Paint by Numbers - Hautman Brothers
The Hautman Brothers have established themselves as one of America's leading wildlife artists. From an early age, what became their passions were passed on to them by their parents. Indeed, their mother, an accomplished painter, passed on a love of the brush and palette, and they inherited from their father an unconditional love of the outdoors and a commitment to wildlife preservation.
Their careers as artists took on new momentum with their unprecedented performances in theFederal Duck Stamp Contest. They won the prestigious award a total of 13 times over the past 26 years with unprecedented podium finishes, taking first, second and third place in 2015. At last count, the three brothers have had their art featured on more than 50 state and federal stamps. The book The Wild Duck Chase as well as the documentary Million Dollar Duck, which aired on The Animal Planet, spotlight the Hautman Brothers and the unique world of competitive duck painting; cornerstone of one of the world's most successful conservation programs that generated nearly $800 million for wetland habitat conservation.
The three brothers' designs were presented to the president in the Oval Office and are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. In 2003, the three Hautman Brothers were selected to design a series of threatened species stamps for the United Nations.