Jr. Duck Stamp ProgramTara Dowdy

Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

What is the Federal and Jr. Duck Stamp Program?

• Federal Duck Stamp Program (1934)

• Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Program(1989)

How the Competition Works…

• K-3• 4-6• 7-9• 10-12

Three 1st place, three 2nd place, three 3rd place, and 16 honorable mentions are selected from each age category.

“Best of show” is chosen from the1st place winners.

Guidelines

• Must be student’s own creation and idea!!!• If student is limited by environment or experience, you

can use published images as GUIDES. • Students grades 7-12 must submit Reference Form if

they use references!• Must be a U.S. citizens, or legal resident. A Valid SSN

must be given for “Best of Show” entry.

Who Can Participate?

• All K-12 students, public, private, catholic, special education, Jewish, etc.

• A student who won first place in the nationals Jr. Duck Stamp Contest last year may not submit this year.

• One entry per student

Aesthetic Criteria• Form: Is the waterfowl anatomically accurate?

• Texture: Are the textures visually and physically appropriate to the species of waterfowl chosen?

• Line: Are the details necessary, correct, and effective?

• Colors: Are the colors in the illustration appropriate to the selected species and surrounding habitat? Does the illustration accurately depict the species of waterfowl in plumage, habitat and season, in a realistic or decorative depiction of the bird or birds?

• Size: Is the visual statement appropriate for a 1 1/2 “ X 1” stamp or will details in the illustration be lost when reduced in size?

• Shape: Is the design suited to a horizontal and rectangular stamp shape?

Technical Requirements

• Artwork MUST be 9”X12”• Less then 1/4” thick• HORIZONTAL!!!!• Live portrayal of a native North American

Duck, swan, or goose. (List given to teacher)• Entries should NOT be matted• No borders• A loose, detachable cover sheet may be laid

over the art face to protect it during shipping• No signatures on the front of artwork

Continued…

• Entries can be multi-colored, black and white, single color;

• Ink, paint, pastel, crayon, or pencil. • Can do scratch-board, airbrush, linoleum

printing, paper collage, dry brush, crosshatch, etc.

• NO PHOTOGRAPHY or computer generated art.

• No lettering, words, signatures or initials.

Creating Your Own Illustration

• Have birds in their natural habitat (oceans, lakes, etc.)

• Plumage should be appropriate for time of year depicted by environment.

• Use your OWN ORIGINAL WORK….DO NOT reproduce another artists’ visual images and present them as your own!

What Judges look for…

• Judging is based on original design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition, and suitability for reproduction on a 1” by 1½” stamp.

Tips

• Follow the size requirement of 9" high by 12" wide. • Get outdoors to observe, photograph, and sketch live

waterfowl. • Create original art, not copies of someone else's work. • Use the medium you are most comfortable with. • A good drawing makes a good painting; refine your

image at the drawing stage. • Create a solid, balanced design such as one that

includes a triangle of elements. • Match the species and its seasonal plumage to the

correct habitat.

Tips

• Make your species the center of attention. • Focus your detail on waterfowl anatomy. • Don't overdo background scenes; keep it simple. • Use bright, bold, and warm colors. • Use contrasting colors and crisp edges to make

your image "pop" from the page. • Consider what your artwork would look like as a

small stamp. • Get critiques of your work from artists,

teachers, biologists, and others. (waterfowl hunters)

Awards• Every entry will receive a Certificate of

Participation. • 100 Tennessee students (25 in each grade

group) receive beautiful first, second, third, or honorable mention ribbons (groups are K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12).

• 100 Tennessee students also receive a Tennessee Jr. Duck Stamp lapel pin, and a Federal Jr. Duck Stamp.

More awards…

• 36 first, second and third place winners will receive special engraved Junior Duck Stamp plaques.

• The Tennessee Best of Show winner receives a $1,000 college scholarship, and their artwork on the state waterfowl stamp.

• The Tennessee Best of Show will go on to compete in the national Junior Duck Stamp contest.

Awards

• National 1st Place-$5,000

• National 2nd Place-$3,000

• National 3rd Place-$2,000

• National Conservation Message 1st Place-$500-(look ahead to learn about the conservation message.)

Conservation Message• The conservation message is a short message that

expresses the spirit of what they have learned through classroom discussion, research, and planning for their Jr. Duck Stamp Contest.

• Very short and to the point

• 2009 winner; “Our environment, our responsibility, our future.” • 2010 winner;

"Wildlife speaks only the truth about our planet's future, but our greatest challenge is learning to

listen."

Return of Entries

• All entries will be returned to the students or the school.

• Non-winning entries will be returned by June 1st, 2011.

• The 36 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners will receive their artwork 1 year after the state contest date.

To Enter Contest

• Fill out entry form (provided to teacher)

• Fill out reference form (mandatory for grades 7-12)

• Mail in entry to State Coordinator by March 15th!

State Coordinator

Joan Stevens

Tennessee NWR

3006 Dinkins Lane

Paris, TN 38242

731/642-2091

Joan_stevens@fws.gov

Learn to draw waterfowl by viewing the Waterfowl ID and Drawing Guide @http://www.calwaterfowl.org/waterfowl_draw/water_draw01.htm

Parts of a ducks wingLearning the parts of a duck wing will help you pay attention to detail when

creating your picture!

Dabblers and Divers

Dabbling ducks

• Feet towards the middle of the body

• Feed in shallow waters of marshes and rivers, will feed on cropland

• Can walk and run easily on land

• Speculum is iridescent and bright

Diving ducks

• Feet are toward the back of body• Speculum lack in brilliance• Feed in deeper waters of lakes and rivers• Short tails and huge feet• Patter along water before taking off in flight• Smaller wings, therefore more rapid wing beats• Eats fish, shellfish, mollusks and aquatic plants

Examples of Ducks

2010 Best of show for Tennessee

For Illinois…

….for Montana

For South Carolina…

…New Jersey

…District of Columbia

They don’t have to look like a photograph! This pictures, along with next few pictures won first place as well!!!

…Massachusetts

Watercolor…

…Utah

Use colored pencil!

For Iowa…

For Oklahoma…

For New Hampshire…

…Wisconsin

What’s wrong with this one??? Way to much going on in the background!

2009 Best of show for…

Alabama

District of Columbia

Cont…

Idaho

Maine

Cont…

Missouri

Illinois

These great pictures won the sameBest of Show as the previous picturesfor their states in 2009.

YOU CAN DO IT!But don’t forget…•no signatures on the front, •no plagiarism/copying, •must be horizontal and on a 9” X 12” paper

or YOUR ARTWORK WILL NOT

BE JUDGED!!!

Now Get To It!!!!

• Do your research• Pick out a species…what type of

habitat does he live in?• What time of year are you depicting?• Practice with different mediums• Pay attention to detail• Fill out your forms• Turn in to Joan Stevens to be judged

by MARCH 15th!