We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelsey Shields a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kelsey, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Realizing that I was meant to pursue a creative path happened to me more than once. The first time was in college. I was a freshman at Penn State majoring in nursing, but I had my eye on a Drawing 101 class that I wasn’t technically able to take. A friend felt the same way, and together we convinced the professor to let us join. It became clear almost immediately that the class we most enjoyed was drawing, and that revelation shifted everything. I changed my major to art education, which felt like a clearer and safer path at the time. I wasn’t particularly passionate about teaching, but it seemed like a more responsible choice than stepping straight into life as a working artist.
The second moment of clarity came years later while I was actually teaching. I stayed in the field for five years, but it never quite fit my personality. I ended most days completely drained. Painting was the only thing that filled me back up. I painted whenever I could, not because it was a hobby, but because it felt essential. When I finally decided to leave teaching, I landed where I was meant to. Pursuing art fully was the choice I had been avoiding for years because it scared me, but it felt like the only honest move forward.
Stepping into art as a career took time and courage, but each turning point made it clearer that this work has always been where I’m meant to be. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m so grateful for the way teaching equipped me for my art practice now.

Kelsey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Kelsey Shields Art has officially reached the five year mark. What began as a place for me to share paintings inspired by my outdoor adventures has shifted and reshaped itself many times. In the beginning, my work was closely tied to nature and the feelings that came from being fully immersed in it, especially on adventure with friends. As I’ve grown, this creative business has grown with me, often in ways I never expected. The last five years have been full of personal milestones: getting married, moving from Denver to the quieter town of Lafayette, and welcoming three kids, including a set of twins not long ago.
My life looks very different than it did when I first started, and the beauty in that is not lost on me. I don’t create as many plein air paintings as I used to. My work now leans into the nostalgia of a time when I felt more free, like the landscapes I once explored so often. Having the freedom to adjust my creative practice to the needs of my life, which is my top priority, has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey.
Moving forward with clear direction is a newer chapter for me. I used to chase whatever idea felt exciting in the moment, but recently I have had to get more clear on what my goals are. I’m now leaning into the parts of my work that support me creatively as well as financially.
Live wedding and event painting grew naturally out of my landscape work. Colorado’s breathtaking wedding venues made painting ceremonies beneath mountain backdrops feel like a seamless transition. Weddings and events have become a major focus, especially in this full season of life. Canvas paintings and guest portraits still make up most events, and I’ve also added a documentary-style service called Vignettes.
When event season slows, I turn back to collections and personal growth. Creating custom work and designing my annual calendar remain meaningful anchors. The 2026 edition will be my seventh wall calendar, which feels surreal and exciting.
Right now, I’m most energized by creating high-quality work with exceptional materials and building a thoughtful, high-touch client experience from inquiry to delivery. The behind-the-scenes aspect of my business has become surprisingly fun and creatively inspiring.
These first five years have shown me that growth rarely looks the way we expect it to, but following where the work leads has led to a creative life I’m deeply grateful for. Making time to rest and get inspired is another aspect of growth I’m leaning into!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My main mission, the center of everything I do, is to capture the beauty of the world around me. I am consistently drawn to it and feel compelled to share. I believe God gave me a creative gift, and using that gift brings me a deep sense of purpose and joy. Creating doesn’t feel optional. It feels like something I’m wired to do.
Everything in my business connects back to that. My commissions focus on preserving meaningful memories, whether they’re moments with loved ones or places that bring people a sense of peace. My prints, calendars, and personal work all come from the same desire to reflect the beauty I see in Creation and to acknowledge the Master Artist behind it. I know I’ll never replicate a moment exactly as it was, but I’ll always try.
Weddings and events bring everything full circle. It is uniquely special to paint a celebration of love surrounded by an incredible landscape. The joy, scenery, and people gathered together is such a momentous experience for the couple or hosts. My hope is that my work will continue to bring them back to the way they felt on that day for decades to come.
I do not imagine this mission will ever feel complete and I look forward to capturing more beauty that draws me, and collectors, in.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In my personal life, I’ve learned again and again that I don’t know everything and never will. There are always new perspectives, and approaching relationships and the world with that mindset has been both freeing and grounding.
As a business owner and a vendor in the wedding industry, the expectation can feel very different. The messaging we often hear centers on having all the answers, and I spent plenty of time trying to appear that way. Now I am learning how to balance being professional and confident in my expertise while still making space for the things I am figuring out.
Relearning color theory from a master painter, accepting critique, attending figure drawing classes, and continually refining my live painting process all keep me grounded. They remind me how far I have come and how much room there is to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kelseyshieldsart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseyshieldsart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelseyshieldsart/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kelseyshieldsart/

Image Credits

Sarah E Photo, Kelli Christine, Jordan Quinn