Duck Stamp 

The main idea behind my duck stamp was to show the Northern Pintail in a calm, peaceful moment in its natural habitat. I chose this species because I liked how elegant it looks, especially its long tail and clean color patterns. I wanted the scene to feel quiet and peaceful, in a still wetland environment. Adding the reeds helped place the bird in its environment and made it feel more real, rather than just floating in space. Overall, I wanted my artwork to capture the beauty of this duck and the little details I could observe from the images. 

I used colored pencils for the final piece because they let me draw small details and blend colors smoothly. I was able to illustrate how soft and natural the textures looked when I layered and burnished the pencils, especially on the feathers and the water. At first, I tried using gauche, but I didn’t like how it turned out, so I decided to start over with a simpler approach. Colored pencils made it easier to create realistic shading and fine lines for the duck’s patterns and reflection. 

I started by researching different duck species and decided on the Northern Pintail because its look and feather patterns stood out to me. I looked at several reference photos to understand its colors and habitat, then began sketching ideas. My first attempt felt too complicated and didn’t match the calm feeling I wanted, so I chose to restart with a simpler layout. In the final version, I focused on keeping the composition cleaner and centered, with soft colors and blending to create a peaceful mood. The reflection in the water was challenging, but I kept revising it until it looked more natural.