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The Art of Stamps

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

It’s artwork on a canvas the size of a postage stamp — because it IS a postage stamp.
Chris Calle of Connecticut started right after college, following in his father’s
footsteps.

“My father had designed, I don’t know, at that time, maybe 20 different postages for
the U-S and so, eh, I knew the art directors to send them to.” :07

and within 6 months Chris Calle had his first assignment, a Harry Truman stamp. Many
artists don’t like illustrating people, but not him.

“I love portraits, I love to really get into the nitty-gritty of someone’s face.” :04

But there’s a difference designing a stamp.

“You’re painting or drawing about five times the size of the actual postage stamp … You
have to  draw big but think small, how it’s going to be reduced on a postage stamp scale.”
:09

A stamp design involves many people.

“The people who come up with the concepts, the ideas. There’s the art directors who
hoose the artists. There’s the art directors who design typography’s going to be.”   :07

LdeV: “Have you been happy with all the results when the stamp gets printed, between what
you did and what shows up on the stamp?”

“Of course, I have. (laughs) No— generally, yes. Most artists know that there’s going to
be a little bit changed when things are printed, and for the most part, things have
worked out really well.” :15

These days, Chris Calle does more fine art than stamp designs, but you’ll still often
see him at major stamp collecting shows.

I’m Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.

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