MONTGOMERY-Eddie LeRoy of Eufaula, Ala., has won this year’s Alabama Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest with his painting of three
mallards in flight. LeRoy, a previous two-time contest winner, was first runner-up in the 2013-14 contest. The winning artwork will be used as the design of the 2015-16 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp, which is required when hunting waterfowl in Alabama.
First runner-up in this year’s contest was David Nix from Cottondale, with his painting of a black duck. Beverly Smith of Vinemont and Bill Stem of Madison tied for second and third runner-up with paintings of buffleheads and a Northern shoveler, respectively. James Brantley of Opelika was forth runner-up with a painting of a mallard pair in flight.
L-R: Keith Gauldin, ADCNR; Sue Taylor White; Steve Pepper; and Dr. Bill Summerour.
LeRoy missed the judging because he was at home working on a new painting. “I was a little surprised that I’d won,” he said. “It was the first painting I’d made with a storm in it and thought they’d either hate it or that it might win. I’m very excited about this win.”
A panel of experts in the fields of art, ornithology and conservation judged the contest. Representing the field of art was Sue Taylor White, an artist and member of Artists for Conservation. Representing the field of ornithology was Dr. Bill Summerour, a former biology professor at Jackson State University. Representing the field of conservation was Conservation Enforcement Officer Steve Pepper, who trains other conservation officers in waterfowl identification.
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. Winning species from the past three years – ringneck, Ross’s goose, and pintail duck – were not eligible subjects for the contest this year.
The annual contest is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) and is open to resident Alabama artists only. Artwork will be accepted for the 2016-17 contest from January 1 to February 18, 2015. Potential artists should visit www.outdooralabama.com/
MEDIA RELEASE/ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES/KEITH GAULDIN
