Scot Storm Named 2014 Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year

Wildlife artist Scot Storm, of Freeport, Minn., has been named as the Ducks Unlimited (DU) 2014 Artist of the Year. Storm’s painting Tranquil Waters catapulted him into his second Artist of the Year title for DU.

A full-time wildlife artist since 1999, Storm won the 2004-2005 Federal Duck Stamp Contest and was also named DU’s Artist of the Year in 2005. His Tranquil Waters painting, which depicts a trio of wood ducks, took top honors in this year’s DU art contest.

“That painting actually came from a pond on our homestead,” Storm said. “I spend a lot of time out there taking photographs with my friend Tom Martin, especially in the spring. We had some cool morning sun coming through, which created the glow reflecting off the ducks.”

Storm’s passion for waterfowl, however, stretches far beyond his canvas. For the past seven years, Storm and his brother have mentored young hunters by coordinating an annual waterfowl hunting trip to North Dakota.

Ducks Unlimited’s art program has raised more than $300 million for the organization’s wetlands conservation mission over 40 years, $36 million of which has come from the Artist of the Year program.

“Scot’s commitment to passing on the waterfowling heritage is rivaled only by his ability as an artist,” said Jane Lawson, DU’s art and merchandise marketing manager. “Thanks to artists like Scot, DU can provide event attendees with unique artwork all while adding dollars for on-the-ground conservation work.”

Tranquil Waters limited-edition prints and canvases will be available exclusively at Ducks Unlimited events beginning this month.

For more information about Storm, visit www.stormwildlifeart.com.

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited is the world's leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation. DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited. Its mission: habitat conservation. Thanks to decades of abiding by that single mission, Ducks Unlimited is now the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization. DU is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities and other entities.