A spawning chinook salmon has earned renowned Salmon Arm nature and wildlife artist Valerie Rogers a prestigious honour.

Her painting, Rapid Ascent, is the Pacific Salmon Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 winner of its Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition for 2023-24.

香蕉视频直播淚 was very excited as I have definitely tried before but this is the first one that香蕉视频直播檚 made it,香蕉视频直播� she said enthusiastically following the win.

香蕉视频直播淭here are some absolutely fantastic artists that submit to this. That香蕉视频直播檚 why it香蕉视频直播檚 such a pleasure to get, because we have some really wonderful underwater specialists in B.C. that paint only underwater, so it香蕉视频直播檚 very exciting.香蕉视频直播�

Fisheries and Oceans Canada issues the Salmon Conservation Stamp, which is purchased and affixed to the licence of tidal water anglers who wish to retain any species of salmon. Those who want to keep chinook purchase the chinook stamp.

Fittingly for Rogers, all revenue from the sale of the stamps is returned to B.C. to fund salmon restoration and enhancement projects through the foundation香蕉视频直播檚 Community Salmon Program.

Rogers explains she and her husband, who is an avid fisherman, are both passionate about fish and fisheries and water quality. She admits to falling in love with her subjects.

香蕉视频直播淔or me the chinook are my favourite just because they have the real sheen 香蕉视频直播� especially in their midlife coat, they are just a gorgeous fish香蕉视频直播� They are beautiful, full-bodied. They香蕉视频直播檙e just a very powerful, impressive fish.香蕉视频直播�

She notes the chinook are missing the beautiful red of the spawning sockeye, and tend to go just a little red.

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Rogers has been the BC Wildlife Federation香蕉视频直播檚 Artist of the Year twice, and and once for the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia.

For the Pacific Salmon Foundation contest, the submissions were required to be anatomically correct but in the proper proportion to be reduced to a stamp. The foundation also recommended that paintings not be too dark or too detailed.

Rogers said although it seems it should be easy to paint the chinook with its nice tubular shape, the difficulty with a freeze frame 香蕉视频直播� in this case the salmon leaping up the rapids - can be a petrified look.

To challenge herself, Rogers paints at least a couple of fish every year in order to make them more realistic, more believable.

Along with recognition from winning the contest, she will also get a monetary award. She thinks there will be a limited edition run of prints of the painting.

Asked about heroes, Rogers doesn香蕉视频直播檛 hesitate. Robert Bateman is at the top of the list.

She said she香蕉视频直播檚 been fortunate to meet him a number of times over the years.

香蕉视频直播淣ow I香蕉视频直播檓 really pleased I香蕉视频直播檓 showing at the same places he is. We香蕉视频直播檙e both members of the Artists for Conservation group in Vancouver that香蕉视频直播檚 a worldwide organization香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

And there are other artists she follows with 香蕉视频直播済reat enthusiasm.香蕉视频直播�

Most of Rogers香蕉视频直播� art is from those 香蕉视频直播渨ow moments香蕉视频直播� when she makes eye contact with an animal, she explains.

香蕉视频直播淚 think, oh, I香蕉视频直播檒l go home and try to paint that. So I can have that same feeling as I look around the studio and can see all these wow moments that I香蕉视频直播檝e had.香蕉视频直播�

If you香蕉视频直播檇 like to see Rogers香蕉视频直播� art, her website is www.valerierogers.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram under Valerie Rogers Paintings.

香蕉视频直播淏ig art香蕉视频直播� is something she loves to do. Like a six-foot moose, for example.

香蕉视频直播淚 love it when somebody wants something really impressive for their home.香蕉视频直播�

Variety is also part of the appeal. The day of the interview Rogers had been working on gladiolas and monarch butterflies. Earlier, a wolf.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 ever-changing and that香蕉视频直播檚 what香蕉视频直播檚 fascinating about it. All the wonderful natural details you have to submerge yourself into, to make a piece of the art that brings the outside inside.香蕉视频直播�

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