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A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE 76th (2009-10) DUCK STAMP ARTIST

Joshua Spies received his college degree in fine arts from the department of Visual Arts at SDSU. During his first year, he received attention at a national art show at Bradley University for his work in pencil. Since then, he has chosen to be a painter and has developed a remarkable national career as a wildlife artist. The number of awards and recognitions he has received are too numerous to list. I wish to share my personal point of view about his artistry. A number of his paintings of wildlife carry emotional moods that strongly inspire admiration for the animals and birds he has studied. His wildlife art finds poetry in Nature, he communicates with his subjects. I see that Josh has discovered the same rapport that Southern Song Dynasty Chinese masters of painting achieved in their masterpiece paintings on animals and birds of Nature. Indeed, his work is more than an American painter, he is an international artist in the transcendent feelings his paintings carry.
- September 9, 2005, Dr. Norman Gambill, Head of Visual Arts, SDSU 

Joshua Spies, a national and international award-winning artist, grew up spending countless days observing wildlife on the vast prairies near Watertown, South Dakota.

His artistic abilities were obvious and came to the attention of Watertown native and nationally known wildlife artist, Terry Redlin. He has had the example, encouragement, and help of Terry, as well as some of America's best and most well-known wildlife artists ­ Terry Isaac, Paco Young, and many others.

Spies started his art business while earning his fine arts degree at South Dakota State University. His artistic growth and successes continued during his college years. Recently, SDSU chose to honor Joshua in their "You Can Go Anywhere From Here" campaign to honor the accomplishments of well-known SDSU alumni.

Joshua Spies has traveled the world observing and photographing wildlife.

His work has been honored and auctioned at very high value by numerous wildlife conservation agencies and organizations.

Joshua has been a finalist in the Federal Duck Stamp competition five times and won the competition in 2008 and was recognized as the Federal Duck Stamp winner 2009-2010. He has also been selected for the Ducks Unlimited National Art Package numerous times, and was a finalist in the DU International Artist of the Year competition. His art has also been featured in numerous other National Art packages.

Additional recent accomplishments include having his artwork selected to be in the MGM movie "A Guy Thing," and Twentieth Century Fox using three of Joshua's paintings in their movie "Electra" starring Jennifer Garner. His artwork was featured on the Outdoor Channel's "Wildlife Art Gallery." Spies had been interviewed by People magazine and featured in both US Art and Wildlife Art Magazines. The fall 2006 Wildlife Art Magazine named Joshua one of the top 16 wildlife artists, and Dallas Safari Club announced Joshua Spies as the winner of their prestigious 2007 Artist of the Year.

Joshua's most recent awards include being named the 2007 Dallas Safari Club Artist of the Year and also the 2011 Safari Club International Artist of the Year.

Joshua has helped raise millions of dollars for habitat and conservation. A dedicated conservationist, Joshua is a life member of the Foundation for Wild Sheep, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Safari Club International, Ducks Unlimited, Dallas Safari Club, and ISHA. He is also a member of Grand Slam Club, Whitetails Unlimited, Mule Deer Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, and the NRA.   www.joshuaspies.com

 
--------------------THE ART--------------------

Long Tailed Duck information to come later

--------------------THE STAMP--------------------

Plates Issued: Offset/microprinting, FWS Colors: Black, Cyan, Magenta,Yellow, Invisible Fluorescent. Artist: Joshua Spies, Watertown, SD Modeler: Joseph Sheeran Art Director: Laurie Shaffer,FWS Printer: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd. (APU). Printed At: Williamsville, NY First Day of Sale: June 26, 2009, Bass Pro Shops, Outdoor World, Nashville, Tennesee 37214 Issue: Seventy-sixth Federal Duck Stamp, Water-activated gum (WAG) $15.00, Item 334000, Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) Item 334100. Quantity 500,000 Sold: N/A.

First Article/Design and Production Sheets: WAG or PSA.

Inscription: Front - ARTIST: JOSHUA SPIES in four positions . Department of the Interior 20 x $15.00 in four positions. Silhouetted image of duck printed in Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow in two positions.

Back - Barcode: (334000) in four positions. Verso-text.