Alan Shields' outlook was defined as the breaking down of traditional boundaries. His interest in grid systems and the manipulation of them was not altogether new, yet unlike other artists, they remained a constant element in his art. Shields' printed works were created from a variety of techniques: handmade paper, serigraph, relief, embossing, perforation, sewing, and found objects. In combining these elements with Shields' lyrical and playful sense of color, the total effect for the viewer is tremendous.