Artist finds home and sets up business venture

International artist Andrew Tischler is planning to expand the Lawrence arts scene, after making the Tuapeka town his home recently. Photo: Richard Davison
International artist Andrew Tischler is planning to expand the Lawrence arts scene, after making the Tuapeka town his home recently. Photo: Richard Davison
A United States-born artist plans to bring history to life in his new home of Lawrence.

Classical painter and YouTube art tutor Andrew Tischler said the ''centuries of history'' in his adoptive town had spurred him into creative action.

The successful landscape and portrait artist, who credits painstaking study of the old masters for his precise, traditional style of oil-painting, passed through Lawrence on a tour with his New Zealand wife, Rachel, about a year ago, and ''fell in love''.

''We'd spent years searching for a home, and within minutes in Lawrence had made up our minds. There's just something so inspiring about the landscapes and buildings here that speaks to the long and rich history of its people.''

After settling in their new home, Texan native Mr Tischler began to seek further avenues for his creative energies.

''I've taken on the former Olays store with another local artist [bronze sculptor Mike Norris], and we've got exciting plans for the space over coming months.''

The store had been partitioned, creating an artists' studio to the rear, and commercial space at the front, which would allow for a range of activities including art sales, workshops and tours.

He would also use the studio to continue production of his YouTube channel, AndrewTischlerArt, which has 115,000 subscribers and more than four million views.

''The YouTube project came about because I love teaching. I love to share what I've learnt about painting over the years, and being able to share that with a global audience of thousands is pretty special.''

Alongside independent and commissioned works of art, Mr Tischler had also commercialised his YouTube offering by selling expanded versions of his online tutorials.

In-person art classes and tours for travelling artists were a further lucrative arm of the business, and he also expressed interest in rejuvenating the now lapsed Lawrence Arts Festival.

''Anything we can do to generate interest in the busy arts scene here in Lawrence would be wonderful.''

Although his new gallery would not be open until early next year, Mr Tischler would not be sitting idle in the meantime.

''I've already got my eye on a few historical subjects, like the Black Horse Brewery and some of the early town founders. Lawrence has some amazing artistic stories to tell. I'm looking forward to doing a deep dive into that era.''

richard.davison@odt.co.nz

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