Biography

Karyl Shields

A line, courageously - authentically drawn 

with utmost sensitivity can bring me to my knees.

 

    Once called ‘a painter’s painter’, Karyl Shields considers this to be her greatest compliment. To be able to observe and distill a subject’s essential emotional expression through its visual qualities is a gift she has been graciously given. To then recreate it’s visceral sensations through carefully chosen art materials and methods is a talent she has developed.

            Shields started her design training as a graphic designer out of college. She later illustrated products for LeeWards Craft (now Michaels Crafts). It was here she observed the power of line and its ability to express beauty in ink and graphite. When LeeWards was sold, she found herself as an art director and book illustrator for an educational software company working in oils, watercolor and acrylics. Shields continues to enjoy the role of a designer through her commissioned paintings.

            Additionally, she works plein air. “There was a point in my painting journey where I knew I had to paint more, but wasn’t willing to give up a beautiful day to be outside. My compromise was to haul all my materials out into the garage, open the doors, and face the outside as I worked off my easel. The subject was irrelevant, as long as I could feel the sun and hear the birds.” This move led her to enter plein air competitions, offering educational workshops and manage a social media page for plein air painters.

            Wanting to share her years working in illustration and design, Shields turned to teaching for 15 years in public and private schools along with presenting workshops through local colleges and art organizations. 

Education continues to be a part of her career along with designing commissioned work. However, landscapes will always hold a special place for her in the studio. It is here Shields is able to express her enduring love for the outdoors.

email: shieldskaryl@gmail.com

Recent Exhibits

Master Teachers, Prairie Arts Council, Rensselaer, IN, 2021

Chicago Pastel Society Member Show, Des Plaines, IL, 2018

Land Conservation, Artists, and Art, Workshop at McHenry County Conservation District, 2013
Spirit of the Land, Woodstock Courthouse and Galleries, 2012, 2013
Landscapes! 2 person show, Harvard Public Library, Harvard, IL, 2011
Landscapes! 3 person show, McHenry County Conservation District, Crystal Lake, IL, 2010
One-Way Café, Wauwatosa, WI, 2010

Awards

Jasper Historical Society Purchase Award, 2022

Chicago Pastel Society Member Show, Honorable Mention, 2018
Best of Show, Northland Area Art League Member Show, 2006
People’s Choice, Northland Area Art League Member Show, 2006