David Maass (1929- )
An avid sportsman and ardent contributor to conservation organizations, David Maass has been actively painting game birds for more than thirty years. In the past twenty years he has designed more than thirty conservation stamps and prints, a distinction few artists can claim.
His 1982 winning canvasback painting marks the second time that a Maass design has appeared on the Federal Duck Stamp and Print. In 1974 he reached national prominence by winning the Federal competition for the first time. He has also designed the 1977 “First of State” and 1979 Minnesota Duck Stamp Prints. His design of a pair of wood ducks was featured on the 1983 Arkansas Duck Stamp Print and in 1984 he was selected to design the 1984 Texas Duck Stamp Print, the 1984 North Dakota Duck Stamp Print and the 1984 “First of State” Maine Duck Stamp Print.
In addition to these fourteen duck stamp designs, David Maass has fifteen conservation prints to his credit. The International Quail Foundation commissioned him to design their first print issued in 1982 adn their final print in 1986. And in 1990 he was asked to design the “First of State” Texas Bobwhite Quail Print. He also designed the 1981 Wild Turkey Stamp Print, the 1980 Ruffed Grouse Society Stamp Print, a print for the National Wild Turkey Federation building program, the 1983 Minnesota wild Turkey Stamp Print, the 1984 Missouri Wild Turkey Stamp Print, a fund raising print for the Delta Waterfowl Research Station in Manitoba, Canada and the 1985 Hunting Heritage stamp Print for the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America. He was also commissioned to design the 1986 Texas Wild Turkey Stamp Print. He designed the 1987 and 1990 Arkansas Turkey Stamp Print.
Over the last ten years, the Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Minnesota Wildlife heritage Foundation have each named David Maass their Artist of the Year. Most recently he has been named the 1988 International Artist of the Year for Ducks Unlimited.
Mr. Maass’ originals and limited edition prints have been exhibited in galleries and shows throughout the country, including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Collection of fine Art in Washington, D.C., the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin and the annual Minnesota Wildlife Heritage Foundation Show in Minneapolis. An original Canada goose painting by David Maaass is also a part of the permanent collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.