Daily Inspiration: Meet Andrew Busch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Busch.

Hi Andrew, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve been in love with beauty since I can remember. In early elementary school, I fell in love with the patterns and complexities of math. The creativity involved in solving the problems drew me in. Later, I fell in love with art. Again, I enjoyed the creative process of creating something on a blank page.

I know it doesn’t work that way for most people but that’s the way it happened to me. I followed those two loves ever since. I graduated from Calvin University with degrees in both math and fine art. With my math degree, I teach at a local high school. With my art degree, I mostly paint impressionist landscapes. I make about 20 to 25 pieces a year and sell them to private collectors.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is any journey ever smooth? When I first started out as an artist, I tried to find inspiration within myself.

It didn’t go well. Often, I didn’t like the things I found. It made creating art feel like a struggle. I always enjoyed spending time in nature. When in the woods, I felt peace and contentment. Slowly, I made the shift in the focus of my art by painting the places I wanted to be. I pretty much fell into Plein-air and landscape painting by chasing joy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My current work focuses on landscapes. All my paintings are places that caught my eye; causing me to stop in the middle of the trail on a hike or to pull the car off to the side of the road (much to the chagrin of my children).

When painting outdoors, my work tends to be more Impressionistic with a recognizable place. When in the studio, my landscapes push a bit more towards abstraction. Sometimes they look like places. Sometimes they only hint at them. Either way, all of my work is rooted in a specific place. I’m interested in our emotional connection to the land. My imagination never seems to do the landscapes justice. What we find in nature is way more creative than anything I could come up with.

When people ask me about my art, they often wonder about the textures. Close up, it’s a different look than many painters. To achieve the depth and visual interest found in many of my works, I focus on layering the paint and mark-making. I paint with a variety of objects: palette knives, mason trowels, brayer rollers, my hands, and sometimes brushes.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters the most to me about art is the creation process. I make most of my own boards and some of my own frames. Often, I hike until a scene grabs my attention and then I pull out my easel and my paints. Sometimes, those paintings go up for sale, sometimes they’re just for me.

It’s not the most efficient use of my time, but then again, art isn’t about efficiency. I make art as a way to pursue beauty. To me, right now, my art is about: the paint, the craftsmanship, the dirt beneath my feet, and joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.andrewbusch.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbuschart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewbuschart