ARTIST: Don Balke (North Carolina, born 1933)
TITLE: Harlequin Duck
MEDIUM: gouache and watercolor on board
CONDITION: Very good.
ART SIZE: 10 x 11 inches / 25 x 27 cm
BOARD SIZE: 12 x 11 inches / 30 x 27 cm
SIGNATURE: lower left
PROVENANCE: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
NOTE: This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. Rain Forest 33c Harlequin Duck stamp issued March 29, 2000. Named for its harlequin clown appearance, the male Harlequin Duck is identified by blue-gray plumage with contrasting slashes of black and white. A chestnut stripe above each eye and a chestnut patch along the flanks further enhance this hardy duck's unique coloring. The female is mostly black-brown, with mottled gray breast and underparts. Among the three white dots on either side of its head, the single dot behind each eye is the most distinct. The Harlequin's range includes the east and west coasts of North America, although it is more prevalent on the west coast. The Harlequin inhabits rocky shorelines of rapid streams in winter, where it swims and dives among boulders and gravel beds. In summer, this gregarious duck is found near turbulent mountain streams and rivers, preferring the roughest, most torrential waters. The Harlequin feeds on the larvae of aquatic insects, as well as mollusks, crustaceans and small fish. A strong and fast flyer, this duck forms small flocks throughout the year and is rarely seen flying over land. The Harlequin is the only duck in North America to build its nest near fast-running water. Made of grass, twigs and leaves, and lined with down, the ground nest is well hidden among dense waterside vegetation. The female incubates 5 to 10 buff-colored eggs between 27 and 33 days. The young leave the nest soon after hatching and are able to fly in about six weeks.
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BIOGRAPHY:
Balke, the youngest of ten children, grew up on a farm in northern backcountry of Wisconsin. His family was completely dependent on the land; they tapped trees to make maple syrup; used crosscut saws for logging and horses for their farmwork; they raised crops for themselves and as income. His upbringing instilled in him a love of nature and wildlife. He received his first art award in a Wisconsin state-sponsored art contest while at elementary school for a painting of a black bear roaming in the woods. After serving in the US Army, he married Barbara Schernick and they moved to Chicago where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, now known as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During his time at the Academy, he specialized in still-life paintings. After graduating, he was hired by a Chicago illustrating studio and eventually moved back to Wisconsin where he worked as a commercial art director. He won many awards for his work as an art director and illustrator. On his own time, late in the night, he painted and developed his skills as a wildlife artist. After 17 years, he left his work as an art director to devote himself completely to watercolors and wildlife art. By 1979, they had six children and a home in the village of Thiensville, Wisconsin. Balke's love of nature took him to the NC mountains where he bought 200 acres in McDowell County and built a home. In 1985, a gallery was added and the Don Balke Wildlife Gallery was opened. In 1987, his work was chosen as the illustration for the official NC Zoo poster. In 1992, the United States Post Office issued a series of first-class postage stamps portraying five different species of hummingbirds designed by Balke. Balke travels to Africa, Australia, Ireland, the Caribbean, and across the 50 United States for inspiration and research. His wife, Barbara Schernick Balke, does extensive research on the animals and their habitats in preparation for the paintings and does much of the photography on research trips. He is best known for his detailed and realistic watercolor paintings portraying wildlife in their natural environment. In 2000, he transitioned to a more impressionistic style with oils portraying scenes from Yosemite National Park in California, Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks, and Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.