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Duane

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I am an artist, set designer, musician, writer, and (retired) actor and an avid supporter of the arts whether it be visual or performing. Visual art is my forte with emphasis on illustration and concept design. As you see from my profile slideshow, I take great pride in my work. I also study cultures and languages from around the world, and hope to soon visit some of the places as resources permit.
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My Interests

With a degree in Design, I have an interest in all forms of the medium. I am particularly interested in architecture because of my background in carpentry. I love space and form, but have specialized interests in themed entertainment design, film production design,hand-drawn animation, and art direction. I am also an enormous fan of a old buildings, whether it be an old house or an old movie theatre.

I'd like to meet:

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Lasseter, the guys from Aerosmith, most of the guys at Pixar, Jim Carrey, Teri Hatcher, Sara Evans, Tony Baxter (Walt Disney Imagineering exec), Morgan Freeman (fellow Mississippian), Dane Cook, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Depp, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Rodriguez, tribesmen and members of some of the indigenous tribes of Africa and India, and, if they were living, Jim Henson and Walt Disney.

Music:

Why should we limit ourselves to a certain type of music? I believe in diversity, myself. I like the 3 M's: Miles (Davis), (Thelonius) Monk, and (Charles) Mingus. No one moves me like Frank, Sammy, and Deano when it comes to the sounds of the lounge. Classical? Love the stuff. From Beethoven to Bach to Stravinsky. Movie scores make the list with John Williams, Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard, etc. Country? Depends on who it is: Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Mississippi's own Faith Hill, just to name a few. Rock includes Van Halen (I am a fan of Sammy rather than Diamond Dave), Nirvana, Creed, 3 Doors Down (more Mississippi-folk), Hendrix, Janis Joplin, 60's rock, 70's rock, 80's rock, etc. On occasion, I will even take in a little gospel: the Isaacs, The Hinsons, old Petra, Jeff and Shari Easter. Remember, kids, its all about diversity.And on top of all of that, I can sit and listen to African tribal music, Indonesian gamelan music, Japanese flute music, and most any native music from around the globe.

Movies:

I am a fan of old, black-and-white movies, with anything made by Hitchcock or anything with Humphrey Bogart in it. I prefer something that is story-driven rather than a movie that is carried by special effects, or at least a balance between the two. All Spielberg movies, though, are the exception to the rule.

Television:

Yeah, like I have the time to watch it...

Books:

I am a fan of Micheal Crichton, Stephen King, and the occasional John Grisham. I like to read the classics (i.e. Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain) and read them as often as time and work allows.

Heroes:

My parents! Who else would put up with my weirdness and still call me their kid???Great designers, creatives, and philosophers of the past from around the world

My Blog

And there were none

We lost one of our own on Monday, April 14.  Ollie Johnston, the last member of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men passed away at the age of 95.  For those uneducated in all things Disney, the Nine...
Posted by Duane on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:06:00 PST

39 Things to Improve Your Life

Hey, gang... I know that it’s been awhile since I did one of these bloggy-thingys, but I wanted to give your weary ears a rest from my soapbox sermons on creativity.  So, with that said, I...
Posted by Duane on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:49:00 PST

The Drawing Board

Here's the scenario: you're dating someone and you know it's coming. You feel it in your soul. They are going to break up with and you know it. You start your crying before the fireworks even start. Y...
Posted by Duane on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:03:00 PST

Bobby Pins: The Bane of Mans Existence

I struck upon this thought this afternoon after spending a good portion of my afternoon picking these things up out of the floor. What are bobby pins actually used for??? I realize that the female spe...
Posted by Duane on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:19:00 PST

Can you hear YOUR "inner Barry"??

In the TV show "Ally McBeal", John Cage (hilariously played by Peter MacNicol) often referred to his "inner Barry" and the fact that his inner Barry was the soundtrack of his life.  Usually, he e...
Posted by Duane on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:04:00 PST

Words To Paint (or act or write or draw) By

This is not a blog per say, but I was looking through it the other day when I figured that it may come in handy to some of you, my readers. It is an article that I copied out of an artist magazine so...
Posted by Duane on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:49:00 PST

Mentors: The People That Will Put Up With Your Weirdness and Still Give You Advice

I have a good friend that has been an artist at Disney for years.  The guy is a master with a pencil, brush, or whatever.  We met through a mutual friend, and he has been advising me on the ...
Posted by Duane on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 11:07:00 PST

Dumbasses: Can they actually help you? Nah....

Here's a funny story:  I have now joined the ranks of Universal Studios Florida, and the company is constantly insisting that we learn more and use the services that they provide team members.&nb...
Posted by Duane on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:02:00 PST

Quesadillas with or without tomatoes?

Let me set the story up for you... Here in Central Florida, someone came up with the brilliant idea of a hybrid McDonalds. These places of grease and heart attacks are themed and have a gourmet menu a...
Posted by Duane on Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:40:00 PST

Psychic Vampires: Things that go bump in your life

     Check this out:  you are in your office doing your job.  Joe-Bob walks by and speaks.  You speak back, not wanting to offend old Joe-Bob because you have to wor...
Posted by Duane on Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:07:00 PST