Born in a simple rural family. This was on 17 February, 1937 in the village "experimental Field" Totsky district of Orenburg region. The village is long gone on the map – it is preserved only in the retentive memory of the artist, his sketches and pictorial sketches, are so good the memory of former villagers.
Great teacher – nature! Nicholas from his youth and studied, primarily from native forest, by the river Pogromcy, the vast space, which began just under my feet. It coincided with his fishing Hobbies, and he is an avid fisherman and very creative. Dedication, observing nature, creativity have helped him in the work.
In the fifties Nikolay Shumkin first became acquainted with a travelling exhibition of the Orenburg professional artists. Alexander Ivanovich Ovchinnikov gave a novice painter your study, talked about the work and invited to Orenburg on practical study. In 1960 the young artist first showed his landscapes and portraits at the city exhibition in the near city of Buzuluk. Already his first work was a success with viewers.
Nikolai Petrovich soon graduated from the Moscow folk University of arts. N. To. Krupskaya. And in 1966 – the graphic art faculty of the Krasnodar pedagogical Institute. And since 1967, the artist lives and works in Togliatti. Arriving in this city, the artist witnessed his birth and growth. In 1969 the local newspaper was first printed picture of Nikolai Petrovich "classes in the art Studio". Soon the artist presented a press card, and he began to cooperate with Togliatti, Samara and Orenburg press. Designed and illustrated books.
Gradually Nikolai Petrovich Shumkin has become a recognized artist-teacher. He led the art Studio at the Palace of pioneers, taught students at the art-graphic faculty of the pedagogical school, he taught painting at the pedagogical Institute. First, he was awarded the medal "For valiant labor", then was awarded the title "excellent worker of national education". Many of his students are successfully working in different fields of art.
Nikolai Petrovich is a faithful heir to the traditions of Russian national landscape. In his oil paintings, and engravings of the artist embodied his admiration for the beauty of the native nature. Many paintings of them written in Italy (Florence and Rome), in Bulgaria.
The main place in creativity is dear to the heart of the lyrical landscape where the artist sensitively conveys the special atmosphere of the Orenburg and Volga expanses – Swan lake, the river Samara, Volga, Borovoy Meadows, Shiryaevo, embodied simplicity and truthfulness which give peace, tranquility and harmony with the surrounding world. The artist made many sketches of graphic sketches, friendly cartoons and humorous drawings, a series of portraits of his contemporaries, still lifes. Work Shumkina already got its fame far from their native shores. The artist's paintings adorn private collections in USA, Germany, Hungary, Holland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Finland, Italy and Denmark.
