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 Foundation91裸聊视频檚 winner of its Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition for 2023-24.

91裸聊视频淚 was very excited as I have definitely tried before but this is the first one that91裸聊视频檚 made it,91裸聊视频� she said enthusiastically following the win.

91裸聊视频淭here are some absolutely fantastic artists that submit to this. That91裸聊视频檚 why it91裸聊视频檚 such a pleasure to get, because we have some really wonderful underwater specialists in B.C. that paint only underwater, so it91裸聊视频檚 very exciting.91裸聊视频�

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 foundation91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淔or me the chinook are my favourite just because they have the real sheen 91裸聊视频� especially in their midlife coat, they are just a gorgeous fish91裸聊视频� They are beautiful, full-bodied. They91裸聊视频檙e just a very powerful, impressive fish.91裸聊视频�

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 Federation91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� 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 doesn91裸聊视频檛 hesitate. Robert Bateman is at the top of the list.

She said she91裸聊视频檚 been fortunate to meet him a number of times over the years.

91裸聊视频淣ow I91裸聊视频檓 really pleased I91裸聊视频檓 showing at the same places he is. We91裸聊视频檙e both members of the Artists for Conservation group in Vancouver that91裸聊视频檚 a worldwide organization91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

And there are other artists she follows with 91裸聊视频済reat enthusiasm.91裸聊视频�

Most of Rogers91裸聊视频� art is from those 91裸聊视频渨ow moments91裸聊视频� when she makes eye contact with an animal, she explains.

91裸聊视频淚 think, oh, I91裸聊视频檒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 I91裸聊视频檝e had.91裸聊视频�

If you91裸聊视频檇 like to see Rogers91裸聊视频� art, her website is www.valerierogers.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram under Valerie Rogers Paintings.

91裸聊视频淏ig art91裸聊视频� is something she loves to do. Like a six-foot moose, for example.

91裸聊视频淚 love it when somebody wants something really impressive for their home.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 ever-changing and that91裸聊视频檚 what91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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