Chris Paul

Chris Paul is a Coast Salish Artist from the Tsartlip Reserve, near Brentwood Bay, BC.

He belongs to the Saanich People.

Chris' experience and admiration for Coast Salish Art began in his youth. Being apart

from the Tsartlip people, Chris had many parts of his culture to draw from; language,

songs, stories and rituals, each imprinted his being. Events and ceremonies moved

Chris to understand more about himself and his culture, and see it through an artistic

eye. At twenty-six, he was invited to apprentice with Floyd Joseph. Many projects

watered the seeds of discovery for Chris as his experience with Floyd brought him

further into the world of West Coast Art. He hungered for more understanding of this

ancient art. Chris studied the art of Charles Elliott, Susan Point, Mark Preston, Joe

Wilson, Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, and Roy Vickers.

That same year, 1995, Roy Henry Vickers appeared on Chris' family property. Roy and

Chris' friendship grew quickly. Roy's art and level of excellence moved Chris to request

an apprentiship. Roy's initial proposal to Chris was to attend the native art school he had

graduated from 30 years prior, 'Ksan. At thirty, and after a year at 'Ksan in Hazelton, BC,

Chris and Roy embarked on their journey together. As Roy's apprentice, Chris learned

to refine the art he saw, to explore and create. He was taught to manage and market a

business, and to do the thing he loves. It was an intense learning curve and after two

years he was ready to branch out, to discover his personal style and expression. With a

new sense of courage and more experience behind him, Chris decided to explore within,

to pull upon the roots of his creation, to bring it forth into the light