Back to RW66   Back to the Federal Index   Home

A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE 66TH (1999-2000) DUCK STAMP ARTIST

Jim Hautman of Plymouth, Minnesota, took first place on November 5th, 1998 at the Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, becoming only the second artist in the 65-year history of the program to win the contest three times. His acrylic portrait of two Greater Scaup flying across a windswept lake, with a hunter and his dog in the background, topped 336 other entries. 

Hautman also made Duck Stamp history in 1989 when he became the youngest artist ever to win the contest. He took second in 1993 and won again in 1994. That same year, his brother Robert placed second and, in 1996, took top honors. Meanwhile, brother Joe won the contest in 1991. Jim's painting received a perfect score of 25 points out of 25, the second time he has been so honored in the Federal!

Jim Hautman, who was taught by his mother but has had no formal wildlife art training, said that the hunter in his painting is modeled after his brother Bob. "I thought about the Duck Stamp and the fact that mostly hunters purchase it," he said. "So I put a hunter in my design."

He said he felt "strange" about his entry. "Some days I would look at it and get excited about it and other days I looked at it and I wasn't sure," he said.

--------------------THE ART--------------------
Greater Scaup was reproduced as a photo-lithograph on fine 100% rag paper using premium fade-resistant inks.   The collector edition consists of ..... signed and numbered prints, ..... Medallion edition and 300 Executive editions which include a pencil remarque.   The print image size is 6 1/2"x9".  The medallion is full struck 2 3/32"x1-5/16".  This is Hautman's third win.

--------------------THE STAMP--------------------
Greater Scaup…Plates Issued: Intaglio (front) - #198656 - Brown PMS 168; Offset - #73724-front, Process Magenta, #73725-front, Process Yellow, #73726-front, Process Cyan, #73727-front, Process Black; Nyloprint - (back) Black. Color: Front - Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta. Press: 801 "F" Web - 8 color Offset/Intaglio. Designer/Modeler: Brian Thompson. Engraver: Vignette - Thomas Hipschen; Frame - N/A; Letters - John Smith, Jr; Numerals - N/A. First Day of Sale: July 1, 1999. Issue: 1999 - Sixty-sixth Duck Stamp (Eight $15.00 stamp), Second Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) Issue - RW66A. Quantity Sold: 1,684,932.