About Byron Buchanan

 In high school I was told I had a talent for drawing when I won first place in my school’s art contest. I drew a white horse running through a field. That same year I was asked by my school to teach drawing in art class. For the next 15 years I didn’t draw anything. I did not go to art school, and I’ve never had a lesson. When I turned 31, I started painting and immediately began getting portrait commissions. I was very reluctant to pursue art as a career because of my lack of formal training, but I decided to go for it anyway. I did not dream that I would end up being a full-time artist. 

I learned how to paint by studying the work of the old masters like Rembrandt, Velazquez, Sargent, Mancini and Caravaggio. I am also very inspired by the work of tonalist painters and pictorialism, photographers of the 19th and early 20th century. I paint with airbrush acrylics and oils. I have experimented with many styles over the years such as photorealism, pointillism, pop art and more. 

Early on in my career I painted many Hollywood icons. After moving to the northwest, I rekindled my love for nature and American history. I am fascinated with people’s stories. I did not grow up with a tv but I was surrounded with history books and biographies of notable historical figures. My work is now focused on great Americans and their life stories. I also love painting animals and view each as an individual portrait with their own story. I especially love horses and have been around them my whole life. I camp with wild horses every year.