from 40 years in the aerospace industry last October. He'd always been glad to see his wife, Carole, pursue her interest in gourds and even considered the idea of growing some but didn't consider himself an artist, much less a gourd artist, by any stretch of the imagination. However, on her way to a gourd meeting were she would first be meeting up with Russ Conley, Jack Thorp, and Booker Preston for a bite to eat she asked Bill if he would like to go with her. She was surprised when he accepted the invitation as his usual response would be "no thanks, but you go and have a good time." Meeting "the guys" was all it took for him to see that there were real men who enjoyed playing with gourds.
Then at the meeting he saw Cliff's warty gourd planters and learned how he made them. He also saw Russ's rain-stick and was very impressed. He talked to Russ about his tutorial on rain sticks and wanted to try making one. His interest grew to wanting to participate in the OCGS's activities at the Santa Ana Zoo and the UC Fullerton Arboretum.
After constructing his first rain-stick his inventive nature lead him to improvise a way to have the rain-stick "play" longer by adding additional gourds and more rice to the ends. Then he consulted with Jack and Russ for ideas on some sort of display/holder for the uniquely shaped rain-stick. Once the instrument was completed he burned the design and painted it with dyes, inks and paints. He has several new rain-sticks in the works and has gone on to pyrograph birds of prey on gourds and is turning some of them into lamps. Encouraged by his gourd buddies to enter the 2006 Welburn competition Bill won a blue ribbon for his first rain-stick.
Artist Statement written by Carole Duncan
Please contact Bill directly if you are interested in purchasing any of his artwork you see below.
Bald Eagle on Stand
More Gourd Fun with Bill and Carole Duncan
Bill and Carole doing some gourd outreach at their grandkids carnival October 2006
- February 2-4, 2007 - Carole and I will have our booth at the Wuertz Gourd Festival – Casa Grande, AZ. Be sure to stop by and say hello
Copyright © Bill Duncan, 2006, 2007 All Rights Reserved
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