This year N.C. Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition winner is my brother Garrett Jacobs! While this achievement may seem long overdue for some, I knew this day would come. Winning any competition that's open to anyone nationwide is always an accomplishment. I honestly think that his biggest accomplishment just might be that this may have been only his second attempt in entering the N.C.. Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition.

It reminds me of what may have been his 1st art competition that he entered years ago back here in Burlington City NJ. Each participant could enter  this art competition either as a professional or armature based upon upon the competition rules. As my brother received his armature credentials and setup his table (a little further down from our original spot), I had to get his paintings out of the car from where we were parked. I carried each painting to the new table locations and we sat there as people came by looking. What we kept noticing over a 90 minute span was that people kept taking a wide path around a tree that was about 50 feet from us (where we first parked). Some would even stop, stare and point but we didn't get it.

My brother asked me to walk over to that tree and try to see what people were looking at. So only as the baby brother could do, I did just what he asked. When I got down to that tree to see what people were looking at, all I could do is laugh. As I walking back with both hands behind my back, I stopped and he asked "Well"? I asked my brother "remember that you said that you were missing a painting"? I said that when I parked the car and got the paintings out, I left the painting of your squirrel. The picture of this squirrel sitting upright against a tree just so happen to be a similar tree that was in the picture. People actually could tell if something was wrong with the squirrel because it never moved. One lady said she walked passed the squirrel twice then told others. Needless to say Garrett Jacobs won but loss this art competition if I remember correctly. They gave him 1st place in the armature division, banned him from future competitions because they said that he should have entered as a professional.

For years I've watch my brother paint one masterpiece after another, only to white them out and draw over them again, I can remember doctors would want to be my friend in hoping that it could land them a little closer to one of my brother paintings. He even had a couple of doctors that were willing to produce his prints and get him started but I know "trust" was big to him. In winning this year N.C.. Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition, I hope this gets him started. Whether it's the hair popping of the painting or almost seeing what these animals are looking at through the detail of the animal eyes, his life like renditions of wildlife is something the world needs to see.

Please revisit this post as I will try to update you when his 2016 award winning 2016 North Carolina Duck Stamp prints becomes available. See the North Carolina Washington Daily News press release article about Garrett Jacobs winning the 2016 North Carolina Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition at http://hive.pe/c5

Bruce Jacobs