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Josh TiessenAlthough I have experimented with a variety of subject matter, in my paintings I most frequently choose nature and wildlife, as I believe God created the world and I take delight in emphasizing its beauty, particularity and diversity. I especially enjoy unique angles on nature, animals and still life subjects. I am also fascinated by the weathering effects of nature and the elements on architectural structures as they age. The interaction between the natural world and manmade structures is of particular interest to me, often giving rise to metaphors which highlight truth, beauty and the longing for ultimate restoration in the world.
My "Josh Tiessen Studio Gallery," on the corner of King & Gray in Olde Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, is situated in a large sunroom at the back of my home with a beautiful and inspiring view facing the Niagara Escarpment. Every day I am treated to the sights and sounds of a wide variety of birds chirping away in my backyard as I paint. One of my favourite pastimes is hiking the Bruce Trail, which I can access on foot just down the road from my studio, and I especially love the many waterfalls and rock formations. I also go on hikes through the Royal Botanical Gardens with The Hamilton Naturalists' Club. I bike on the Waterfront Trail of Lake Ontario, which I can peddle to a couple kilometers from my home. Another place I frequent is the Eramosa Karst, a protected conservation land located a short drive away, and I am part of the "Friends of the Eramosa Karst" (FOTEK). Camping at Killbear Provincial Park on Georgian Bay is a tradition that I share with my family, and as a member of the "Friends of Killbear" I support the preservation of this vast forest peninsula and its surrounding islands. All of these places and experiences, backed by the first six years of my life spent in Russia and travels across Canada and to many other countries, provide an endless supply of creative ideas and inspiration for my work. My camera goes everywhere I do, recording subjects for future compositions.
My artistic style, referred to as contemporary high realism, best reflects who I am as a person because it combines the patient attention to fine detail with my experiences of interacting in the natural world. For this reason there is often a very personal story behind each of my paintings, however without this knowledge it is left up to the viewer to unravel the mystery of the scene. For those interested, all of the stories and descriptions for my paintings appear on my website with each image.
As stated, I capture all of my experiences with photos, using up to twenty as references for each painting. Sometimes I combine their elements into a composition on my computer. Other times I use my photos merely as resources to support the composition which forms in my mind as I work on a series of sketches. Each painting takes 200-300 hours to complete, but for me the process is the most enjoyable part.
The conversation between my subjects and their natural environments is very important to me, and I have increasingly given attention to environments in order to elevate them from mere backgrounds. I am especially interested in juxtaposing the contrasts that naturally occur in nature but are sometimes blurred by idyllic landscapes often seen in traditional art. Recurring elements in my work are surface textures and long shadows, which give rise to abstract shapes and accentuate the trompe l'oeil (trick of the eye) effect. A unique distinction that has become my trademark, is the non-quadrilateral shapes of my paintings and how the image continues in high realism detail around the 2" sides of braced birch, creating a truly three-dimensional work of art.
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Streams in the Wasteland: Occidental Babylon
(2017)
Spotted Hyenas
40 x 60 x 2 (inches)
Oil on Braced Birch
Original Available
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Hitchin' a Ride
(2016)
Belted Kingfisher
8 x 16
Oil on Birch
Original Available
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All rights reserved. All images and text © Copyright 2024 Josh Tiessen - Member of the Artists for Conservation Foundation (Formerly
the Worldwide Nature Artists Group) www.natureartists.com.
This site represents the original artwork (nature art and wildlife art) of nature
artist and wildlife artist of Josh Tiessen and is protected by international copyright laws. Use
of nature art, wildlife art or any other images or text from this site, requires
permission in writing from Josh Tiessen (Josh Tiessen Studio Gallery).
This site is part of the Artists for Conservation (AFC) Web site. (Wildlife
Art - Nature Art - Conservation) Artists for Conservation is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to
nature art, wildlife art and conservation. On this site you will find world-class
nature art and wildlife art by today's leading nature artists & wildlife artists.
The AFC site is the Web's premier location for nature art, wildlife
artists
All content appearing in pages featuring Josh Tiessen is the sole responsibility of Josh Tiessen. The opinions expressed on these artists' pages are those of Josh Tiessen and do not necessarily reflect those of the Artists for Conservation
Foundationi (AFC).
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