Wildlife conservation has always been important to me. Even in my youth I was caring for injured wildlife. During my employment with the U S Forest Service, I was a firefighter/prevention officer. My office was the outdoors and encounters with wildlife were frequent. My job included reporting all encounters of large wildlife and especially the rare California Condor. I teamed up with the state game warden and secured a permit to care for the sick and injured birds of prey. Conservation of public lands and their use was a part of my work life and became a part of my art endeavors when I left that job and pursued art as an income.

The duck stamp program has been an avenue for artist to make a difference in conservation efforts. My first entry was the California duck stamp contest, then federal and other state entries followed. The duck stamp tradition isn’t just a competition—it’s a movement. Since 1934, the Federal Duck Stamp Program has raised millions to protect wetlands and habitats, all through the sale of stamps featuring artists’ winning designs. When I create a piece for a duck stamp contest, I’m not just painting a bird; I’m joining a legacy that says art can do more than decorate walls—it can save ecosystems. Knowing my work could contribute to preserving the very species I’m depicting? That’s a purpose that runs deeper than any canvas.

When I paint for a duck stamp contest, I’m not just creating for myself—I’m creating for hunters, birders, collectors, and anyone who buys that stamp. It’s a small square of art that ends up in pockets and tackle boxes, a tangible link between people and the wild. I love imagining someone pausing over my design, maybe feeling a spark of awe for that wood duck or cinnamon teal. Wildlife in my artwork becomes a bridge, inviting others to care about these species as much as I do. It’s a ripple effect: one painting, one stamp, one more person inspired to protect our natural world.