Pollination is an essential part of a garden’s ecosystem that benefits flowering plants and pollinators of various species. This category focuses on pollination through the mediums of digital stamp art and pastels. The digital stamp art portrays the realistic relationship between pollinators and plants.
The framed pastel piece depicts a colorful conceptual image using pollination as a simple theme portraying philanthropy as a giving and sharing relationship. The artwork shown here was developmental only. A different image was selected for the stamp issue.
Pollination Issue
Purple Nightshade, Morrison’s Bumblebee approved stamp art
ISSUE Pollination
MEDIUM digital editing software
ILLUSTRATOR Steve Buchanan
ART DIRECTOR Richard Sheaff
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE June 29, 2007
The Purple Nightshade is a semi-evergreen perennial plant native to California but also found throughout most of North America. Its blue-purple flowers attract the Morrison’s Bumblebee, which uses its vibrating wings to loosen pollen from the plant.
Hummingbird Trumpet, Calliope Hummingbird approved stamp art
ISSUE Pollination
MEDIUM digital editing software
ILLUSTRATOR Steve Buchanan
ART DIRECTOR Richard Sheaff
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE June 29, 2007
The Hummingbird Trumpet is native to the American West. With its profusion of coral or orange flowers, it will light up a garden mid-summer through fall. Its blooms attract the Calliope Hummingbird, which uses its long tongue to extract nectar.
Saguaro Cactus, Lesser Long-nosed Bat approved stamp art
ISSUE Pollination
MEDIUM digital editing software
ILLUSTRATOR Steve Buchanan
ART DIRECTOR Richard Sheaff
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE June 29, 2007
During late spring in the Sonoran Desert, Saguaro Cactus flowers bloom for just one day. They open at night and emit a melon-like smell, which attracts the Lesser Long-nosed Bat and other bat species. The next day, the flowers attract bees and birds. Once pollinated, the blooms mature into brilliant red fruit.
Prairie Ironweed, Southern Dogface Butterfly approved stamp art
ISSUE Pollination
MEDIUM digital editing software
ILLUSTRATOR Steve Buchanan
ART DIRECTOR Richard Sheaff
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE June 29, 2007
Prairie Ironweed plants produce bright purple-crimson flowers that attract the Southern Dogface Butterfly. While hunting for nectar, the Southern Dogface perches on the Ironweed flowers, collecting pollen on its legs and body.
Giving and Sharing Issue
Giving and Sharing concept stamp art
ISSUE Giving and Sharing
MEDIUM paper; pastel
ILLUSTRATOR Mary GrandPré (concept); Robert Dinetz (final approved)
ART DIRECTOR Richard Sheaff
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE October 7, 1998
Concept art doesn’t always become the final stamp design. The development of the Giving and Sharing stamp, a commemorative stamp honoring philanthropy, attracted multiple artists who created many design concepts. The USPS ultimately decided to illustrate the giving and sharing relationship with a bee hovering near a double-blossomed flower to represent cross-pollination.
