Turning pixels into purpose | How Josh Dykgraaf uses art to inspire conservation
Josh Dykgraaf is a visionary artist renowned for his breathtaking creations, where he masterfully layers and manipulates images in Photoshop to reveal the beauty and fragility of the natural world. His incredible artwork in his collection “Terraform” highlights species who need our help. For those passionate about art and conservation, this interview offers a window into Josh’s inspiring journey.
Could you tell us about the kind of artwork you create, and your process?
“I am a photographic manipulation artist – so I take photos of different things, like landscapes and different natural textures and then use Photoshop to develop these into a new form.
“Over the last few years my work has centred on my series “Terraform”, which explores the relationship between various animals and their habitat. Currently, my focus is on wildlife conservation and the effects of climate change on our world.
“To create an animal piece I’ll shoot a reference image of that animal, usually in the zoo, sanctuary or sometimes when I am out walking in the Australian bush. I’ll then pair that animal with a landscape or natural texture that speaks to its habitat or highlights an ecological issue – drawing a visual connection between species and the environment they depend on.
“I’ll then go out and take a bunch photographs of that material with my camera in nature.
“Using photoshop, I then layer that new texture over the original reference image, looking for photos that have the right shape, angle and lighting to match each part of that animal until I basically have recreated the form of the animal with the new texture.
“Each piece requires about 30-80 hours of meticulous effort, often involving thousands of Photoshop layers to bring the vision to life.”
Watch this video see how Josh creates his artwork!
Could you give us a background of any education, experience and how you became an entrepreneur?
Josh’s career path is a testament to the flexibility of creative careers. His career as an artist can be summed up into key steps:
- He initially pursued Architecture before pivoting to a different path by swapping degrees.
- Earned a Bachelor’s in New Arts Media with a double major in photography and graphic design at James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.
- Completed postgraduate studies in Communication Design: majoring in illustration at Fachhochshule Würzburg-Schweinfurt University, Germany.
- Gained invaluable experience working in commercial, illustrative advertising, and editorials for magazines as an illustrator, shaping the expertise he now channels into his conservation-focused artwork.
The takeaway? You don’t have to follow a linear path in your career. There are transferable skills in every job, and it’s okay to explore different occupations throughout your life.
What inspired you to start Terraform and what sort of message are you conveying through your artwork?
“The inspiration for “Terraform” came unexpectedly. I was working on an advertising project, searching through a series of shots and mountains for it, and I noticed that some of the rock formations looked a lot like the wrinkled skin of an elephant.
“So I had the thought – how cool would it be to make an entire elephant out of mountains?
“After posting my first piece of the elephant to Instagram, the positive response motivated me to explore more ideas. Leaves often have a similar shape and form to feathers, so how about a whole bird made out of leaves? Images of the Australian bushland look a bit like fur at scale, so how about a wombat made from bushland?
“Then the Black Summer 2019-2020 fires in Australia happened. The shocking headlines that came out projected that Koalas will become extinct in the wild in the next few decades, and I had a really strong emotional response to that. I realised the series I was developing could work as a great vehicle for raising awareness about climate change and conservation.
“For a lot of people in Australia, the fires were a signifier for them that climate change is getting very real. So, I took photos of the aftermath of the fires in East Gippsland’s Snowy Mountain National Park, and used those images to create the artwork in the Terraform series.”
Through the “Terraform” series Josh conveys a powerful message – highlighting the pressing need to combat climate change and protect the delicate balance of nature.
“The effects of anthropogenic climate change have been happening for a long time, but the greatest impact now and into the future will be felt by low-lying island nations the most. Climate change can cause impacts to freshwater supply, fish stock and coastal erosion. Rising sea levels could mean these island nations may disappear completely in the not-so-distant future.
Josh has also seen firsthand the profound effects on local species in the area where he lived in his formative years.
“The Gang gang Cockatoo is pretty special to me. I grew up outside Canberra, and Gang gangs used to be ubiquitous there. But their numbers have dropped by about 70% in the last couple of decades in parts of New South Wales (NSW).”
The Gang gang Cockatoo is a parrot found in parts of NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). They are classified as Vulnerable with their numbers decreasing. This population decline is a reminder that climate change is a global issue with local consequences.
Do you have a favourite piece in your Terraform collection, and is there a specific one that you really want people to understand?
“My favourite piece that I’ve made is the koalas, called Koobor. When I’ve exhibited it, people have been moved to tears. To be able to create an emotional experience for someone that strong, even if it’s a negative one is such a gratifying feeling. This piece was a signpost for me and where I changed course in the type of artwork I was creating.”
