Local art to grace new stamps

Photo: Contributed - Canada Post

A Kelowna artist has had two of her paintings selected by Canada Post for its new flower stamp series.

Laurie Koss was first contacted by Canada Post a year ago, and after going through its selection process has had to keep quiet about it – until now.

"It came right out of the blue," said Koss. "I thought it was a hoax at first, to be honest.

"I closed the email and carried on with my life."

But then Koss began to wonder if the request for consideration was legitimate.

"The man at Canada Post said he had seen my website and wondered if I was willing to submit images of my work for them to consider.

"I was in the middle of preparing for a show in Vancouver and said I couldn't possibly have two new originals ready by their deadline. But they must have really liked my paintings, because they extended the deadline by three months for me."

Koss said Canada Post let her know in June that her work had been selected.

"It was really exciting. But, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement, so I couldn't say anything until now."

The stamps will officially be released into circulation March 2. That week, Hambleton Galleries in Kelowna, which shows Koss's paintings, will also host a stamp unveiling event.

Koss said since her contact with Canada Post, she has also been approached by the federal government for another project, but she's not yet at liberty to reveal any details about it. She said it is expected the government will issue a press release on it in the late spring/early summer.