Joshua Spies Wins Duck Stamp Contest!
Places and Faces
November 24th, 2008
Winning the Federal Duck Stamp Competition is a BIG DEAL! Well, I take that back. It is a HUGE DEAL! It is the largest wildlife competition in the world. This was the 76th year of the competition and it drew 270 entries!
Now, you ask, why would I even be aware of this? It is because this year’s winner is Joshua Spies from Watertown, South Dakota – the first born son of my cousin, Francene (Argabrite) Spies. I’ve followed Josh’s artistic pursuits since he was little. My husband and I have proudly hung some of his works in our home and people are amazed at his perfect detail.
The competition was held October 17-18, 2008 in Bloomington, MN. Josh and his wife, Heather, and their young son, Sam, along with Josh’s mom attended the event. Josh was not going to jinx his chances so showed up casually in a pair of jeans and boots at the judging event.
There were 300 people at the event and you can imagine the Spies’ delight when H. Dale Hall, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced Josh’s name in front of the crowd. I guess those jeans worked!
Some artists have entered as many as 20 times into the competition. Josh has entered this competition before and in 2003 and 2008 he won the South Dakota state competition.
Second place in the contest went to Jim Hautman, of Chaska, Minn., who painted an acrylic of a pair of Canada geese. He has been the proud 1st place winner three times - 1990, 1995 and 1999. Third place went to Gerald Mobley of Claremore, Oklahoma, who painted a pair of northern shovelers in acrylic. Mobley’s art was featured on the 1985-86 Federal Duck Stamp, and he is a multiple winner of the Oklahoma waterfowl stamp competition.
This year’s winning painting will be featured on the 2009-2010 Federal Duck Stamp. The stamp goes on sale in late June of 2009. The amazing thing is the Federal Duck Stamp sales bring in approximately $25 million every year which then funds wetland habitat acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System. This contest, run by the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, is the only federally sponsored juried art competition.
Duck Stamps, displaying Josh’s winning art, will go on sale at post offices, national wildlife refuges, some national retail chain stores, and various sporting-goods stores nationwide in late June of 2009.
All waterfowl hunters need to purchase and carry with them the current year’s Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp which is often referred to as the Duck Stamp. Many collectors purchase the stamp in order to support habitat conservation. All but 2% of the proceeds (out of the $15 cost) goes to Migratory Bird Conservation which, in turn, supports wetlands acquisition for the refuge system. Since its beginning in 1934, the funds have raised more than $1,000,000,000 ($1 billion!) to acquire and protect over 5.2 million acres of wetlands.
To see the top three winners for this year’s competition, click here.
For those of us personally familiar with your work, Josh, it was clearly just a matter of time before you won this competition. Your depiction of the long tailed duck with decoy is spectacular. I have had fun showing it to people in Redding – friends and peers at work – they are amazed at how real your work looks and the water is absolutely fluid. We understand we will be able to purchase a signed piece so please put Mark and me down.
I also want everyone reading this to be aware of your website. Your other work is stunning. You have shown tremendous growth over the years. Your U.S. wildlife is captivating and now your African wildlife has gotten our attention big time…we are planning our first African trip in 2009.
I always knew you’d be recognized. To have received this honor at the age of 35 has no doubt thrilled and humbled you at the same time. May you have many more years of producing such wonderful works, Joshua Spies!
Please feel free to share this post with all your friends and family who have an interest in wildlife and art. Josh is one person who will be fun to watch over the years. If you haven’t heard about him before, you know about him now and will hear more about him in the future.
Count me, ReloMary, in as one proud relative and keen admirer!
Josh and Heather's son already showing interest in art!
.
Sphere: Related Content
Congrats to Josh!! What an honor!
I will admit that when I first looked at the picture I thought “what a great photo!” (as in camera) He is truly deserving.
Thanks for sharing this and the wonderful talent that Josh has.
Liz
ME2 Railroad Services
http://www.me2rr.com
What beautiful work. It is actually breathtaking. One must look very closely to see which is live and which is not. Very deserving winner.
Thanks for sharing!
Jill
Pretty amazing indeed! I am pleased to share this with those who are into wildlife and those who appreciate this high degree of artistic talent.
Very beautiful! Congratulations! Now let us see some art of the little one, I bet it is great!
Congratulations, Josh. The colors and the water are very striking -
as are the ducks themselves.
All my best to you and your family.
