Mallards at Dawn6 1/2 Phillip Crowe's respect for wildlife began as a child, when he tagged along behind his grandfather and father hunting quail in southern Illinois. His mother encouraged Phillip to attend art school, after which he began a career in commercial art and advertising. He began to paint natural scenes as an escape from the high-pressure demands of his day-job, but soon, wildlife painting became his full-time career. Phillip Crowe has painted 35 state duck and conservation stamps, and dedicates much of his time and art to non-profit organizations