Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brian Busch. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brian, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I moved to LA 7 years ago with a focus on working in the entertainment industry. I didn’t know digital at the time as I had been a traditional painter since graduating from art school in the early 90’s, so the first few months was learning digital and putting a portfolio together, and with the help of people already in the industry, I was fortunate to start getting gigs fairly quickly. I used connections and places like Creative Circle and Craigslist to get many of my early jobs, things were starting to really work until the pandemic hit 2 years into my move. The next year was a bit rough, but at the end of 2020, the career took off almost overnight, I began getting work doing sketches for movie posters, storyboards for commercials and finished illustrations to be used for social media advertising. As a freelancer, you clearly wear all the hats, with that in mind, my early years may have been a bit easier had I been smarter about marketing myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My background is as a fine art painter and sculptor, I’ve done many group and solo exhibitions here and abroad, and spent many years doing portraits and mural commissions, I think my love of portraits was an asset breaking into poster design, as likenesses are always important.

My wife Zelda Devon, was in the industry before me, she was the one who helped me build my portfolio and break in. We work across from each other every day and while we are not a “studio” together, we often work on the same projects and I think that has been to our advantage as we each have different strengths and we help each other out daily, our clients are almost getting 2 illustrators for the price of one. Our main goal is to make our clients happy and be useful,

Along with illustration, I continue teaching, painting traditionally and doing portrait commissions in oils as well.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

There are many rewards that come from being an artist/creative. As an illustrator I get to be part of something bigger than myself, it’s a complete joy bringing a project together with a group.. The community of illustrators and creatives here in LA is astounding and they have been some of the most genuine and helpful people I have ever met.

As a fine artist, I get to do what I want, and I am lucky enough that people want to give me money to keep doing that, there’s nothing like it.

Lastly, as my wife and I essentially do the same thing, I get to spend all day, everyday, with my best friend doing exactly what we want, I can’t ask for much more than that.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I made a big pivot 7 years ago when I moved to LA. I was living in Illinois and I needed a change, luckily I met wife who invited me to join her here in LA and work in advertising. I had never lived anywhere else and I was a bit nervous about trying to break into a new field a little later in life in a rather expensive city….big risk equals big rewards sometimes, and it did for me on many levels.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.brianbuschstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianbuschstudio