By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER Managing editor
A canvasback duck painted by Clarence Stewart of Brewton is the winner of the 2005 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest. The winning artwork will adorn the 2006-2007 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp. Acrylic paint was used for the artwork.
This is Stewart's sixth entry in the contest. One year he placed second, and last year he placed third. For his winning piece, he replicated a photograph he bought from Joyce Gross, an artist from San Fransisco.
Entries were judged on suitability for reproduction as a stamp, originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and general rendering. The designs were limited to living species of North American migratory ducks or geese, and winning species from the past three years - wood duck, ringneck and Canada goose - were not eligible subjects for the 2005 contest.
The artwork was publicly displayed and judged by a panel of experts in the fields of art, ornithology, and conservation.
The law requires that any waterfowl hunter 16 years and older must carry a valid Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp - or duck stamp - signed in ink across the face. Like the federal migratory waterfowl stamps, state issued stamps are popular with collectors.
The artwork competition for the Alabama Migratory Waterfowl Stamp design is held each year in February and is open to Alabama residents only. For additional information, visit the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Web site at www.outdooralabama.com or call the Wildlife Section at 334-242-3469.
Stewart, who is the forestry supply store manager at Herrington Forestry Supply, has been painting ever since he was a little boy. However, it wasn't until around 1991 he decided to really pursue painting and entering contests.
His favorite medium to work with is acrylic and oil, and he is currently working on an oil portrait of Tommy Tubberville for auburnart.com.