Interview
Shannon Carla King
A Canadian artist raised on a farm in Alberta, Shannon has travelled coast to coast throughout Canada. She is inspired by the snow in the Alberta foothills, the giant cedars in BC and the colors of the east coast. Her passion for painting began almost 40 years ago, at the age of 13.
Shannon’s artwork demonstrates how contrast and light tell a story about the landscape that has shaped Canadian farming and industry settlements. As an oil and gas professional, Shannon strongly supports the efforts of Canadian Energy as the most ethical, responsible, and regulated energy in the world.
Shannon’s art is characterized by whimsical names and pockets of light. She is strongly committed to increasing awareness of responsible environmental management and cherishes the majestic country we live in. Her love of the outdoors and forests shows in her dedication to representing them with big, bold colors.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’ve been creating and selling art since I was 13 years old. I grew up on a farm in the foothills of central Alberta, and painting was my pastime, outside of doing farm chores. The local community encouraged me to paint, and I entered paintings in the annual Agriculture fair where my ‘followers’ soon began to contact me for commissions.
For the past 35 years, I haven’t had the privilege of being a full-time artist. Like many other creative people, I’ve had to juggle and struggle to allocate time to feed the inner artist. Persisting to find a way to create art full-time is a tough gig. The ability to advance my art career as a self-taught artist came with a dedicated pursuit to take on graphic design, illustrating and painting at every opportunity. For over 12 years, I built a small business by spending my weekends painting children’s murals in homes in western Canada.
My daytime career is in the energy industry, and a door opened when I discovered a purpose for my art: to educate others by depicting the beautiful landscapes created through reclamation in the energy industry. I’m a product of my environment, growing up in a small farming community and having a long career in the energy industry as well as in the arts.
My journey, although unique, is similar to others who’ve tried to find a way to create steady income, without compromising the drive to be creative. Creating art is expensive, and artists need to develop skills in so many areas to be successful. We have not advanced the art world to provide time and an income for artists to just be artists. They also have to be framers, shippers, web gurus, event coordinators, public relations experts and social media influencers. All of that takes away time away from the easel.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“I live in Calgary, Alberta, the hub of Canada’s energy industry. As a rural farm girl, a professional artist, an oil and gas employee for 30 years, and a strong supporter of the environmental reclamation efforts, my artwork combines all of my experiences to create awareness of the advancements industry has made to protect and reclaim sensitive areas.
The extent to which industry cares for the land through reclamation and other environmental initiatives is often overlooked in mainstream and social media. Climate change and paid protests have created polarizing views, and these conflicting views have often turned into extremely challenging conditions and political discourse. Today, it is difficult to engage in constructive conversations that include balanced viewpoints. I believe that through art, I can facilitate crucial conversations in a way that is unique and inclusive. Art can be used as a tool to advocate where reclamation typically does not have a voice in public spaces.”
“Reclamation, if done well, is invisible to the public.
By sharing paintings of current environmental achievements, I can help educate people on how industry continues to improve on protecting and supporting a sustainable earth for future generations.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I’m always seeking advocates of innovation. I’d love to partner with an organization that’s interested in new ideas for digital art technologies. I’m currently writing a book about Art and Authenticity to discuss the common struggles artists face when finding a unique voice in a world where we have infinite exposure to other’s art. With the proliferation of social media platforms and sensationalized art, I’m particularity interested in discussing how artists find a unique and genuine voice, especially when we’re bombarded with trending content created to titillate and entertain. The book asks artists to look inward and discusses, can we still create unique art?’”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“My day job as a project manager does not allow for anything other than a detailed plan of every step in the creative process. I am highly conscientious and use my five-year plan to tie all projects together behind the scenes. I believe that having a business plan and goals is paramount to treating my work with the attention that it deserves. Artists, especially women, should learn to edit the narrative, to ensure others understand that ‘your art is your work’. It is not a hobby or something fun that you do on the side. One way to change this perception is to have a strategic plan and share it so your supporters can help you. It’s very difficult to advance art career without help.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“My process starts with hours of research. I’m always researching new ideas for a new series, and calculating the best time to develop that series. The average artist makes less than $23 per hour, and time is precious. I’m constantly evaluating and prioritizing goals to ensure I create collections that demonstrate what humanity is going through.
I often create work on a crimson canvas. Red, the color of blood and fire, is associated with passion, vigor and vibrance.”
What does your art mean to you?
"My art means being true to myself, and this sometimes means addressing issues that aren’t easy to discuss. I take great pride in creating conversations where we can ask each other tough questions; where I can connect with people and still be authentic to my purpose. The goal of the GREEN series is to spread awareness of responsible environmental actions and reclamation. Creating meaningful collections is about helping others see current issues and topics through a different lens.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“My favorite piece is ‘No Net Loss Lake’. It was very difficult to find reference photos, as organizations did not understand why I wanted to paint it as a way to educate the general public on environmental innovation.
‘No Net Loss Lake’ is an engineered lake that was also impacted by wildfires. Its beauty lies in its resilience, and it’s now home to a biodiverse community of fish and wildlife. The energy industry’s greatest fault is not recognizing that they have to communicate environmental successes in a way that the average person can consume and understand. The average person’s concern about the environment is not reading oil and gas sustainability reports. We need to find a way to share advances in development and Canada’s high reclamation standards with those who care about the environment, and care about keeping a high standard of living.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve been exhibiting annually at the Federation of Canadian Artists in Granville Island, Vancouver BC since 2016. The Crisis exhibition in 2020 was a catalyst for finding true purpose in my work. It resulted in exposure through interviews with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Global TV BC, and Canadian Energy Centre.
My goal is to find partners and sponsors to transport and exhibit the growing GREEN collection in institutions across the country. I want to inform the public about the energy industry’s environmental and reclamation efforts, which reflect the highest standards in the world.
For additional commentary on the GREEN series, please go to the following media sites:
Canadian Energy Centre Interview and Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Context Podcast.”
