In a colorful career which spans 20 years, Canadian artist Carl Joseph Shinkaruk has attracted international acclaim and respect for a powerful, yet sensitive,  portfolio; one which is so richly steeped in his childhood roots on the Canadian prairies and the place of his birth,  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Shinakaruk’s well-traveled, adventurous lifestyle has taken him all over the globe.    Ultimately the travels of this prolific artist led him to the place he now ‘hangs his hat on ‘‘a little spread’ just outside  Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island.  “I got on my horse, headed west and didn’t stop til I hit water.”

Carl Joseph Shinkaruk’s thirst for adventure and new experiences, which began early in life, has proven unquenchable.   In retrospect, Shinkaruk has come to realize that these experiences have become the inspiration and the lifeblood of his work.  With great fondness he is able to reflect on those years of his childhood and adolescence and recall, with amazing ease, hot, lazy summers in which he lived an idyllic Tom Sawyer-like existence.

Childhood consisted of a life not with the distractions of today’s technological driven world, but with a child’s joyful recreation of a life-time 100 years past.   Shinkaruk’s was a childhood filled with cowboys, indians and choreographed attacks on crudely created  forts –  ‘cap firing six-shooters and home made wooden rifles were our joysticks and Play Stations”, says Shinkaruk,  “Cowboy hats and bathing suits were the usual attire. As I grew, so did my passion for the past, and it has never left me.”

Shinkaruk’s “gift”, as he calls it, was prevalent early in his life.  His mother recalls that when the young artist wasn’t playing cowboys and indians, he was drawing them or watching his heros, ‘The Lone Ranger’ and ‘Roy Rogers’, right the wrongs of bush-wackers and renegades.

Carl Joseph Shinkaruk’s career as an artist was not yet well defined upon completion of high school.  At the time, he says, being a “career artist was a very rare calling and somewhat of a mystery as to how one would even go about becoming one.  It was a blessing to have this ability, however, it wasn’t going to pay any bills” in his estimation.

“So as a result, I never had the desire to  study art formally.  In my opinion, creativity is not something taught.  We all have it inside, whether it be writing, singing, dancing, whatever…unfortunately for some, it is never discovered and released.”

Shinkaruk feels that his “eyes, observations and patience were my teacher” and that  “the development of my analytical viewing is what proved to be, and remains, my strongest tool as a painter.” 

Carl Joseph Shinkaruk wouldn’t label himself as a painter in the Western genre, although in the last few years his work has focused largely on western images.  He feels that this is such a romantic period in people’s minds and believes that everyone has a little bit of  ‘cowboy’ in them.  He feels that with the popular resurgence of Western art over the past few years, and the early influence of this era on his life, this has become the natural path for him to be going down at this time in his career.

Coming from a large and loving family, the cherished values of life and friendship were deeply instilled in Shinkaruk and have proven to be an important influence  throughout this prolific artist’s career, as witnessed in his diverse choice of subjects.  He recalls fondly that his childhood home was always the gathering place for grand social events and his friends were warmly “welcomed as siblings” in his home.  Shinkaruk believes that it is this “constant atmosphere of humanity which had such a strong bearing and ultimately molded my interest in becoming, primarily, a figurative painter.  Although I appreciate most types of art, my greatest admiration has been for people who paint people”, he says, “I had experienced international exposure very early in my career, my work being picked up by the prestigious Metropolitan Gallery in Hawaii and Japan.  It was there that my work was displayed with the likes of Norman Rockwell and Salvador Dali.  I was humbled and greatly honored.  I have tried to develop and remain true to my own style, however, I observe with a hungry eye the mastery of great painters.”

The magical realism of Carl Joseph Shinkaruk’s work continues to attract collectors worldwide and the use of his powerful images commercially is thriving.

“Through my paintings I strive with a keen eye and an honest brush, to present the frailty, beauty and strength that I observe in my subjects.”

The artist, Carl Joseph Shinkaruk, invites you to enjoy and share in the labors of his love.

November, 2005

Copyright, Carl Shinkaruk