Jim Denney’s Artwork Selected for Alabama Waterfowl Stamp
Alabama –-(Ammoland.com)- A pair of ringed-neck ducks painted by Jim Denney of Alexander City, Ala., is the winner of the 2011 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest. The winning artwork will adorn the 2012-2013 Alabama Waterfowl Stamp.
The annual contest, sponsored by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF), is open to all resident Alabama artists only.
Denney previously won the 2007 contest with a painting of hooded mergansers. Contest rules prevented him from entering again until this year. Denney is flattered to have his artwork selected as the winner for the second time in as many entries. “It’s a big honor. There are some really good artists in this state,” he said.
This year’s first runner-up is a pair of white-fronted geese painted by Steven Burney of Town Creek, Ala. A Canada goose painted by Bill Stem of Madison, Ala., was selected as second runner-up, while a cinnamon teal painted by Neil Pope of Union Grove, Ala., was third runner-up. Fourth runner-up was by Everett Hatcher, who painted a blue-winged teal.
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, and winning species from the past three years – wood duck, northern pintail drake and American wigeon – were not eligible subjects for the 2011 contest.
The artwork was publicly displayed and judged by a panel of experts in the fields of art, ornithology, and conservation. Representing the field of art was Jonathan Matthews, a Montgomery artist who has studied in Norway and France. Representing the field of ornithology was Dagmar Thurmond, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Representing the field of conservation was Frank Boyd, a wildlife biologist and state director of the USDA Wildlife Services office in Auburn.
The funds from stamp sales are used to procure and manage wetland habitats for waterfowl. All licensed waterfowl hunters are required to purchase state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps or to purchase the privilege. Like the federal stamps, state issued stamps are popular with collectors. The artwork competition for the Alabama Migratory Waterfowl Stamp design is held each year in February and is open to Alabama residents only.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR and the waterfowl stamp design competition visit www.outdooralabama.com.