A northern pintail drake painted in acrylic by Clarence Stewart of Brewton was selected as the winner of the 2009 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp art contest and will appear on the 2010-11 state duck stamp.
Sixteen artists competed in the annual contest, which is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. It is open to resident Alabama artists only. Stewart also won the 2005 contest with a painting of a canvasback.
“Representing my home state on its waterfowl stamp is the highest honor I can ask for as an artist,” Mr. Stewart said. “I feel very fortunate to win based on how great the other artists are.”
First runner-up was a pair of buffleheads by Beverly Basham of Vinemont. Second runner-up was of a pair of redheads by Steve Burney of Town Creek. Third runner-up was by Ainsley McNeely of Mobile, who also painted a pair of redheads. Fourth runner-up was a pair of northern shovelers painted by Everett Hatcher of Birmingham.
Entries were judged on suitability for reproduction as a stamp, originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and general rendering. The designs were limited to living species of North American migratory ducks or geese, and winning species from the past three years – blue-winged teal, hooded merganser and wood duck – were not eligible subjects for the 2009 contest.
The artwork was publicly displayed and judged by a panel of experts in the fields of art, ornithology, and conservation. Representing the field of art was Donnave Lindsey, a Society of Arts and Crafts member since 1940. Representing the field of ornithology was Dr. Allen Tubbs, associate professor of Biology at Huntington College. Representing the field of conservation was Ducks Unlimited regional director for Alabama, Shawn Battison.
Money from stamp sales are used to procure and manage wetland habitats for waterfowl. All licensed waterfowl hunters are required to be in possession of state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps signed in ink across the face. Like the federal stamps, state issued stamps are popular with collectors. The artwork competition for the Alabama Migratory Waterfowl Stamp design is held each year in February and is open to Alabama residents only.
– From the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
– For a look at the photo, check out http://outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=676
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