Federal Duck Stamp & 30 Years of Chasing a Dream (Ep 822)

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Most people would quit after five straight losses. Tim Taylor kept going for more than 30 years.

Recorded during the Federal Duck Stamp Contest at Ducks Unlimited headquarters, host Katie Burke sits down with artist Tim Taylor for a candid conversation about art, perseverance, competition, and the pursuit of one of wildlife art’s highest honors.

Tim shares how a chance encounter with a magazine article introduced him to the Federal Duck Stamp Contest and launched a decades-long journey studying waterfowl, traveling the country, seeking feedback from top artists, and continually improving his craft. Along the way, he reflects on his friendship with Adam Grimm, the value of criticism, the evolution of illustration as a profession, and why he's still pursuing a Duck Stamp win after more than three decades.

The conversation also explores the importance of mentorship, the Junior Duck Stamp Program, Norman Rockwell’s influence on Tim’s career, and what it takes to stay committed to a creative goal for a lifetime.

Topics Covered

• Discovering the Federal Duck Stamp Contest
• Growing up with dreams of becoming an illustrator
• Letters from Norman Rockwell
• Surviving five straight first-round eliminations
• Learning from Adam Grimm and other top artists
• The strategy behind a successful Duck Stamp entry
• The importance of critique and mentorship
• The role of the Junior Duck Stamp Program
• Why Tim is still chasing his first Duck Stamp win

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcastSend feedback: [email protected]

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