Celebrating wildlife artist, Maynard Reece & Iowa Fish
Category III First Place 2014 Winner
Carmen A
“We
really had a good time doing the contest. It brought in a lot of good
discussion and even the teacher aides were surprised at some of the facts I
shared from the DNR website. The kids loved it.”
The Department of
Natural Resources invites you to enroll your class in our fourth annual
“Take It Outside” Art Contest.
This year’s contest will
celebrate the great contributions of wildlife artist, Maynard Reece. Reece is considered
one of the founding fathers of wildlife art. As a child, he spent many hours
exploring Lake Okoboji. His teachers discovered his artistic ability at the age
of 13 and entered one of his drawings in the Iowa State Fair. As a young adult,
Maynard worked at what is today known as the State Historical Museum collecting
specimens for the museum’s collection and painting fish to create the plates
for the original publishing of Iowa Fish and Fishing – this was instrumental in
launching his career as a freelance artist. Reece’s fish drawings can be viewed
on the DNR website.
Students are encouraged
to use their artistic skills to create an image of their favorite Iowa
fish (see the eligible fish list in the complete contest rules) in its natural habitat.
Fish species fact sheets are available on the DNR Education website (click on Fact Sheets/Fish in the Document
Library). Starting next month, check out our Take It Outside: Fish Iowa! blog for more information about Iowa fish and Maynard
Reece.
New This Year!
We are partnering with
the Wildlife Forever® State-Fish Art® Contest to host an Iowa
State-Fish Contest in conjunction with our annual Take It
Outside Art Contest. The first place artwork in each judging category will
be submitted for National Awards. First place winners at the
state level will be honored at the annual State-Fish Art Expo this summer.
For more information visit our website.
