Duck Stamp

Artist Statement

For this project, we were to observe a specific duck species and then create an art piece that will be entered in the Maine junior duck stamp competition. I chose the Hooded Mersanger duck and did a male and female.

I used acrylic paint on bristol paper to create this piece.

For this piece, I wanted to really focus on detail and realism. I do tend to like realism and have done quite a few pieces with it, yet, this project really challenges anyone's ability to slow down and really capture the detail in a duck. I chose the Hooded Mersanger as I liked the male's black and white head but also how the male and female look together. I like the triangle shape of their heads. There's no crazy or vibrant color but I liked that about the ducks. I was inspired by Safron's duck stamp that placed 5th nationally a couple of years ago. She too did a male and female Mersanger duck. I wanted the background to be more simple but still show my technique. This is why I placed the log for the female to stand on and the male in the water. Something about a black background stood out to me. I knew that this would correspond with the black-and-white features of the male.