Bison Stamp

Students had to design an American postage stamp in Adobe Illustrator. Students could choose from a range of topics including the anniversary of a historical event or person, landmarks, monuments, or animals. Consider different standard stamp formats. Thumbnail sketches were required for this project.

Since we could choose from a range of topics I wanted to illustrate North American animals. I then started sketching several prospective animals including a raccoon, beaver, and bison. After the initial sketching I decided to switch focus from the animal to the animal in its natural environment. Since the racoon and beaver would be in a heavily wooded area, I felt the backgrounds would become too crowded for a stamp.

I then decided to go with the image of the bison standing in the great plains east of the Rocky Mountains. I felt the grass and distant mountains could display the environment adequately while balancing the focus between the bison and its habitat. After creating the illustration, I then made several variations by modifying where the cost and “USA” marker were placed on the stamp.