Duck Stamp

Artist's Statement:

In this project, we were challenged to draw, paint, or color, a scientific image of a duck from a list that was given to us. I selected 15 different ducks, and narrowed it down to one, which was the long tailed duck. 

First, I researched different photos and videos that I could use to look at while I made a quick sketch of the ducks. I used dry gouache to paint the background and base colors of the ducks. I then used alcohol markers to add darker shading to the feathers, specifically the wings, and I used colored pencil to add detail to the eyes, wings, and basically everything else. I used chalk pastels to make the water look more like water, and to add shading to the front of the ducks. 

My challenges began to occur when I had finished the basic details of the duck bodies. While those were completed, the heads were not. I tried a few times painting over the smugy or messed up areas, and eventually at around the 4th time, I got details that I was comfortable with.