About the Painting

“I chose to feature the hen bird most prominently in a broadside pose. This is partly because the female usually gets short shift in appreciation in the bird world, but mainly because her colours and patterns appeal to me. I used back lighting so that the contrasting rust and green colours of the male are more rich and subdued. I was excited by the translucent brilliance of the sun shining through their legs and the light bouncing up off the ice.”

Inaugural Stamp

“Mallard Pair – Early Winter” by world renowned Canadian wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, was featured on the inaugural Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp (1985). This commissioned piece was the beginning of a long tradition for Wildlife Habitat Canada.

The $4 Stamp (which has since increased to $8.50) became a requirement to validate the migratory game bird permit, and proceeds from the sale of the Stamp were directed to Wildlife Habitat Canada to fund its conservation programs.

About the Artist

Robert Bateman

One of the world’s foremost painters of nature, Robert Bateman was born in 1930 and raised in Toronto. He taught high school art and geography for 20 years before becoming a full-time wildlife artist in 1975. Bateman’s work is refreshing and his concepts unpredictable. With imagination influenced by any one of the multitude of art periods and styles, plus a deep understanding of the natural world, his artistic statements are strong and stunning.