Wildlife Department seeks artists for waterfowl stamp design

            The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is accepting entries for this year’s Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp Design Contest through Aug. 15, 2008.
            The gadwall is the featured species for the 2009-10 contest, and the winning art will be printed on the 2009-10 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp.
            “Last year we introduced two new elements to this competition,” said Micah Holmes, information supervisor for the Wildlife Department. “We opened the doors for artists to be more creative by including hunting dogs in their entry, and we invited the public to help us choose a winner. The same is true for this year.”
            Artists may include a retriever in their artwork, but the gadwall must be the featured element of the painting.
            Duck stamp sales help finance many projects that benefit ducks and geese. Since the duck stamp program began in 1980, thousands of acres of waterfowl habitat have been created through duck stamp revenues.
            Artwork may be of acrylic, oil, watercolor, scratchboard, pencil, pen and ink, tempera or any other two-dimensional media. The illustration must be horizontal, six and a half inches high and nine inches wide. It must be matted with white mat board nine inches high by 12 inches wide with the opening cut precisely 6.5 x 9. Artwork may not be framed or under glass, but acetate covering should be used to protect the art. All artists must depict the gadwall, and any habitat appearing in the design must be typical of Oklahoma. For complete entry guidelines, call (405) 521-3856.
            Entries should be sent to the Duck Stamp Competition Coordinator, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O. Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. Fed Ex, UPS and other ground deliveries should be sent to 1801 N. Lincoln, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
            Entries will be judged on anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for printing. The winner and three honorable mentions will appear in a future issue of Outdoor Oklahoma magazine.
            A non-refundable entry fee of $20 (cash, money order or cashier’s check) must accompany each entry. No entries will be accepted after 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15.
            The winning artist will receive a purchase award of $1,200, and the winning entry will become the sole and exclusive property of the Wildlife Department.
            A selection of waterfowl stamp art from previous years is currently on display in the lobby of the Wildlife Department headquarters located at 1801 N. Lincoln in Oklahoma City.
            Prints of previous winning waterfowl artwork can be purchased at wildlifedepartment.com/oklahomastampprogram.htm.
            For more information about the contest call (405) 521-3856. For a complete list of contest rules, log on to wildlifedepartment.com/duckstamprules.htm.
 
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