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 FoundationB次元官网网址檚 winner of its Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition for 2023-24.

B次元官网网址淚 was very excited as I have definitely tried before but this is the first one thatB次元官网网址檚 made it,B次元官网网址� she said enthusiastically following the win.

B次元官网网址淭here are some absolutely fantastic artists that submit to this. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why itB次元官网网址檚 such a pleasure to get, because we have some really wonderful underwater specialists in B.C. that paint only underwater, so itB次元官网网址檚 very exciting.B次元官网网址�

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 foundationB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淔or me the chinook are my favourite just because they have the real sheen B次元官网网址� especially in their midlife coat, they are just a gorgeous fishB次元官网网址� They are beautiful, full-bodied. TheyB次元官网网址檙e just a very powerful, impressive fish.B次元官网网址�

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 FederationB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址� 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 doesnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate. Robert Bateman is at the top of the list.

She said sheB次元官网网址檚 been fortunate to meet him a number of times over the years.

B次元官网网址淣ow IB次元官网网址檓 really pleased IB次元官网网址檓 showing at the same places he is. WeB次元官网网址檙e both members of the Artists for Conservation group in Vancouver thatB次元官网网址檚 a worldwide organizationB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

And there are other artists she follows with B次元官网网址済reat enthusiasm.B次元官网网址�

Most of RogersB次元官网网址� art is from those B次元官网网址渨ow momentsB次元官网网址� when she makes eye contact with an animal, she explains.

B次元官网网址淚 think, oh, IB次元官网网址檒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 IB次元官网网址檝e had.B次元官网网址�

If youB次元官网网址檇 like to see RogersB次元官网网址� art, her website is www.valerierogers.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram under Valerie Rogers Paintings.

B次元官网网址淏ig artB次元官网网址� is something she loves to do. Like a six-foot moose, for example.

B次元官网网址淚 love it when somebody wants something really impressive for their home.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 ever-changing and thatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

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