Duck Stamp

I have done a wood duck for the duck stamp every year since sophomore year. I think they're fascinating and beautiful ducks and wanted to try to improve in my presentation of the duck this year. Both years before this year, I'd done colored pencil, which is a material I don't thrive in. Last year I started to play with cut magazine pieces and wanted to try that with the duck stamp.

The first step I took was compiling three reference images. I then edited them in Acorn and made my own reference images. I then spent a lot of time finding the exact colors I needed for the feathers, water, and background because the image is supposed to be a scientific drawing. This took a long time and after I found all the pieces I needed, I had to cut them into the correct sizes. I used mostly triangles but also had to cut very small squares and rectangles. The background was difficult because I couldn't find a lot of the right color, so I had to change it slightly. For the white flecks on the duck's breast, I tried to cut out tiny pieces of paper but soon found that the glue got everywhere so I decided to use acrylic paint. Originally, I was going to do a king eider but then decided to do a wood duck because I have a soft spot for them. If I could add something to make it better, I would add another duck or two because I did the composition that is very frowned upon: frontal facing single subject.