Tumwater artist wins duck stamp contest

OLYMPIA - Alex Young, a 50-year-old Tumwater artist and wildlife enthusiast, is the winner of the state's duck stamp contest.

Young, whose work has been featured in one-person shows in Seattle and elsewhere, was one of 28 artists who submitted entries, according to Don Kraege, who oversees the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's waterfowl programs.

The entries were judged by the Washington State Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee, a nine-person citizen panel selected by the governor, members of the State Arts Commission and the departments of Fish and Wildlife and Agriculture.

Contest rules for this year required that the artists' work depict Canada geese landing in an eastern Washington agricultural field.

"We were really pleased by the quality of all the entries," Kraege said. "The committee was able to choose from some top-notch work."

For his efforts, Young, who is employed as an architect for the state Department of Transportation, will receive a royalty payment on each print of his work that is sold. He also will receive a complimentary booth at the Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show in Seattle next year.

The prints will go on sale at local art galleries next spring or summer. Duck stamps featuring Young's work go on sale in May.

Funds raised from the sale of duck stamps and related artwork are used for waterfowl and wetland habitat improvement projects throughout the state.

Since the program was started in 1986, an estimated $3 million has been raised from the sale of stamps, which waterfowl hunters are required to buy each year. An additional $800,000 has been raised from the sale of artwork, including limited edition prints.