Spring-2023

Her early years weren’t ideal; she overcame a challenging childhood and teenage homelessness to arrive at her current level of achievement. She had her sights set on this career path at a tender age.“I lived with my grandparents in Ecuador for a time,” Schuler says.“I did a little crayon drawing, and my kindergarten teacher was ebullient about it. When you find someone in your life who gives you a little bit of praise, it can fill your soul.”That encouragement set the course of her life. “I wrote a letter to my parents back in Chicago, saying that when I grow up, I’m going to be a famous artist, have my work in museums and drive a Rolls Royce—because those cars have my initials all over them. I was five.”The first two goals have been met: how about the Rolls? “I’ve driven one,” she laughs . Schuler sold her first painting to a fellow high school student for $150. Realizing that it was possible to earn money with a paint brush, she started randomly calling businesses, offering her art services. “That’s how it started. It was all commission work and that segued into decora- tive painting. Some would say, ‘Well, I don’t want a painting, but can you make this wall look like marble?’ ‘Sure. I can do that.’” And she was very good at it. “There was no style I couldn’t emu- late.” Soon she was the “go to” for restaurant and nightclub decor. “I did some massive stuff: whole sides of buildings, a 40-foot-tall bas relief sculpture that framed the entrance to a night- club…I had a blast. It was the best education.” Schuler has recently partnered with Relativity Textiles to create wallpapers and custom fabrics that feature her iconic imagery. “Uma,” 2013, solid bronze, 10.5 x3 x 3 in. Schuler’s first attempt at transforming her work into three dimensions using clay led to an entirely new way for her to express her creativity. 108 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 3