Well Known, Maryland Artist Takes First Place in the 2004-2005 Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Design Contest
ANNAPOLIS — Louis Frisino has won many conservation stamp contests in his long career and on Wednesday his “Resting Black Bear” took highest honors at the 8TH Maryland Black Bear Conservation Stamp Contest. His entry featured a black bear taking a rest from roaming Maryland’s great outdoors and was selected from a field of 11 entries.
Frisino has been interested in art since childhood. Deaf since birth, he attended the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, graduating in 1953. He later graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art where he received the prestigious Peabody Award. He retired from the News American where he worked for 25 years as a commercial artist.
He has taken first place in the 1976, 1986 and 1993 Maryland Duck Stamp Contest. Frisino also won the first Maryland Trout Stamp contest in 1977 and finished first again in 1978 and 1979. Other credits include: 1987 New Jersey Duck Stamp, 1988 North Dakota Duck Stamp, 1988 North Dakota Salmon and Trout Stamp, 1989 North Carolina Duck Stamp, 1990 Alaska Duck Stamp, 1990 West Virginia Duck Stamp, 1991 Oregon Waterfowl Stamp and in 1986, 1988 and 1991 he won first place in the Ward Foundation World Championship Wildfowl Painting Competition.
Frisino currently works as a full time artist and lives in Glen Burnie with his girlfriend Mary Smith. Proceeds from the sale of the Black Bear stamp and other products are used to compensate farmers in Maryland experiencing agricultural damage caused by black bears. For more information or to purchase a stamp please call 410-260-8540 or visit us online at Black Bear Conservation Program
Posted June 23, 2004