Emiel W. M. Schinkel is a contemporary wildlife artist whose passion for nature and art are vividly seen in his wildlife paintings. Painting in a very detailed fashion through the mediums of acrylic and watercolour enables him to capture the effects of sunlight and shade in the animal and bird habitats that are portrayed in his work. By experimenting Emiel intensifies both the mood and subject in his work and challenges viewers to look closely at natures' marvels. Born in The Netherlands in 1948 he graduated from the Famous Artists School, Amsterdam in 1968. Later through the Vrije Kunst Academie, The Hague, he widened his artistic abilities for illustration and fine art. Following his education he worked throughout Europe in a long career as a freelance children's book/magazine illustrator and cartoonist. Emiel has also taught extensively. Emiel continued to study and learn from works of old and contemporary artists from all over Europe. After studying wildlife art he began dedicating all his professional talents to painting. Seeing Rien Poortvliet's, John Seerey-Lester's and Robert Bateman's wildlife art influenced him enormously to dedicate his life to wildlife art. Since 1986 he has lived and worked in Ashford, Co Wicklow, Ireland. Artist's statement "My immediate surroundings -the Wicklow Mountains, woodlands, forestry, our farm and the Irish Sea - are the source of inspiration for my wildlife paintings, painted in a realistic style both in acrylic and watercolour." "In each painting/nature illustration I combine artistic interpretation and emotion to express how I feel about my subject." "For me, a moss covered rock, a majestic old tree, the piercing eyes of an owl, are fragments of lifetimes that are tied to my faith of the beauty of creation by God." "Working outdoors in all kinds of weather heightens the emotional charge in my work. I feel the sounds, smell and energy surrounding me are almost as important to the creative process as the visual subject." Solo Exhibitions 2000/2001 Waldock Gallery, Blackrock Dublin 1993 Het Rotterdamse, Kunsthart, Rotterdam 1988 Mixed Show, European Fine Arts Gallery, Dublin 1988, Mixed Show, Tinchel Gallery, Dublin Emiel has been honoured to be a guest at the Guinness International Cartoon Festival on two occasions, sharing the platform with many internationally famous and well-established artists. Commissioned works The Department of Marine and Natural Resources, The Tree Council of Ireland. Coillte - Series of nature illustrations and wildlife paintings Numerous private collectors and publishers have sought out his work. Publishings Emiel's illustrations have appeared in 63 Children's Books to date. Mr Terry Willers, TV personality/cartoonist for RTE. "I can honestly say I consider his work has great artistic merit, his quality of line, composition and colour go far beyond what one would expect for the work he is called upon to produce. I myself would use his work as a reference."