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害羞草研究所檚 winner of its Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition for 2023-24.

害羞草研究所淚 was very excited as I have definitely tried before but this is the first one that害羞草研究所檚 made it,害羞草研究所� she said enthusiastically following the win.

害羞草研究所淭here are some absolutely fantastic artists that submit to this. That害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 such a pleasure to get, because we have some really wonderful underwater specialists in B.C. that paint only underwater, so it害羞草研究所檚 very exciting.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淔or me the chinook are my favourite just because they have the real sheen 害羞草研究所� especially in their midlife coat, they are just a gorgeous fish害羞草研究所� They are beautiful, full-bodied. They害羞草研究所檙e just a very powerful, impressive fish.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檛 hesitate. Robert Bateman is at the top of the list.

She said she害羞草研究所檚 been fortunate to meet him a number of times over the years.

害羞草研究所淣ow I害羞草研究所檓 really pleased I害羞草研究所檓 showing at the same places he is. We害羞草研究所檙e both members of the Artists for Conservation group in Vancouver that害羞草研究所檚 a worldwide organization害羞草研究所�害羞草研究所�

And there are other artists she follows with 害羞草研究所済reat enthusiasm.害羞草研究所�

Most of Rogers害羞草研究所� art is from those 害羞草研究所渨ow moments害羞草研究所� when she makes eye contact with an animal, she explains.

害羞草研究所淚 think, oh, I害羞草研究所檒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害羞草研究所檝e had.害羞草研究所�

If you害羞草研究所檇 like to see Rogers害羞草研究所� art, her website is www.valerierogers.com. She is also on Facebook and Instagram under Valerie Rogers Paintings.

害羞草研究所淏ig art害羞草研究所� is something she loves to do. Like a six-foot moose, for example.

害羞草研究所淚 love it when somebody wants something really impressive for their home.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 ever-changing and that害羞草研究所檚 what害羞草研究所檚 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.害羞草研究所�

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