Adam Grimm - Wildlife Artist - 2000 Federal Duck Stamp Winner

Adam Grimm

2000-2001 Federal Duck Stamp

At work in the "studio"

Federal Duck Stamp Tour

Autographing Duck Stamp Programs

Adam Grimm Marsh

Meet the Artist

On November 4, 1999, Adam Grimm fulfilled his lifelong dream, a dream shared by almost every professional wildlife artist. On this unforgettable day, Adam was named the winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Competition. More impressively, Adam achieved this ultimate recognition at just twenty-one years of age, making him the youngest person ever to win this prestigious honor in America’s only federally sponsored art competition. The winning entry, featuring a drake mottled duck flapping his wings on the water, appeared on the 2000-2001 Millenium Federal Duck Stamp. Adam’s inspiration for this design came on a crisp autumn morning, as he watched a hen blue-winged teal flapping her wings to rid her feathers of excess water while bathing in a South Dakota marsh. The strong light and dramatic action made this otherwise drab little bird as beautiful as any colorful drake, and offered a breathtaking composition and a dynamic form to drench in golden light. Adam quickly began working on sketches, and soon his design was complete. “It just seemed to fall together”, Adam said. “I ended up going with the first sketch I did.”

Adam’s artistic ability began to emerge at the age of three, when he set aside his coloring books and crayons in favor of a sketchpad and pencils. By the age of thirteen, he was selling virtually any of his works offered for sale at various art shows. He recalls drawing everything that boys like to draw, but soon realized he had a passion for wildlife, birds in particular. In fact, he devoured books on birds and before long he could identify all bird species native to the United States. He especially enjoyed annual family vacations, which afforded him the opportunity to observe many new wildlife species firsthand.

When Adam was old enough to take a part-time job, which his parents believed would teach him how to earn and manage money, he convinced them that he would benefit more from working on his art at home than from taking a more traditional job, like mowing grass or working at McDonald’s. After all, he was already earning money from the sale of his art. Mom and Dad agreed, provided that he rise early each morning to convert the family kitchen into a makeshift studio, where he would work on his art until it was time to clear the table for dinner. From the age of fifteen, Adam maintained this work schedule for eight hours per day, five days per week, every summer.

Early success in youth art competitions offered encouragement to Adam as he began his career. He was very excited to learn that the National Rifle Association sponsored a junior wildlife art competition, and proceeded to win the event in 1993, 1995, and 1996. His ’96 entry was so well received that the NRA produced prints and collector plates from it. Although he was too young to enter, Adam followed the Federal Duck Stamp Competition, eagerly awaiting the day when he could participate. He first entered the contest at the age of eighteen, hoping not to finish at the bottom of the pack. He certainly exceeded his expectations by finishing a very respectable sixteenth, and went on to finish eighth the following year. Adam was very satisfied with his progress up to this point, but nobody could imagine what would occur the following year. Someone once said, “The third time’s the charm”, and in the case of Adam Grimm this has never been more correct.

Adam was attending art school in November, 1999, when he received the phone call that would change his life forever. “I had heard I was in the final round and couldn’t believe it! I sat by the phone for over an hour, wondering if it could really happen, never thinking about what I should say if I actually won.” Finally the phone rang, and Adam soon learned that he had received the highest honor in the world of wildlife art competitions. While on the phone, Adam’s reaction to his win was broadcast over a loudspeaker to everyone attending the final judging session in our nation’s capital. Although he was at somewhat of a loss for words, Adam managed to compose himself and he remembered to do the one thing he had vowed to do if he ever won – dedicate the win to his recently deceased grandfather. “My Grandpa Grimm was my biggest supporter. He was the first one to pay me for my art. I don’t think there was ever a doubt in his mind that I would one day win this competition and I know if anyone would have loved to have been here now, it would have been him. Dedicating the win to him was the least I could do in honor of his years of support.” Adam received a standing ovation, especially from the younger members of the audience, who had just witnessed a prime example of how dedication and passion for one’s work can be rewarded at the highest levels regardless of one’s age.

Adam was always focused on his goal of becoming a professional wildlife artist. While attending art school, he became frustrated because he could not dedicate as much time as he wanted to researching and painting wildlife. When he revealed this frustration to his parents they responded by saying, “The only way we would support you leaving school is if you win the Federal Duck Stamp Competition.” Of course they thought this was a pretty safe bet, but they were more than happy to live up to their end of the bargain when the unimaginable actually occurred! Soon after winning the contest, Adam left art school to concentrate on his work and to fulfill his obligations as the winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Competition.

When the Millenium Federal Duck Stamp was released, Adam’s hometown of Elyria, Ohio held a celebration in his honor. Adam worked to organize several fund raising events to take place at this celebration for the purpose of supporting a wetlands and prairie grass restoration project. Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever both matched the eleven thousand dollars raised by Adam, and along with a generous contribution from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, this money is funding the restoration efforts which are now underway. Upon completion, 155 acres of emergent wetlands and native grasslands will flourish in what has officially been designated as “The Adam Grimm Habitat Restoration Project”.

The National Rifle Association also honored Adam at its 2000 National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with five other young people who had demonstrated outstanding support to the NRA as members of the organization. While at the convention, Adam was honored to have the opportunity to spend time talking with Wayne LaPierre and to meet legendary actor and President of the NRA, Charlton Heston. Adam has always taken a proactive stance in supporting hunting and conservation organizations like the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and the NWTF. He has donated his time, as well as tens of thousands of dollars worth of original artwork, all in an effort to foster the preservation of the wildlife he loves.

Since winning the Federal Duck Stamp Competition, Adam has also been awarded the commission of several state duck stamps. Among these states were Alaska in 2000, Washington in 2001, and New York in 2002. Recently, Adam was commissioned to create a special painting to be featured as the Ohio Division of Natural Resource’s Bicentennial image. Currently, he is working on several privately commissioned projects, and is very excited to be putting the finishing touches on his entry for the 2003 Federal Duck Stamp Competition. This is the first year Adam has been eligible to enter since winning the contest three years ago.

From the time he was old enough to carry a gun, Adam has hunted alongside his Father, and he credits this experience with helping to build his appreciation of nature. He has learned a great deal about the ducks he loves to paint while hunting waterfowl. He has spent countless hours studying the anatomy, behavior, and habitat of birds and other wildlife while in the marshes. “It’s what sparks my ideas and gives me passion to do the paintings I do.” Adam also earned a black belt in Shaolin Ssu Kempo when he was thirteen, and continues to practice this particular style of martial arts to aid in the development of the discipline, patience, focus, and determination he needs to accomplish his lofty goals.

In summary, Adam’s mission through his artwork is to celebrate the awesome beauty and power of nature. His ultimate desire is to channel his love of the outdoors through his paintings, to be shared with all those who view them. Adam pays rigid attention to even the smallest details in his work because as he says, “If God thought it was important enough to create it, then it would be disrespectful if I didn’t make the extra effort to paint it accurately.” Adam would like to offer his sincere thanks to those who saw enough promise in a young artist to purchase his early works. According to Adam, “I vowed at that time that I would work very hard to make them proud of their purchase.” It would seem that Adam is more than living up to this simple promise, which has and will continue to play a profound role in his future success.