Sandee Macgregor

art with a purpose

Art Class with Canadian Artist Josh Tiessen

Sandee Macgregor / April 22, 2023

If you’re a homeschool mom like me, you know how important it is to look for opportunities for your kids to meet up with others and explore their interests and talents. I’m constantly looking for ways to get my youngest daughter Katie out of the classroom and into the community, and just last week I found the perfect one.

Many years ago, I began hearing whispers circulating through my homeschool groups about a brilliant young artist who shares the gospel’s message through hyper-realistic paintings. It piqued my curiosity, so I looked him up. His work glowed with what can only be described as a presence, in much the same way as the art of Michelangelo and Van Gogh, and I was transfixed. As a child Josh Teissen was considered a prodigy, and he made waves across the country for the breathtaking detail in his work. I’ve been following his career for years, silently cheering him on as he’s gained more and more success, proud to have this true Canadian treasure in my own backyard.

So I was thrilled when my daughter and a group of her friends had the opportunity to spend a morning learning key artistic principles from Josh at his studio. The day began with introductions, and we were blessed to learn more about his story and the meaning behind his art. The girls learned so much about persistence and the creative process, and all of us moms were intrigued by this young man and his dedication to his work.

After our time in the studio, the girls had an art lesson under the shade of a backyard cabana, while the glory of the golden sunshine accompanied by unseasonably warm breezes had us reveling in the intoxicating combination of early summer and unfettered creativity. The girls left that morning with new insights, a piece of art made with their own hands, from their own hearts, and the opportunity to get to know a Canadian artist who’s passionate about sharing his God-given gift with the world. If you’re in the Stoney Creek area and are looking for ways to connect with your own creativity, I encourage you to book a time to learn from Josh! We were blessed beyond words to meet him in person and understand more about his life. It was an inspirational morning, and one we won’t soon forget! Thank you, Josh.

If you’re interested in booking a session with him for your own homeschool class (or just learn more about his life and work!), check out his website www.joshtiessen.com

This excerpt about Josh Tiessen was taken from his site: https://www.joshtiessen.com/about

“Josh Tiessen was born in 1995 in Moscow, Russia. He is an international award-winning contemporary artist based near Toronto, Canada. Tiessen is best known for his hyper-surreal shaped oil paintings, which take up to 1700 hours to complete, and reflect the interaction between the natural world and human-made structures, drawing upon his studies in philosophy, theology, and environmentalism.

As a young artist Tiessen was designated one of the world’s top ten prodigy artists by Huffington Post, and the only known male art prodigy in North America by Dr. J. Ruthsatz, global prodigy expert. As a teenager he was juried in as the youngest member of International Guild of Realism among foremost realist artists from around the world, Artists for Conservation and Society of Animal Artists, elite groups of the top nature and wildlife artists worldwide. Art Renewal Center designated him Associate Living Master, and New York based gallery Jonathan LeVine Projects awarded him First Place from 2000 artists in their international competition Search for the Next Great Artist. LeVine presented the emerging artist’s debut international solo exhibition “Streams in the Wasteland” in May of 2019. His next solo exhibition “Vanitas and Viriditas” will take place at Rehs Contemporary Gallery, opening April 2023.

Mentored by masters like acclaimed Canadian artist Robert Bateman, Tiessen has exhibited his work since 2006 in over 100 exhibitions including the National Gallery of Canada and prominent galleries and museums in the United States, Australia, and U.K. He has sold over 170 original works and hundreds of limited edition giclée prints to private and corporate Canadian and international collectors.

Featured over 200 times in the press and media (Forbes, American Art Collector, International Artist), speaking and teaching at 60 venues, and making 90 invited art donations to charitable organizations, Tiessen established the Arts for a Change Foundation. His work is the subject of two art monograph books, Josh Tiessen: A Decade of Inspiration (2016) and Streams in the Wasteland (2021), a multi-disciplinary project with composer Zac Tiessen, which CTV National News called a “masterpiece.” This prolific artist has garnered over 60 awards and honours including International Guild of Realism Creative Achievement, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Canada’s Top 20 Under 20, for his artistic accomplishment and philanthropic work.”

https://www.joshtiessen.com/