At 39 weeks pregnant, most women are preparing for quiet and rest. Stephany Kuchera was finishing a painting.
She had entered Ducks Unlimited’s prestigious Artist of the Year competition and was determined to complete it on her timeline, baby in arms if need be. After her son was born, she kept fitting in brushstrokes between feedings. “I was sitting with the baby in my lap and painting,” she says.
That devotion paid off in a historic way. In 2026, Stephany became Ducks Unlimited’s first female Artist of the Year, marking a milestone for women in a field long shaped by tradition. The honor recognizes emerging wildlife artists whose work reflects both technical excellence and a deep connection to conservation.
But the award is not the beginning of her story. It is the result of a lifelong relationship with art and the outdoors. “I’ve been drawing my whole life,” she says. “I just don’t remember not drawing anything that I would see.” Birds and landscapes spoke to her earliest instincts. “I found a lot of peace in it. I found a lot of peace in birds.”
That peace eventually led her into the field. What started as sketching waterfowl became thousands of photographs taken from blinds and wetlands, each one serving as a reference for later paintings. “I take thousands of photographs every year,” she says. Time outside did more than inform her work. It strengthened her connection to the habitats she now helps represent.
Her winning piece was technically demanding. “The water was a challenge,” she explains. “It changes constantly. There was just a lot of movement.” Every ripple required intention. At one point, her young daughter suggested painting one droplet as a tiny heart. Stephany did.
That small detail now lives quietly in the finished piece, a reminder that art, family, and conservation are intertwined.
Stephany has long donated artwork through her local Ducks Unlimited committee, helping raise funds for habitat protection. “Being able to contribute to conservation efforts by creating something and then donating it and raising funds that way was just amazing to me,” she says.
By day she teaches elementary art in Franklin, Texas, encouraging students to keep improving and keep trying. “It’s okay if you get third place, fourth place,” she reminds them. Effort matters.
Stephany did not wait for perfect timing. She painted through pregnancy, through newborn nights, and through doubt. In doing so, she widened the path for other women whose creativity may be their own way into conservation.
Watch the Ascend episode on Ducks Unlimited’s YouTube channel to see how Stephany Kuchera turns art into action.
Learn more at ducks.org/ascend.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
