I studied almost every aspect of art to painting. I graduated with degrees from University of South Dakota with a BFA and studied with Oscar Howe; Study in painting and printmaking, Wichita State University; study in painting and drawing at the University of Tulsa, OK; Studied painting and life drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. I worked in Newsprint Advertising, I did marketing for five years in Philadelphia, and twenty-five years in New York City

My personal view of art is that the current art world is a balloon filled with hot air and gas, created from snobbery. What really counts is the relationship of a viewer with the painting. If a painting can't move a viewer without a lot of verbiage and snobbery it probably isn't any good. Although I will admit that it is important to have standards to judge art by, otherwise it would become whimsical.

There are some very good artists in our group with little or no art school. I have been fortunate enough to take a lot of art school. As I look at the work of some of our members and see how good the pieces are, even though they many not have extensive art training, I realize artists are not created, they are born. Natural talent is something very special.

Over the years Duane has won many award for his art work. He most recently won "Best of Show" in the Siouxland Artist 2009 Competitive Show.