Marking his territory

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This article was published 26/02/2018 (2880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In some ways, it seems like Joseph Koensgen is following his dreams as nature intended.

The 33-year-old Southdale resident, who also describes himself as a naturalist and conservationist, has been selected as Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 2018 Artist of the Year for his painting titled Territory, which captures a moose in a misty morning scene.

Koensgen, who was raised in Birds Hill and attended River East Collegiate, joins some prestigious nature artists featured in DUC’s National Art Portfolio, and his submission is one of 11 pieces selected from hundreds of submissions across the nation. The artist of the year distinction is the collection’s top honour.

Paintings chosen for the portfolio are made into high-quality prints that will be showcased during various fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including different auctions and dinner events, organizers say. The money raised supports the organization’s wetlands conservation initiatives, scientific research, and education programs.

“It feels really good to be named artist of the year, and it’s a huge honour for me, both personally and professionally,” Koensgen said.

“To be selected among my peers, and some amazing Canadian wildlife artists, is a huge thrill.”

Koensgen now works as a full-time artist, having previously worked for nearly a decade as a barista at Starbucks, when he did art on the side. Having taken the plunge a few years ago, and have overcome a few early struggles, Koensgen is now living the dream doing what he loves every day for a living.

Having always had a keen interest in nature, and having an artistic talent that he’s been nurturing for as long as he can remember, Koensgen has long been artistically documenting the natural world he sees around him.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life, painting and drawing since such a young age. I’ve always enjoyed drawing and painting, and expressing myself artistically,” he said.

“I grew up in Birds Hill, so we were close to nature and outside of the city, and Birds Hill Park was nice and close, and Riding Mountain National Park was a few hours away. It was like my childhood playground, and a great place to grow up. Twenty or 30 years ago, Birds Hill was a different landscape, with lots of forest and open fields.”

From start to finish, the self-taught artist said it took him around three months to complete the acrylic-created Territory, although he wasn’t working on the piece the entire time. He said his involvement with DUC has yielded numerous benefits.

“Of course, it’s a chance to submit my work, but it’s also a fundraising initiative for the organization, which will turn my work into prints to sell to benefit wetland conservation. It’s also a great opportunity to partner with Canadian artists and share the beauty of our nation and raise money to help conserve our natural spaces, which is great for me, as I’m passionate about nature and conservation, and being able to partner with DUC has been great,” Koensgen said.

In terms of Territory, Koensgen said he’d thought about doing a large painting a moose for some time, but the perfect setting seemed to elude him.

“It wasn’t until a cool morning out in the Manitoba wilderness that I came upon this scene of a marsh full of mist being lit up by the early morning sun,” and the moose turned out to be the perfect complement to the scene.

And having had various shows in Manitoba, Ontario, and B.C., Koensgen said he is always grateful to enjoy the buzz that goes along with sharing a piece of his work.

“I don’t always get to meet the people that buy my art, but I’m always happy for whoever buys a piece, as it’s great to know that it will hopefully be hanging on someone’s wall.”

Go online at www.ducks.ca to see all the pieces in the portfolio, including Koensgen’s.

Go online at www.josephkoensgen.com to learn more about the artist.