
ABOUT JOSEPH GRICE
My name is Joseph Grice. I'm an illustrator from Jamestown, New York.
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My family is very creative, and I was surrounded by art and music throughout my entire life. I have always created images from as far back as I can remember. I would watch my mother and older brother draw and paint. I knew it was part of who I was, and that I would be doing it for the rest of my life. I became obsessed with books by Arnold Lobel and Shel Silverstein, bringing their influence with me into adulthood. I would also read through field guide books by Jamestown native, Roger Tory Peterson. His scientific bird studies would end up inspiring my most recent work. Spending much time in nature would give me an appreciation for wildlife, and a desire to continually connect with nature through my work.
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I graduated with my AS from Jamestown Community College in 2007, and received my BFA from SUNY Fredonia in 2010. My concentration was in Fine Art, however my love for illustration has continued to have an influence on the style and look of the work I create.
My primary subject matter for the past 10 years has focused on birds. I feel as though birds are like living paintings, with their bright colors and patterns, I am always in awe of the complexity that each species displays. I also feel as though birds represent a certain type of freedom that humans are fascinated by and possibly long for in some way.
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After teaching at a fine art studio in Charlotte, NC, I have since relocated back to my hometown of Jamestown, where my wife and I had our first child and purchased our first home.
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In September of 2022, I completed an artist residency at Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and had a solo exhibition there from June-October 2023. I was able to study Roger Tory Peterson's original works spanning his entire career from the 1930s through the 1990s. I created a series inspired by my findings at RTPI, and have gained a lifetimes worth of perspective and inspiration from the residency.
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My latest work holds up a mirror to allow us to see the traits that we see in ourselves, reflected in the birds that surround us. Choosing a conceptual, story-telling approach to ornithological illustration that balances the aspects between traditional scientific imagery and contemporary art.
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This website contains a collection of my finalized work, as well as samples of landscapes, charcoals, and digital work, but if you would like to see my ongoing work in progress, feel free to check my facebook and instagram.
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If you wish to commission a new artwork, please contact me at JosephGriceArt@gmail.com, or fill out my commission request form HERE. Visit my Shop for original works, calendars, prints, and other merchandise.
I am currently represented by the supportive staff and ownership of Art Cloth & Craft in Jamestown, NY, and at Painted Finch Gallery, in Corry, PA.
My current membership includes:
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