Duane Albert Armstrong (b 1938) Amer, Oil / Canvas. Signed lower right and dated '69.
The Carter Gallery Label Verso.
Duane Albert Armstrong, a native Californian, was born in Fresno on Christmas Day in 1938. He was raised in the countryside near San Luis Obispo until 1950 when his family moved to the Santa Clara Valley.
His mother, a teacher, was also an artist and writer. She wrote several short stories and lyrics for several songs, some of which were published. With this background, Duane learned about painting materials and techniques while still in his childhood. He also had an exposure to art shows and museums at the time and was fascinated by the way the various artists were able to make their canvases come alive with paint. This was the beginning of a life long interest in painting, which has resulted in several significant breakthroughs in the world of art, his most popular being his "Fields of Grass" series, which have been reproduced worldwide. He now has over 185 paintings in print, and his art has been marketed in over 3,500 department stores in the United States.
During the 1970's, his work earned him the status of being one of the top five print sales artists in the nation. Of this widespread acceptance, a representative of Heritage Publications stated that, "Duane Armstrong will be recognized as one of the top five contemporary painters in America during this decade".
Armstrong has worked with many young artists, encouraging them to branch off into their own individual directions and styles, to produce and to work, knowing quite well that painting is not so much involved with that mystical gift some call "talent" as it is with that four letter word, "work".
He is practically an unknown personally due to his reclusive and humble nature. He has always chosen to work and produce rather than sell and promote, which explains why he very rarely attends his own shows. He believes that creating art and marketing art are two different worlds and prefers to leave the marketing to others and to spend his time exploring in the unlimited realm of visual expression.
Overall Size: 24 3/4 x 24 3/4 in.
Sight Size: 19 1/2 x 19 1/4 in.