“The Bongong Moth and the Green Sea Turtle are two other artworks I’d really like people to understand. These creatures are endangered due to climate change and human activity, but without that grim metaphor like fire, it’s not as easy to translate the message quickly to others. But if I can get people to stop and look first, then they might read the information underneath and the real message behind the artwork.”
The Bogong Moth (Agrotis infusa) is an Endangered species due to anthropogenic climate change factors, like drought and rising global temperatures. The Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is also listed as endangered because of human harvesting, destruction of habitat, disease and rising temperatures are drastically altering its sex ratios.
What’s the most fulfilling part of being an artist?
“Being able to watch the experiences people have when they see my work, that’s an amazing feeling. My type of artwork isn’t always something that people are familiar with, so there’s a sense of magic and wonder about it. But also a big part of what motivates me is I’m able to spend my days photoshopping stuff, which I really enjoy.
“A career highlight for me would be the work I did during the 2019-2020 bushfires. My Koala artwork was on the front page of Reddit, and it was really gratifying. Moments like that make me want to keep using my art for conservation efforts. In the future, I’d love to collaborate more with conservation groups.
“I’m also a big believer in the idea that there’s no such thing as ‘just a job’. If you spend 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week doing something, that’s not just a job. That’s your life. So, why not make it something meaningful?”
What is the hardest part of being an artist?
There are two big challenges to consider in pursuing a career as an artist:
1. Income stability – “You need to get paid somehow – whether it is selling your work, getting grants, or external support, being an artist means thinking like a businessperson. Unfortunately this is going to influence your creative practice, one way or another.
“I’ve made it work so far with art fairs – trade show style exhibitions with 100+ artists and 10,000+ visitors. It’s a numbers game: I’ve found it’s the best way to get a lot of eyes on your work, you’ll never get that many people going to a gallery show. It is important to remember these fairs aren’t cheap to participate in, so there is always a gamble involved. Being an artist is a hard game, and not for the faint of heart.
2. Solitude – “I work solo almost exclusively, which can be lonely. So, I try to work in spaces with other creative humans. There are times where I’m part of a team where I work on projects for clients. Although most of the time, everything lands on me, good or bad. Working freelance, there’s always going to be peaks and drops in income.”
What are the key steps you’ve taken in your career that you’d recommend to someone wishing to follow in your footsteps?
“More than anything else keep creating, experiment, refine your ideas, and put your work out there for feedback.
“In terms of the business of being an artist and the career side of things, it’s not the same for every artist. There’s no one-size-fits-all path for artists; much of it depends on your medium, the message behind the work, how quickly you can produce good work – it all influences how successful you will be. As a rule, you need to make something that stands out in some way. Have your own spin, develop your own niche.
“While I studied graphic design, formal education isn’t necessary to be successful as an artist. Many of the most successful people I know didn’t go to art/design school. But for me, university was a great way for me to develop my skills, but I only really use a couple of core skills from my degree today. But, that said, I would certainly not be here without it. University was a safe sand pit for me to play in and conduct self-directed learning. My body of work today has elements and skills I’ve learned along the way in life.
“No one has ever asked about my education in the creative industries – they want to see your portfolio, so your work will speak for itself.”
It’s great to know that if someone is interested in pursuing a similar career like Josh, they don’t necessarily need an academic background. You can pursue a different path.
Would you like to see more of Josh’s amazing artwork and the difference he makes to conservation? Check out his Website and follow him on Instagram.
Want to hear more from other amazing conservation artists? Check out all our interviews with conservation artists on our Careers Advice Blog!
Keen to read more about conservation work in Australia? Read our interview with Maggie Muurmans, a lecturer at the University of Queensland and co-founder of the NGO Ocean Connect, or search our Careers Advice Blog for more interviews of conservationists working in Australia.
Want to learn more about a career in conservation communications? Check out our guide Conservation Communicator or explore other useful Ultimate Guides to working in conservation.
Featured image: Conservation photographic manipulation artist Josh Dykgraaf at an art gallery showcasing his work. Credit: Nicola Bernardi.
Author Profile | Rosie Dowsett
Rosie absolutely adores wildlife and is very passionate about conservation and companion animals. She has a Bachelors in Biodiversity and Conservation, with certificates and extensive experience in the Animal Care industry. She loves tea and spending time with her dog and two cats.