Man of the Year
Adam Grimm

On November 4, 1999, Adam Grimm fulfilled his lifelong dream, a dream shared by almost every professional wildlife artist. On this unforgettable day, Adam was named the winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Competition. More impressively, Adam achieved this ultimate recognition at just twenty-one years of age, making him the youngest person ever to win this prestigious honor in America’s only federally sponsored art competition.

Adam’s artistic ability began to emerge at the age of three, when he set aside his coloring books and crayons in favor of a sketchpad and pencils. By the age of thirteen, he was selling virtually any of his works offered for sale at various art shows. He recalls drawing everything that boys like to draw, but soon realized he had a passion for wildlife, birds in particular. In fact, he devoured books on birds and before long he could identify all bird species native to the United States.

Early success in youth art competitions offered encouragement to Adam as he began his career. He was very excited to learn that the National Rifle Association sponsored a junior wildlife art competition, and proceeded to win the event in 1993, 1995, and 1996. His ’96 entry was so well received that the NRA produced prints and collector plates from it. Although he was too young to enter, Adam followed the Federal Duck Stamp Competition, eagerly awaiting the day when he could participate. He first entered the contest at the age of eighteen, hoping not to finish at the bottom of the pack. He certainly exceeded his expectations by finishing a very respectable sixteenth, and went on to finish eighth the following year. Adam was very satisfied with his progress up to this point, but nobody could imagine what would occur the following year. Someone once said, “The third time’s the charm”, and in the case of Adam Grimm this has never been more correct.

Adam was attending art school in November, 1999, when he received the phone call that would change his life forever. “I had heard I was in the final round and couldn’t believe it! I sat by the phone for over an hour, wondering if it could really happen, never thinking about what I should say if I actually won.”

Special “Live Auction” Adam Grimm’s Ohio 2003 Bicentennial Print
“Bountiful Heritage”

When the Millenium Federal Duck Stamp was released, Adam’s hometown of Elyria, Ohio held a celebration in his honor. Adam worked to organize several fund raising events to take place at this celebration for the purpose of supporting a wetlands and prairie grass restoration project. Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever both matched the eleven thousand dollars raised by Adam, and along with a generous contribution from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, this money is funding the restoration efforts which are now underway. Upon completion, 155 acres of emergent wetlands and native grasslands will flourish in what has officially been designated as “The Adam Grimm Habitat Restoration Project”. Since winning the Federal Duck Stamp Competition, Adam has also been awarded the commission of several state duck stamps. Among these states were Alaska in 2000, Washington in 2001, New York in 2002 and the 2005 Ohio Wetlands Stamp!

In 2002, in Adam was commissioned to create a special painting to be featured as the Ohio Division of Natural Resource’s Bicentennial image. This painting entitled “Bountiful Heritage” is pictured above and graced the cover of the Wild Ohio Magazine in Spring of 2003.

In summary, Adam’s mission through his artwork is to celebrate the awesome beauty and power of nature. His ultimate desire is to channel his love of the outdoors through his paintings, to be shared with all those who view them. Adam pays rigid attention to even the smallest details in his work because as he says, “If God thought it was important enough to create it, then it would be disrespectful if I didn’t make the extra effort to paint it accurately.”

The Woods and Waters Club of Northern Ohio is proud to name Adam Grimm as the Club’s “Man of the Year” for his many accomplishments and his generous support to wildlife activities and conservation.