The Big Duck

 Along Route 24 in Flanders is "The Big Duck" all decked out for the holidays. Yes, you can go inside during the warmer months. The Big Duck was originally a way for a duck farmer to advertise and get more business. Now it is a big attraction!

Direct Watercolors #24

 At one time Long Island was famous for duck farming. Of course as more people moved out from the city the number of duck farms decreased. 

In 1931, Riverhead duck farmer Martin Maurer commissioned some local builders to create this 10-ton eye-catcher using concrete (technically, "ferrocement") applied over a wooden frame. Taillights from a Model T Ford became its eyes, glowing red at night. Maurer sold ducks and eggs from the shop in its belly. The building is now used for tourism. I can remember the duck being moved to several locations in the last 40 years, finally coming to a permanent location in Flanders. People love "The Big Duck."

"The Big Duck" is my 24th direct watercolor painting for the 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge.

The Big Duck

 Out east of me in Flanders is a building in the shape of a duck. It was built in 1931 by a duck farmer and he used it as a shop to sell ducks and duck eggs. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. I love how they decorate it for the holidays! While I sat there in my mobile studio sketching at least 10 carloads of people stopped to take selfies with the big duck. I should have include a person in the sketch so you had some concept of the size of this. You can stand upright easily in the body of the duck.  You can see the other sketch I did of it back in 2011 here.

12 Ornaments of Christmas - Ornament #8 & The Big Duck

My 12 Ornaments of Christmas – Ornament #8 – Many of you have seen all the lobster sketches I do and can probably guess that lobster is one of my top two favorite foods. I do have a lobster ornament, courtesy of family in Maine. I’ll have to work on getting a pizza ornament since that is the other favorite food of mine.

When I was out east last week I drove over to see the Big Duck in Flanders that is always decorated for Christmas. Some day I'll get there when the little shop inside is open.

Christmas at the Big Duck

Yesterday after Christmas shopping out east, I decided to visit "The Big Duck" in Flanders to paint. This adorable building was built by a Long Island duck farmer in 1931 and used as a shop to sell ducks and duck eggs. It is now on the Register of Historic Places and contains a museum (it must be small) and souvineers. They have an official Christmas lighting which I missed.