Collected Online Arts Magazine Interview
In the fall of 2022 Collected Online Arts Magazine approached Josh for an interview for their issue highlighting the significance of "blue." Josh led a compelling interview that goes more into depth about growing up on the coast and how that has moulded him into who he is and how that shapes his passions and how he creates his paintings.In our opinion, this issue has a great variety of artists and is definitely worth the read (and listen). Click this link to take a read.
Artists For Conservation 2022 International Exhibit of Art in Nature
Josh has been a member of the prestigious group Artists for Conservation for a couple of years. This year Josh decided to submit his painting "Amphitrite Point Morning Glow" for the 2022 International Exhibit of Nature in Art. This is an annual juried event in which this year only 40% of the submissions were accepted and only 1 in 5 were selected for the live event. Josh's piece was chosen for the live and virtual exhibit as well as the book of the 2022 submissions. This is very exciting news as it places Josh's work alongside some of the best nature art in the world. The event will be held at VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, Canada from September 22-25
AFC's International Exhibit of Nature in Art is the top conservation-themed art exhibit and sale. It's a rare opportunity for art collectors to buy original artwork by internationally acclaimed artists and directly support conservation work. Most of the artwork in the exhibit is for sale and ranges widely in price from $500 to $50,000+. At least 40% of proceeds from artwork sales benefits conservation and environmental education, and each artwork is dedicated to supporting a conservation organization of the artist's choice.
Signature Member of Artists for Conservation Foundation
From a young boy Josh enjoyed sketching animals and the nature around him up until after high-school. Around that time he taught himself to paint in acrylics, but this time was very brief as he got frustrated and quit. He often told himself and others he would never paint again and was not interested. Years later, in his late twenties he picked up a book in the Rocky Mountains about a big game hunting guide and mountaineer Jimmy Simpson who fell in love with wildlife art and would hire himself and his guiding services out to his favourite artists just so he could watch them paint his favourite big game animals.
This book gave Josh a renewed interest to paint and decided to get back into it, but to focus his work on the wildlife he loves. As a very passionate outdoorsman and a huge fan of Roderick Haig-Brown he decided to aim to use his work for wildlife conservation to give back. Re-learning to paint was not easy and did not come as naturally and smoothly as he hoped, but much frustration, trial and error, a lot of determination within a few months he was able to win first place in the 2019 Salmon Conservation Stamp competition which raises millions annually to support salmon enhancement projects.
One of the goals Josh had set from the very beginning was to work hard, always improve, and apply to become a member of Artists for Conservation. Artists for Conservation is the world's leading artist group supporting the environment and is a Canadian based international non-profit. AFC represents 500 highly skilled artists from 30 countries, in the nature/wildlife art genre, who are committed to conservation. Many of the world's most recognized names in the field are actively involved. Their mission is to support wildlife and habitat conservation and environmental education through art that celebrates nature. While not all are accepted, and with only a few spots available, Josh was recently accepted into the prestigious group in which he embarks on his journey as a conservationist.
2019 Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition
Every fall some of B.C.'s top wildlife artists compete for the image that will adorn the salmon stamp the following year and for $6,000 prize money. The winning image is printed as a stamp and a limited edition prints that also sell to raise money for the cause. Anyone, resident or non resident, who wishes to fish and retain salmon must purchase the stamp. It is attached to all federal saltwater salmon licences and all of the proceeds are returned to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for salmon restoration. Since the program was started in 1989, millions of dollars have been generated by the program for many projects aimed at conserving and enhancing Salmon and steelhead species.
This cause is particularly important and dear to me as not only as a conservationist, but also because as an avid fly fisherman the annual salmon runs are an event I eagerly look forward to all year. The salmon is also a major source of food for my family and because of my long family history regarding commercial Salmon fishing I jumped at the chance to give back. I decided to take my spring and summer and paint as many salmon pieces as I could, then choose the best one and submit it. The piece I ended up submitting was the first salmon painting I ever made. It was named “Untouchable”, I called it this in regards to the salmon being “untouchable” due to the salmon fishing closure for part of 2019, but also in respect to the Chinook being the “untouchable” king of fish and of salmon. It was important to display him in all his glory in his natural habitat, cruising the kelp beds hunting krill before his fresh water migration.
BC Outdoors Magazine
As BC Outdoors Magazine focuses on everything fishing, hunting, bushcraft, camping, and general outdoors lifestyle, the March/April 2020 issue of BC Outdoors magazine published a short article to announce the 2020/21 saltwater salmon stamp, which we know as Josh’s piece “Untouchable” and a brief background on him.
Campbell River Mirror
In early spring Josh was lucky to be featured in a lovely article in his local paper Campbell River Mirror. The article, which focused on his 2020/21 salmon stamp achievement, but also gave a glimpse into Josh’s personal life and a background on the artist and his immense passion for all things nature.
Island Fisherman Magazine
Another wonderful article focusing on Josh’s winning 20/21 salmon stamp piece “Untouchable” and insight into his personal life by Island Fisherman Magazine.