Label & Artist Series
Widgeons by Rich Radigonda
Artist Rich Radigonda, a San Francisco native, grew up spending a lot of time on the shores of the San Francisco Bay. He was fascinated with waterfowl, and unbeknownst to his parents, he built rafts to try (unsuccessfully) to get closer to the ducks loafing near Hunter's Point.
In the late 60s, Rich began collecting antique duck decoys and developed an interest in the contemporary decoy carving contests being held on the East Coast. He tried his hand at carving, and his fourth creation won a Blue Ribbon - and his part-time art career was launched. Deciding the West Coast needed its own carving show, Rich co-founded the Pacific Flyway Decoy Show. The event recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
In the 1970s, Rich began to photograph wildlife, particularly ducks and other water birds. This brought a change to his whole outlook on nature. He found more challenge in taking pictures of fast-moving birds than in hunting them. Spending so much time photographing ducks inspired Rich to start painting on canvas. Many paintings followed, including a fourth and third place in Nevada duck stamp art contests, and later a second place in California.
Rich's achievements in art include being named Ducks Unlimited California Artist of the Year in 1987 and winning the Decoy Carver of the Year Award in 1989. He is the only artist in the nation to accomplish both feats.
For the 2000 Paraduxx label, Rich painted a Widgeon drake on the water near a Widgeon decoy that has broken loose from its anchor and washed onto shore. Rich used an actual Ted Anderson Widgeon (1930s) from the Duckhorn winery's antique carved decoy collection as the model for the painting.
