Raging Bulls
$1,450.00
Editorial View
The Gallery's Perspective
There’s a quiet companionship in this scene—the real long-tailed duck gliding beside a carved decoy—where careful observation becomes the pleasure. The artist renders both birds with crisp, natural detail: the living duck’s subtle warm cheek patch and pale eye contrast with the decoy’s subdued grain and painted joints, while the black-and-white plumage and delicate tail streamers read as elegant brushwork. Sunlight skims the water’s surface, creating cool, translucent greens and rippling reflections that give the image a gently moving, seaside air. Because the composition keeps the two figures close and similarly scaled, it suggests a dialogue between nature and human craft rather than competition, an affectionate reminder of hunting tradition and wildlife appreciation. At this modest size the picture feels intimate—a study to enjoy at close range where the careful detail and calm mood can be savored.
The Artwork
About Long-tail Duck with Decoy 2009 - 2010 Federal Duck Stamp SMALLWORK EDITION ON
Long-tail Duck with Decoy: 2009 - 2010 Federal Duck Stamp<br> SMALLWORK CANVAS EDITION
Winning the Federal Duck Stamp Contest is one of the most coveted honors a wildlife artist can hope to achieve. Add to that the creation of the first-ever Fine Art GiclTe Canvas of a Duck Stamp Print, and Joshua Spies has doubly made his mark in Duck Stamp History. Spies competed against 270 entrants in the 2008 contest that determines which image would adorn the 2009-2010 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. The program has been in place since 1934, when it was determined the stamp itself would act as the federal license for hunting migratory waterfowl. Since then this license evolved into a fund that has generated over $700 million to purchase or lease over 5.2 million acres of waterfowl habitat in the United States.
This inaugural release of a canvas edition of the Duck Stamp Print adds yet another legacy to the auspicious program which has helped to popularize the collecting of prints in the United States. The Canvas Edition is accompanied by two Federal Duck stamps, one in mint condition, the other signed by Joshua Spies.
This inaugural release of a canvas edition of the Duck Stamp Print adds yet another legacy to the auspicious program which has helped to popularize the collecting of prints in the United States. The Canvas Edition is accompanied by two Federal Duck stamps, one in mint condition, the other signed by Joshua Spies.
Collector Details
What to Know About This Piece
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About the Collection
Joshua Spies' contemporary realism captures surreal landscapes and hyper-realistic figures that evoke a profound emotional depth. His paintings blur the lines between reality and dreamlike imagery, where light and shadow play an essential role in creating atmospheric art that transports the viewer to otherworldly realms. Spies' figurative realism emphasizes the subtle details of human emotion and the environment, using vivid color palettes to enhance the narrative within each piece. His work invites viewers to explore the complexity of human nature and the surreal beauty of the natural world, combining dramatic realism with modern surrealism to create visual storytelling that is both haunting and captivating. Through his illusionary art, Spies pushes the boundaries of what is possible in both realism and abstraction.
Artist Signature
Signed by the artist
This piece is artist signed and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
Image Rights
Image copyright © 2026 by Joshua Spies.
Authorized Source
Authenticity & Documentation
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Limited-edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity when one is issued by the artist, publisher, studio, or authorized source. Open-edition pieces may not include a certificate; this does not affect their authenticity. The Collection Shop sources artwork through artists, publishers, authorized distributors, galleries, and other approved channels. Any additional documentation included with this specific piece will be noted above.
This young artist has had the example, encouragement, and help of some of America's best and most well known wildlife artists.... Terry Redlin, Terry Isaac, and Paco Young, among so many others have watched and encouraged Spies' career.
He is a Life member of Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Pheasants Forever, a Heritage Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited, and a member of the Safari Club International, National Turkey Federation, and the NRA.
Spies is one of six artists throughout the country selected for the 2003 Ducks Unlimited National Art Package, and was also a finalist in the 2003 DU International Artist of the Year competition. His art was selected for the 2002 and 2003 Pheasants Forever National Art packages, and his painting "Annual Descent" was awarded People's Choice Winner in 2002 at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep National Convention. Spies was also a finalist in two Federal Duck Stamp Competitions and recently placed first place in the 2003 SD Duck Stamp Competition. His painting, "Last Glance - Dall Sheep," received the People's Choice Award and the Artist of the Year Award at the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep National Convention in 2004 and his original, "Turkey Ridge," was selected for the 2005/2006 Ducks Unlimited National Art Package.
Additional accomplishments over the past year include having his artwork selected to be in the MGM movie "A Guy Thing", and having his artwork sold nationwide in Dillard's department stores with their Hemingway furniture collection. "Twentieth Century Fox" is using three paintings in their upcoming movie titled "Electra" starring Jennifer Garner. Spies was interviewed by People magazine, featured in US Art and Wildlife Art Magazine, as well as featured in "People to Watch in Year 2001 and Beyond" in the Sioux Falls, SD Argus Leader.
Spies' other notable achievements include receiving first place in the "International Artists Management" art competition in St. Petersburg, FL, as well as being a finalist in the International Art Competition of N.Y. miniatures and the South Carolina Waterfowl stamp competition. He excels in photography as well, and has competed and attended Kodak/National Geographic Hot Shots in Washington, D.C. and National Geographic Magazine's Workshop and Competition in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He was recognized for top photograph for the latter and was published by National Geographic.
Spies is a resident of Watertown, South Dakota.
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