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Traditional Women of Namibia |
Being naturally fascinated with the beautiful, diverse faces and customs of people, this was a delightful commission very close to my heart. It involved a tremendous amount of research, in which I had the privilege of being helped by two knowledgeable experts, Mrs. Antje Otto-Reiner, Ethnologist, and Mr. Bernard Schurz, Curator of the National Museum of Namibia. Some of the women I had met or seen around the country, so I painted them with traditional clothing and headdresses. I used traditional basketry, utensils and ornaments to paint a design around the stamp sheet. These stamp sheets won the third prize award at the World Stamp Cup 2003 in Paris, France, for the most beautiful souvenir stamp sheets in the world. These stamps, including a limited supply in which the printing on the back was reversed, are available from Namib Stamps. |
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Namib Dunes |
Dr. Mary Seely of the Desert Research Foundation in Namibia graciously assisted me in compiling the information for these stamps by supplying photographs and information. She also took me on a walking tour through the dunes to see and understand the tracks and life there, so I could accurately depict these unique and diverse elements. A second layer of phosphorescent coating was added to the stamps to show the edges of the dunes and animal tracks. These can be seen by viewing the stamps in the dark, as if by the light of the moon at night. This sheetlet was released for and featured at the International Stamp Show in London, England. These stamps are available for purchase from Namib Stamps. Some are still available from Namibia Stamp Center. |
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Orchids of Namibia |
The commission to paint Namibian orchids for stamps was a particularly interesting one, as I needed to do quite a bit of research. I had no idea that orchids grew in so many different climates! The stamps are embossed in gold with complementary writing in Chinese. These stamps and artwork were presented and featured at the International Orchid Show in These stamps are available for purchase from Namib Stamps. Some are still available from Namibia Stamp Center. |
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Caprivi Flora and Fauna |
This sheetlet of stamps features the nature, animal and plant life of the Caprivi area of Namibia. The Fish Eagle stamp on this sheet was entered with three other Namibian stamps for the 1999 Stamp World Cup competition in France. These Namibian stamps were awarded a first prize in the geographical zone category for the most beautiful stamps in Africa and the Middle East, as well as a third prize overall for the most beautiful stamps in the World Prize category. The Fish Eagle stamp was also voted the most popular Namibian stamp for the year 1998. These stamps are available for purchase from Namib Stamps. |
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Shells of Namibia |
For this set of stamps I was privileged to be assisted by Mr. Helmut zur Strassen, a well known member of the scientific community. We went through his vast collection of shells to find those which are more common in the waters off the Namibian coast. The coastal waters are cold, so these shells are not as colorful as their warm water counterparts. We chose four shells that would look nice as a set, and he sent them home with me for live models. For the sheetlet I wove around the shells a design of aquatic elements found in the same waters. These stamps were released for the International Expo in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1998. These stamps are available for purchase from Namib Stamps. |
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Stamps are challenging to design. While living in Africa, I was commissioned to design seven sets of postage stamps for two countries. The subject matter is decided before the actual commissioning, based on either a specific event or a subject appealing to collectors. The artist's job is to do original and accurate paintings and then plan the type face and colors for the information that will be printed on the stamp. Often, there is little material with which to work, so seeking out experts and discovering fascinating information is part of the process. Two sets of my stamps have won world awards. |
©2007 Mary Jane Volkmann - All Rights Reserved |
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