COLUMBUS, OH - Artwork of a hooded merganser by Brian Blight of Pennsylvania won first place at this years Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp design competition, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Blights painting will appear on the Ohio wetlands stamp for the fall of 2003.
Waterfowl hunters and collectors purchase more than 35,000 wetlands stamps every year. The stamps cost $11 each. Proceeds from the sale of the Ohio Wetlands Stamp fund waterfowl habitat restoration projects that benefit Ohio.
Blights entry was selected from a field of 21 entries of original paintings submitted by artists in 14 states, including seven from Ohio. The competition was held at the annual Ducks Unlimited convention on June 22 in Columbus.
I could have used this painting in another state, but Im glad it was Ohio, said Blight, who has had great success with wetlands stamp competitions in the last few years. His art won the competition in 2000 for which it appeared on the Ohio stamp in 2001. Blight also is the winner of the Oklahoma and Indiana stamp competitions in 2002. He also placed 10th in the federal stamp competition this year. This was the fifth time that he has entered the Ohio competition.
Blight, of Old Forge, Pa., is a 1996 graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design. He has won eight wetlands stamp competitions during his career as an artist.
Second place honors went to Robert Metropulos, of Minocqua, Wisconsin for his rendering of tundra swans. Metropulos won the Delaware competition in 1994 and placed fifth in the federal competition in 1998. Third place in Saturday's contest went to Dan Brevick of Chatfield, Minnesota for his portrait of a Canada Goose. Brevick has entered the Ohio competition six times and he was the winner of the 2000 Oklahoma competition.
Semi-finalists included John Heidersbach of Clear Falls, Iowa and Richard Clifton of Milford, Delaware.
Last years Ohio wetlands stamp winner, Jeffrey Klinefelter of Indiana, will see his painting of a pair of ring-necked ducks appear on this fall's 2002 wetlands habitat stamp.
Judges for this year's event included State Representative Jim McGregor; Ohio Chapter of Ducks Unlimited District Three Chairman Skip Dailey; Outdoor Writers of Ohio President Tom Cross; Vorisek Financial Corporation President Tom Vorisek; and Beth Ruth, communications specialist from the United States Sportsmans Alliance. Sally Dailey of Lima served as an alternate judge.