Bonnie Shields • Idaho • waow
| Acrylics | Graphite | Sculpture | Mules | Horses | Western |
"I love mules. That’s why I draw ’em."
Women Artists of the West, Emeritus
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Bonnie Shields
Bonnie Shields is a well-known American Western artist known as, “The Tennessee Mule Artist.” She is especially famous for her detailed, humorous, and affectionate artwork focused on mules and donkeys. Her work stands out because it captures the personality and intelligence of mules, sometimes with narrative flair, sometimes with a cartoon-like twist.
Shields has been a professional artist since 1973. Working in multiple media, including pencil drawings, acrylic paintings, along with bronze and resin sculpture, her style often blends realistic imagery with humor and personality. She worked with Leanin’ Tree, a major Western greeting card publisher. Her work has been featured at Western art and mule culture events, and she illustrated the book, Jasper: The Story of a Mule. Shields, mounted on her mule, Iris, was featured on the cover, and had a major article published about her in Western Mule Magazine, October 2022.
Women Artists of the West
