DUCK STAMP

For this project, I was randomly assigned three bird species to consider as potential subjects: the Common Eider, the Hooded Merganser, and the Mottled Duck. After reviewing each option, I was particularly drawn to the mottled duck due to its classic and understated appearance, which I felt would translate well into the visual format of a postage stamp. As a result, I selected the mottled duck as the central subject of my design.

For this assignment, I also made the deliberate decision to step away from my typical digital workflow and return to more traditional methods of image-making. Instead of working entirely digitally, I used acrylic gouache to paint the ducks. Painting was my primary creative medium when I was a teenager, but it is not something I engage with as frequently in my current practice. Revisiting this medium allowed me to reconnect with an earlier stage of my artistic development while also challenging myself to work outside of my usual process.

After an extended period focused almost exclusively on digital work, this project felt like a refreshing change of pace. The experience highlighted the value of incorporating traditional techniques into my creative workflow. Through this process, I found that a semi-traditional approach—combining physical media with digital tools—can strengthen my overall design process. Since completing this project, I have made a conscious effort to integrate elements of traditional art into many of my subsequent pieces. This may involve scanning in physical sketches or painted textures, or utilizing digital tools that emulate the qualities and visual character of traditional artistic practices.

ILLUSTRATION II

SPRING 2025