Darrell Bush
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."
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; having the opportunity to work under Wilderness Art is probably the term that best describes my work. The 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 there are 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.