I want to tell you a personal story about Randy Julius, a talented artist, musician, naturalist and friend. This story takes place twenty years ago, in 1999, when Randy did something for me that was especially kind, selfless and generous. Sharing this story with you is my way of paying tribute to him and expressing how deeply saddened I am to learn of his death.
As a member of the beloved Southeastern Massachusetts classic rock band, Dale and the Duds, Randy was a talented musician who played guitar. My husband, Richard, and I were devoted followers and friends of the band, and I ultimately learned that Randy was also a superb wildlife art painter and naturalist. Between 1979 and 2011, Randy was the winner of the Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp Competition an astounding 8 times, more than any other artist. His depictions of working decoys made by deceased Massachusetts carvers were meticulous, capturing the patina of old wood along with a sense of the species’ specific characteristics.
Over the years, each time I would see Randy at a Duds dance, he would encourage me to enter the duck stamp competition. “I think you could win,” he would say. “You’re a talented artist, and think how great it would be to have your painting on a stamp.” I would laugh and tell him I knew very little about ducks and even less about antique decoys. But Randy didn’t give up.
Finally, in 1999 I told him I’d enter the competition if he would then promise to stop pestering me about it. He would need to help me determine what to paint, I told him, for I had no idea where to begin. Randy triumphantly agreed to educate me about the competition and also about carved decoys. He invited Richard and me to his home where we had a lovely evening with him and his wife, Mary, who is a talented writer.
I learned that Massachusetts was the only state to feature decoys on their duck stamps. I also learned that proceeds from the sale of the stamps helped support wetland and waterfowl conservation. He talked to me about the MA Ducks Unlimited organization and showed me some of his winning artwork.
He handed me a stack of 8 X 10” photos that he had taken of eligible decoys in private collections and museums. Randy generously suggested I select one to be the reference for my painting. I felt an affinity for a photo of a plucky-looking decoy that was currently in the Peabody Essex Museum. He told me it was an Oldsquaw duck, carved by Stephen Badlam. He proceeded to explain that this sea duck was an arctic species that migrated to our area in the northeast. I was fascinated to learn that it could dive to impressive depths of 60 meters. Randy’s passion for wildlife and his colorful stories about outdoor life were spellbinding.
With the photo of the Oldsquaw and a copy of the competition rules, I began the work of drawing and painting the duck on illustration board. I used acrylic paint so the art would be dry in time for the deadline. At the time, I was more comfortable with oil paint, and became frustrated by the quick drying time of acrylic. The paint wouldn’t blend as I liked, and the look of the painting seemed unacceptable to me. I dropped the painting into the waste basket and planned to tell Randy that at least I had tried.
The next day, I removed the painting from the trash. It didn’t seem to look as bad as I had thought the day before. Propelled by the thought of Randy leaving me alone about the competition once I entered, I determined to finish. It was long, slow, painstaking work. Finally, I felt the painting captured the patina of the wood and the attitude of the decoy.
I was pleased to show it to Randy, who approved. “I think you could win,” he said.
“Really? I don’t know about that,” I said, “but it’s been a good learning experience, and I’ve gained new respect for wildlife art as a means of promoting conservation. I’m proud to have participated.”
Into the mail it went.
One day the phone rang and a woman asked for Virginia Freyermuth. She said she was happy to inform me that I was the winner of the 1999 Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp Competition.
I laughed. “Who is this? Did Randy put you up to this?”
There was an odd silence.
“Is this Virginia?”
“Yes, it is,” I replied.
“I’m calling to congratulate you on winning the 1999 Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamp Competition.”
I was perplexed.
“This is for real? This isn’t a joke?” I asked. “I won the competition? My painting will be on a stamp?”
“Yes,” she seemed to smile through the phone. “As of this year, you are only one of two women to have won.”
“Oh my goodness! This is unbelievable! I can’t wait to tell Randy Julius, “ I said. “He encouraged me to enter. He will be so pleased!”
I told Randy about the phone call, and he laughed heartily. “See? I told you that you could win! Your art is a piece of Duck Stamp history now.”
“With your help and encouragement, “ I replied.
Randy attended the award presentation with me at the Peabody Essex Museum, where I could publicly thank him for his role in the honor I was receiving. He beamed.
He went on to show me how to create the official limited edition Waterfowl Stamp Competition prints that I could now sell to collectors. He taught me about hand-painted remarques and how they increased the value of a print. For many years, our prints were displayed together in the Peabody Essex Museum collection, along with the decoy that was the subject of my work.
Randy opened my eyes to the world of art for conservation and introduced me to others who shared that passion. He reaffirmed for me that it is good to push the limits of our comfort zone, and to try new things in order to grow. In so doing, he modeled the power of belief in the capacities of another and offered the gift of a kind, generous and encouraging heart. He inspired many with his affinity for and love of the natural world through his accomplished art. My family considers Randy, his wife, Mary, and their larger family, cherished friends. We cannot adequately convey in words the sorrow of his passing, which was much too soon. His stories, his art, his music, and his memory will live on in those whose lives he touched. God bless you, Randy. Thanks for being you. We will all miss you.
