Andrew Tischler Artist – Up Close And Personal

Andrew Tischler is an Australian Artist who enjoys a thriving art career in his chosen field of realism painting. From a young age Andrew excited the Western Australian art scene with incredulous talent, and over the past 10 years has infiltrated into the East Coast where he now resides, and also the United States where he was born. Andrew Tischler has also touched a great number of budding artists hearts during his art workshops and art tours.

Andrew Tischler captures the magnificence of some of the world’s most harsh, beautiful and imposing landscapes such as the Kimberley, Pilbara, Murray River Region, Great Ocean Rd, Flinders Ranges and the USA. With a sell out show while still studying his Fine Arts Degree at Curtin WA in 2002, Andrew Tischler has been painting full time since he was 21, immersing himself in nature and travel with a mission to paint the landscapes of the world and to celebrate the creatures and people that inhabit them.

Andrew Tischler – Artist Profile

The son of artists, Andrew Tischler was born in Texas in 1983. His father, Tom, nurtured Tischler’s love for nature and his artistic talent from a young age. Tom Tischler is an internationally distinguished wildlife sculptor working in bronze. Growing up,   Tischler developed an intense interest in the beautiful and unique landscapes, flora and fauna of Western Australia, having moved there when he was ten. Since then, he has made a concerted effort to travel as much as possible to explore the amazing diversity the world has to offer. 

Andrew Tischler paints the iconic landscapes, wildlife and people of the world. His works are held in many private collections across Australia and overseas.

Tischler is passionate about the environment, and strives to immerse himself in nature. While often focussing on the majestic beauty and diverse landscapes of WA, he has also celebrated through art, locations in Queensland, the Pilbara, the Murray River Region, the Great Ocean Road and the Flinders Ranges. In 2009 he travelled to the USA and documented and explored the Grand Canyon, Utah, Monument valley and on into Zion, Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. In recent years he has returned to New Zealand several times, where he lived from the ages to 6 to 10. There he travelled the North and South Islands, painting, photographing and sketching. Every new experience inspires him to express the world’s harsh, beautiful and diverse landscapes on canvas.

Although Tischler’s work has been predominantly landscape, he has delved into portraiture, striving to capture the elusive spirit of those who sit for him.

“I am trying to capture something in the essence of the person, and set up a dynamic between the painted subject and the viewer. There is a conversation between the two without words being exchanged.”

Tischler hosted his first solo exhibition ‘High Tide’ at Heathcote Cultural Centre in 2002, before he completed his bachelor degree in fine arts at Curtin University in 2003. The two day show was sold out before it closed. Andrew’s works rapidly increased in popularity and value. By the time he was 21 he was earning a living painting full time. Tischler has appeared in several group exhibitions and held four solo exhibitions. These events are rare as Tischler’s work is generally sold as soon as it is painted. However, he celebrated the ten year anniversary of his first solo show with a retrospective in 2012. Many of the pieces were borrowed back from avid collectors. Today he paints almost exclusively by commission.

Tischler also shares his passion for nature’s beauty by teaching painting techniques to enthusiastic students. Students have responded well to Tischler’s unique teaching style, and have enjoyed learning some “secret” tricks, developed over years of research and diligent practise.

“I just love to talk about painting and help others achieve success in their creative endeavours. It’s a truly rewarding experience sharing my knowledge and techniques.”

Tischler now lives on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria with his wife, Rachel.  As thrashing seas and dramatic light inspire him, he has found a home that will provide many years of creative inspiration. His work is heart-felt, a celebration of sublime natural beauty. Thus he feels a strong personal attachment to every work.

“I pour myself into everything I do. I believe in being totally invested in the process. I don’t see any sense in going about painting half-hearted. It takes my total commitment and engagement.”

The end result of the finished painting often places the viewer in the same positions of awe and wonderment that Tischler originally experienced.

“I am passionately obsessive about painting.  My life’s mission is to paint the landscapes of the world, and to celebrate the creatures and people that inhabit them.”

When did you first feel the desire to be Artistic and realise you had talent?

