Washington State Quarter Finalists

You might recall that last October I posted my submission for the Washington State quarter design.

The Washington State Quarter Advisory Commission [SQAC] took in hundreds of submissions both visual and descriptive, and came up with a handful of narrative designs which they in turn submitted to the US Mint.

The US Mint took these narratives and created three designs which are now available for public consideration at the SQAC website. Soon the public will have the opportunity to cast their vote on these designs to select which one will make it onto the Washington State quarter for 2007.

I’ll always be a Washingtonian at heart, and I intend to vote! After looking at these designs, I can’t help myself – I’m in love with the orca whale in Native American design. Despite the absence of trees, I feel that this quarter not only conveys much of what I love about Washington, but it also gives a nod to the Native American cultures which are so important to America. I only hope that this design passes muster among Northwest Native Americans. It seems to be a sort of hybrid design, but it is nonetheless unique.

Take a look, and decide for yourself!

Washington State Quarter Designs

Back in January of this year I decided that I wanted to create a design for the Washington State Quarter. Above is the final version that I sent to the Washington State Arts Commission. My design which you see here includes the following:

- The Coastal Rhododendron: Washington State’s flower

- The Western Hemlock: Washington State’s tree

- Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams: notable Washington mountains

- The Salmon: designed in the spirit of Northwest Native American traditions

- The clouds, rivers, and waters that keep our state “ever green”

[Each item was first drawn by hand, then scanned in, resized, and arranged on the quarter template.]

A few months later, Governor Gregoire established the Washington State Quarter Advisory Commission, whose job it was to sift through the designs they had received, comb through narrative ideas submitted online, and come up with about five narrative designs to send to the US Mint for drafting. Once those drafts come back, Governor Gregoire will make the final pick.

The final narratives announced on October 4, 2005 actually include bits of what I have drawn above... however, I was a little surprised to see that none of the design suggestions include trees!

True, a couple narratives include apples (I tried to get the apple in my design, but it just wasn't happening), but for being the Evergreen State, I would have hoped for at least ONE tree!!!