By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
For the second time in four years, a local artist has won the Alabama waterfowl stamp art contest with a painting of the “Audrey Hepburn of the duck world.”
Clarence Stewart’s acrylic painting of a northern pintail drake, which will adorn the 2010-2011 Alabama waterfowl stamp, was one of 15 entries in the contest. Stewart’s painting of a canvasback duck won the contest in 2005.
The contest is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is open only to Alabama artists. Funds from the sale of Stewart’s stamp will be used to procure and manage wetland habitats for waterfowl. All licensed waterfowl hunters are required to be in possession of state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps signed in ink across the face.
Judges chose the winners based on suitability for reproduction on a stamp, originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy and general rendering.
First runner-up was a pair of buffleheads by Beverly Basham of Vinemont. Second runner-up was of a pair of redheads by Steve Burney of Town Creek. Third runner-up was by Ainsley McNeely of Mobile, who also painted a pair of redheads. Fourth runner-up was a pair of northern shovelers painted by Everett Hatcher of Birmingham.