Winning entry chosen for California duck stamp
For the first time in nearly 15 years, a contest was held to select the image to appear on the duck stamp that will adorn 2009-10 licenses of California waterfowl hunters.
Above is the winning design chosen from 18 entries, and it's a beauty.
The painting by Indiana artist Jeffrey Klinefelter depicts a pair of northern shovelers, the species for this year's competition and stamp.
The contest was close, with the second-place finisher losing by only one point. The judges, which included California Waterfowl Assn. President Robert McLandress and Harry Curieaux Adamson, who painted the image for the current stamp, said the vibrant colors in the background gave the winning entry the edge.
The stamps go on sale in August, with proceeds going to waterfowl-related conservation projects. The Department of Fish and Game also typically produces and sells limited-edition prints of the image, some signed by the governor. Since it began in 1971, the California duck stamp program has raised more than $22 million.
The entire library of California duck stamps can be viewed on the DFG site, and there is some amazing work displayed -- so much so that I am hard-pressed to choose a favorite.
--Kelly Burgess
Photo: The winning artwork for this year's California waterfowl hunting stamp. Credit: Department of Fish and Game
If an artist releases 500 limited edition prints, that must mean they aren't all original! Wow, you've just blown the lid off of a huge industry secret, Mr. "Scholar." The artist's signature on a print personalizes it, making it more valuable to the collector. "Limited edition" means there aren't a gazillion of them out there.
If you can't sell your prints for more than $10 each, then by definition they aren't worth any more than that. Artists command higher prices; scholars obviously do not.
Posted by: Print Collector | June 09, 2009 at 07:43 PM
-BUYER BEWARE OF SO-CALLED DUCK STAMP PRINTS-
"Limited edition prints" is a euphemism for reproductions.
California Civil Code 1738-1745 requires disclosure of -reproductions- as "reproductions" if sold for $100 or more. Failure to do so, may include but not limited to: refund, interest, treble damages and $1,000 fine per occurence.
TWO SIGNATURES
Next time you view one of these non-disclosed reproductions, notice, if signed by the artist that there appears to be a second signature usually in the image which is most likely the reproduced signature from the original painting.
What appears to be two signatures, one actually not a signature but a reproduction of one, is a dead giveaway that the image is nothing more than a reproduced poster.
With that kind of full disclosure, how much would you pay for it?
Gary Arseneau
artist, creator of original lithographs & scholar
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Posted by: Gary Arseneau | June 04, 2009 at 06:43 AM