Elaine Springer
(linkedin contact of Mary Lascelles)
I enjoy looking at art when recreated as if it where a picture taken with a camera Congratulations.
Jack
Josh you are an amazing artist! I plan to share this information with all my “artistic” friends in Redding and they too will pass it on to others I am sure.
You are to be congratulated….such a light touch and the movement of the water is so realistic…..a joy to look at.
Our best to you in the future and Mary will keep us posted on anything else you do….Maybe someday you can do an art show right here in Redding CA .
A friend of mine, a gentleman who lives here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, has entered this contest numerous times. He came close a few years ago.
Congratulations to Josh!! It is a huge honor and well deserved.
I will be sure to buy the stamp when it comes out.
Very good picture, well done!
Absolutely stunning work!
You have every right to be proud of this young man and his artistic accomplishments!
Great work Josh…
Congratulations on your award. Seeing your excellent work is our reward.
Cheers,
Tom Napier
Mary, I am so pleased for Josh. Art is a beautiful expression of life and his work is extraordinary. Gifted would be the word. Congratulation to Josh and his family. I’m checking out the website….for sure.
My first thought, Josh, was to wonder how long you had to wait for a live bird to get that close to the decoy. Congratulations! This is beautiful work.
Wow! I’m not surprised at all. This kind of tallent runs deeply thru this wonderful family link. Josh, your painting is so wonderful to look at. I too would love to see some of your son’s work. I love kid art!!!
jane lascelles
Oops I mean talent!
Wow,
Excellent…
Congratulations, Josh. It’s an amazing piece of work
Thanks for sharing, Mary.
There is lots and lots of artistic talent in the Lehmberg family!!! Mary is a great photographer as well. And there is alot of talent in South Dakota. I am not surprised of Josh’s win.
What a beautiful piece of work. John James Audubon himself would be proud of a work with such exquisite detail. Kudos to Josh…well done.
Congratulations! Many prominent artists have gotten their start by winning this prestigious contest.
Jerry Sublett, friend of Mark, Mary, Willy, and Scott and a member of Linkedin
Very well done Josh!
Congratulations!!!
I’ve always been amazed at the wonderful works the competition draws. What an honor for an artist with such great talent! Keep it up!
Greg Balkovek, friend of Mark and Mary.
Awesome Mary !
I’m on my way to the post office. The Philatellics out there must be drooling over this.
Regards,
Dave
Very cool indeed. As an artist, I can appreciate the thrill that must be going through him!
Scott
Congratulations Josh. Creative types compete for attention with so many other great artists so it is always wonderful to be recognized for one’s work. May this recognition inspire you to even greater things in the future–I am sure that it will.
Wow ….I can’t believe it’s not a photo …I am astonished by the realism ….and not surprised that the family tree has such talent …..well done..
It is great fun to see all the comments. I hope you will tell others to come here and view the post and leave their impression of Josh’s work. Think of all your bird hunting friends or those who love great artwork! Feel free to share the link.
http://shasta-relo.com/2008/11/24/joshua-spies-wins-duck-stamp-contest
Such a beautiful picture - the detail is so perfect I was sure it was a photo. Mary, thank you for sharing his work.
What a winner! I can see the creative talent runs in your family.
Thanks you for sharing.
My sincere congratulations and what a wonderful event that actually has the ability to also help the wet;ands of our nation.
And thanks for the comment about the decoy duck.
I thought something was amiss, nope it was his talent and cleverness.
Absolutely Stunning work! CONGRATULATIONS!
I don’t know if I can explain this, but as a creative person (mine is music) we actually put pieces of ourselves into our works. What you see is actually a portion of our hearts and spirits, and being acclaimed for this work touches the heart in ways that are indescribable. Josh, I love the pieces of you that I see in this (and I’ve never met you) and it is a joy to behold. Many more years of beauty I wish for you!
Doc
Josh, congratulations! Your painting is beautiful and so life-like. What a tremendous honor for you to have your artwork displayed to the world in this way. I suggest that you hold onto those jeans!
Best Wishes,
Mary
With the dry weather conditions being so bad, the stamp may be the only duck a hunter will see.
All joking aside, I must say this is one of the most detailed pieces of work I’ve ever seen. I have been hunting ducks for over 40 years.
Wow! how wonderful. We visited the de Young in San Fran over the weekend. Art is food for the soul. I love it and what a cute kid too.