I have always thought of myself as an artist, even when I was a young boy. I remember being asked the almost cliché question: “what will you be when you grow up?” only to respond with, “what I am right now”. Art is something I have been obsessed with from a very early age. I have strived to hone my craft and sharpen my skills. I have an uneasy relationship with the word talent, as I feel it has been perseverance and determination that has led me to this point, and will hopefully see my skills improving over the next stages of my career.

Where did you learn your art?

My father is a professional artist, and gave me my background and understanding in the fundamentals of traditional painting techniques. As my father is a sculptor, there was only so far this could take me. I then began reading about painting, and devouring whatever technical knowledge I could gain. Then, through countless hours of trail and experimentation in the studio, I developed my skills further, and began to learn more about myself and what I wanted to achieve in my art.

What inspires you most?

I am inspired by nature. I feel there is no power that has the presence, energy or beauty of the natural environment. I am always thinking of new scenes to paint that are reflections of my experiences in the field, in the presence of nature. Be it a wave, a forest, a magnificent bird, a mountain or a Kimberley Gorge I am drawn to the many aspects and forms of nature.

What message are you sending to the viewer of your art?

I try not to over-direct the viewer with my art. I don’t feel I have a message in particular to convey. I try to keep my art simple. I don’t feel my art should say anything. If it’s a beautiful mountain that I see in nature, I would like to paint it just so. Any meaning derived from my paintings is the meaning brought to it by the viewer. I do enjoy watching the varied reactions to my work, but I try not to judge or correct any responses to it. I leave these as individual “happenings”. If I were to say something in particular in regards to my subject matter, I think it would be: “this is beautiful, we must cherish it and protect it”.

Describe your studio…

I have just recently moved into a new studio in Daylesford Victoria. It’s an old factory unit. It’s by far the largest studio I have ever painted in. The light in my space is tightly controlled, as I am painting most hours of the day and evening. I have a large wall easel mounted along one wall, where I produce my large paintings, and a couple of floor easels, which are for working on my smaller works. There is a design station where I compile my reference materials, and an old drawing board from the 60’s where I sketch out my ideas before transferring to the canvas. I keep a lot of art books of all my old master painting heroes, in my space as well, which keep me inspired.

Describe your typical day of creating art…

I wake pretty early in the morning, and drive up the hill to the studio, which is a short distance from the house. Normally I have a few commissions on the go, so I work on these throughout the day, sometimes alternating paintings to keep my attention levels high. I love painting scenes of nature, and there is always something exciting on the go, so I am normally in a rush to arrive and start right away. I paint around 50-60 hours a week. After a full day of painting, I kick back on the porch with my wife and border-collie to watch the sunset, or take a stroll around Lake Daylesford. In the evenings I write, either for art magazines or newsletters and blogs on teaching traditional painting techniques.

What mediums do you use and why?

I love painting in oils. I strive to re-create the effects achieved by the old masters, using some of the modern mediums available. I paint on Belgian linen, with handmade oil paints, with pure pigments. I feel oil paints lend themselves to a great surface quality, with layering and glazing, which can lead to a scene that looks and feels realistic.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on a series of crashing waves. Large canvases of various tropical bird species will follow these wave paintings shortly.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love the freedom to be able to create on a daily basis on my terms. I love painting uninhibited, and have the opportunity to explore what oil paint can do. It is the chance of a lifetime, which I try not to take for granted and one for which I am very grateful.

What are your most proud achievements in your art?

I think my first ever exhibition was my most proud achievement. It was the encouragement and validation I needed at the time, and a sign that I had chosen the right path. I was 19 at the time, and over a hundred people were in attendance. The show sold out on opening night. Since then I have had a number of exhibitions, but this one stuck with me as the most profound.

Where can you see yourself in 10 years time?

I would love to take my painting to the next level and better my skills. I want to start working on larger canvasses, several meters across, and take on more challenging subject. I see myself branching out into different scenes around the world, and I hope that many more travel experiences continue to fuel my studio practice.

JahRoc Galleries currently have no Andrew Tischler paintings for sale.