Oklahoma Wildlife Dept. Seeks Artists for Waterfowl Stamp Design

First posted on 09-04-2007

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is accepting entries for the Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp design competition. The deadline to submit art is 4:30 p.m., Sept. 7.

The mallard will be featured on the 2008-09 stamp, and the winning art will be printed on the 2008-09 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp.

“There are going to be two big changes to this year’s waterfowl stamp design competition,” said Micah Holmes, information supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “First, artists will have the option of including a retriever in their artwork. The mallard should be the featured element of the painting, but I am hoping some artists find a way to work their favorite sporting dog into the background or foreground of the image. After all, the only thing waterfowlers love as much as ducks and geese is their dogs.”

According to Holmes, the second change in this year’s competition will be the manner in which the artwork is judged.

“In all the previous years of the competition, a small panel of judges has voted on the winning artwork,” Holmes said. “This year, we’re going to let the public give their opinion. Selected entries will be on display at the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo Sept. 28-30 and visitors can come by and vote for their favorite image.”

Duck stamp sales help finance many projects that benefit ducks and geese. Since the duck stamp program began in 1980, thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat have been created through duck stamp revenues.

Artwork may be of acrylic, oil, watercolor, scratchboard, pencil, pen and ink, tempera or any other two-dimensional media. The illustration must be horizontal, six and a half inches high and nine inches wide. It must be matted with white mat board nine inches high by 12 inches wide with the opening cut precisely 6.5 x 9. Artwork may not be framed or under glass, but acetate covering should be used to protect the art. All artists must depict the mallard, and any habitat appearing in the design must be typical of Oklahoma. For complete entry guidelines, call (405) 521-3856.

Entries should be sent to the Duck Stamp Competition Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Fed Ex, UPS and other ground deliveries should be sent to 1801 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.

Entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for printing. The winner and three honorable mentions will appear in a future issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.

A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (cash, money order or cashier’s check) must accompany each entry. No entries will be accepted after 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7.

The winning artist will receive a purchase award of $1,200. The winning entry will become the sole and exclusive property of the Wildlife Department.

A selection of waterfowl stamp art from previous years is currently on display in the lobby of the Wildlife Department headquarters located at 1801 N. Lincoln, in Oklahoma City.

Prints of previous winning waterfowl artwork can be purchased at wildlifedepartment.com/oklahomastampprogram.htm.

For more information about the contest call (405) 521-3856.