A Canadian painter, printmaker, draftsman and educator, Karl Spital was born in Herne, Germany. He immigrated to Canada in 1951 with his parents; grew up in Coates Mills, New Brunswick; and currently (2020) lives in Moncton, New Brunswick. His works are in several Canadian museums including the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

His mediums include acrylics (he is allergic to oil paint), watercolors, pastels, pencil, graphite, charcoal and etching. His subjects include portraits, genre, and rural landscapes. His style is Realism.

His art education includes studies at the Saint John Vocational School, New Brunswick (c.1960 – 1962) under Fred Ross and Ted Campbell; and, attended the school of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art in Montreal, Quebec.