Duck Stamp

The Trumpeter Swan

9x12

This project was part of the junior duck stamp competition. The bird that I chose to do was the Trumpeter Swan. For this project, the final piece had to 9x12 in. and the birds had to be scientifically correct with detail and habitat. I used bristol board and acrylic paints. I started by making the background by painting the whole thing blue and then I added more layers of different shades of blue to make the water look more realistic.

For the actual swans, I started by using a pencil to sketch out the outline and basic design of the swans. I painted the swans and added more layers to it to give them more detail. I wanted there to be more to the painting then just the swans to I decided to add cattails as well. After I had finished with what I wanted it to be I noticed one corner was kind of plain so I added another swan that was cropped. I also had added the reflections and ripples to make it seem more like water.

I was expecting this project to be much more difficult than it actually was. I enjoyed doing it and think it came out really good. I don’t normally do scientific type paintings so this was out of my comfort zone a little but I think that was good because it pushed me to try harder on accomplishing it.