Artist's Spotlight: Darrell Bush Original Artist for Masterpiece by Numbers

Have you ever wondered where paint by numbers art comes from? Many paint by numbers companies license art from the original artists and pay them royalties. There are artists who license their original artwork for paint by numbers, calendars, puzzles, cross stitching, and a variety of crafts. Today we are going to hear from a very popular artist in many of these genres.

Darrell Bush paints a variety of subjects ranging from wildlife, to landscapes, seascapes, nostalgia, and even an occasional still life. One element echoing through all of his art is the luminescent presence of light. Light, whether man-made or natural, creates a mood and helps convey the story. 

While earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University, Darrell was juried into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators annual student competition.  He then put his education to work in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he worked as an Illustrator for 5 years.  He considered this position to be further training while working with seasoned illustrators with years of experience. "It was during this time I began pursuing a second career as a fine artist."  

His career hit the ground running in 1987, after winning two national stamp competitions for the state of Minnesota, and Idaho.  He then began his career as a full time painter in 1989.  Today, he has nearly 100 images in print.

Two of his lithographs hang in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and his work was also part of a special reception at the prestigious Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Actor Burt Reynolds and celebrity animal expert Jack Hanna also own his work.

Here, Darrell explains his relationship with Masterpiece by Numbers, the leader in paint by numbers and crafts in the United States.

The wilderness has always fascinated Darrell. From its incredible landscapes to the animals that inhabit it and our involvement with it. Darrell explains, "Once you take that step into the wilderness your baggage of daily life gets left behind, and you’re transported to that eternal place in nature that seems to always be waiting for you."

"I am especially interested in the history and the rich traditions of man’s involvement with nature. The sporting life that depicts the interaction between man and nature inspires me to create art that stands alone. I am always searching for that next great setting or antique props that will help me recreate those moments in time we call nostalgia."

Choosing artwork to paint by the same artist allows you to pair paintings that you can hang together in your home. As you can see, Darrell Bush is a great artist whose artwork can be treasured for years to come.

We hope you enjoy this artist's spotlight on Darrell Bush. His art is beautiful and we are so pleased that we are able to share it with you all!