Shana Ryback

Artist on VibrantCast

Born and raised in Chicago, I have been residing in the northern suburbs since 2012. I have been teaching Visual Art in elementary and middle schools in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs for over 25 years. I received my BFA in Art Education from the University of Illinois, where I first majored in Painting, and later transferred to Art Education to combine my love of creating art and working with children. I earned my M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University, researching ways to create a more authentic studio experience for my students, and reconnecting with my own artistic practice as well. A painter at heart, I have been working on personal collage, scrapbooking, sewing and DIY home-improvement projects while teaching full time and raising my 2 daughters. Last summer I picked up my brushes again and returned to painting, working from my home studio. I continue to scrapbook and sew, and also enjoy reading and traveling, and playing with Lucy, our havachon. Painting and drawing have always been my passion, since I was a little girl sitting by the TV drawing the cartoon characters I watched.

Artwork