July 31, 2021 – A painting by Diane Ford of Bethesda, Md. has been chosen as the winner of the 2021 California Duck Stamp Artwork Contest. The portray, which depicts a pair of gadwalls, will be the formal layout for the 2021-2022 stamp.
The judges praised the realism of the painting, primarily noting the anatomical accuracy of the birds’ head and invoice. They appreciated that the options have been not exaggerated nonetheless nevertheless provided good depth, particularly in the texture and muted shade of the feathers. The judges also appreciated how the refined coloring extended past the birds into the background, with the addition of flawed, damaged reeds evoking a mid-December mood, exactly as Ford envisioned.
An avid chook watcher and novice naturalist due to the fact her early teens, Ford’s beloved time for wildlife viewing is in the winter season when the waterfowl migrate south. “Last winter season,” she mentioned, “I discovered a blended flock of waterfowl on a community lake that involved gadwalls. I waited for hrs sitting very however watching with a spotting scope the birds preening, swimming, feeding and sleeping.” Last but not least, in the late afternoon gentle, she observed a drake and hen sitting alongside one another on the shore and realized she had discovered her inspiration. As for the element praised by the judges, Ford stated finding the colour and sample just suitable was a obstacle she was keen to choose on. “I have often been fond of the gadwall duck as it is one of the toughest to render,” she stated, incorporating that the drake’s intricate plumage reminded her of “snow on a black and white tv.”
Artists from close to the country submitted entries for the contest, sponsored by the California Division of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Buck Spencer of Junction Town, Ore., placed next, Broderick Crawford of Clayton, Ga., placed third and Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind., acquired honorable mention.
Ordinarily, the top four paintings are displayed at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s Annual Traditional Wildlife Artwork Competition in Sacramento, but the pageant was cancelled this yr thanks to COVID-19.
Given that 1971, the California Duck Stamp Program’s yearly contest has attracted top rated wildlife artists from about the region. The contest is open up to artists from all 50 states in get to make certain a wide pool of submissions. All proceeds generated from stamp profits go instantly to waterfowl conservation initiatives within California.
In the earlier, hunters were being expected to buy and affix the stamp to their hunting licenses. Right now, hunters are no for a longer period demanded to have the stamps for the reason that California’s modern day licensing technique prints proof of extra charges compensated directly on to the license. Even so, CDFW however produces the stamps, which can be requested on CDFW’s website at wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps.
Resource: CDFW