About The Artist

Elaine was born & raised on Bayou Teche, in the country outside New Iberia, Louisiana.  As a child, she had an interest in art, but felt she needed a solid career to be successful - and art seemed frivolous & "just for fun".

  When Elaine retired in 2014, after a long career as a CPA, she knew exactly what she was going to do.  She enrolled at Delgado Community College & took classes in drawing, painting & water media, "to learn the basics".  She picked up a paint brush & never looked back! 

She is now a member of five different art guilds in the area, where she attends workshops and meets other artists.  She has shown her paintings in numerous art shows in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge area.  Elaine's paintings are very realistic, with a lot of detail.  

That's what drew her to the Louisiana Duck Stamp contest.  She read that "by tradition, most waterfowl conservation stamp art is highly realistic in style, exhibiting extensive detail in anatomy, plumage and the natural setting".  Since that, more or less, describes her art, Elaine decided to enter the contest.  Never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd win the very first time she entered!  Elaine loves being the first woman to win!  There have been 33 winners before her and only a handful have been from Louisiana - and all have been men! 

 Elaine and her husband Bruce have lived in River Ridge, Louisiana for 30 years, but purchased a retirement home in the historic district of St. Francisville several years ago.  The art community there is thriving and provides a very nurturing environment.

Elaine entered the Louisiana Duck Stamp contest for the very first time and won!  She is the first female to win the contest in its 34-year history!  

Created in 1988, the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) Program funds the creation, restoration and enhancement of wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife in Louisiana.  Through sales of licenses and collector stamps as well as contest entry fees, the program generates about $350,000 annually for projects including land acquisition, wetland development and management on wildlife management areas.    This is a link to a video of the 2022 LA Duck Stamp Contest:  https://youtu.be/PV2-tv-F26k