Good News!!!!! 2011 Iowa Duck Stamp

Here is the news release for my fourth win in the Iowa Duck Stamp Contest. The merganser did it!!!!

Historic Win in Iowa Duck Stamp Competition

Sioux City resident and nationally recognized artist, Darren Maurer, made history by taking top honors in the Iowa Duck Stamp Contest held Friday, February 12 in Des Moines, Iowa. Maurer’s rendition of a single Hooded Merganser drake was chosen from entries sent in from across the country. The winning image will be used on Iowa’s duck stamp for the year 2011 and will also be used as the Iowa Ducks Unlimited sponsor print for the same year.
This unprecedented win earns Maurer the honor of becoming the only artist in the thirty-eight year history of the Iowa art contest to win the Iowa Duck Stamp four different times. Maurer was previously tied with artists Paul Bridgeford, Dietmar Krumrey, and the legendary Maynard Reece with three Iowa stamps each to their name. “Winning number four is definitely something I will remember for a long time. Having four duck stamps and two Artist of the Year titles goes way beyond what I ever thought possible since sending that first painting off in the mail ten years ago.” Maurer says.
Although impressive, this accomplishment is not Maurer’s first time to earn prestigious honors in the Ducks Unlimited art competition. Maurer’s first unmatched achievement occurred after winning both the 2001 and 2002 Duck Stamp contests. No other artist had won in back to back years before or since then. He set the bar high again by taking top honors in both the Duck Stamp competition and was named the Iowa Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year in 2007. Maurer is the only artist to win both of those honors in the same year. He was also named Iowa Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year for a second time in 2010.