Michael Buesking
Hi! Glad to see you are checking out the Art area of Evangel University. Contact me with questions about painting, drawing, and art history. You may also find a link to my website at the bottom of this page.
Title: Associate Professor of Art
Office: Room 201C X 7281
Professional Information: Mr. Buesking received his M.F.A from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Buesking was one of the two Artists in Residence at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia in August of 2008. Buesking recently had a work included in "Art that Tells the Story" by Chris Brewer. He is currently working on paintings to be included in an upcoming edition of the "LiveDead" journal.
Job Responsibilities: Mr. Buesking currently teaches the oil painting classes and organizes art history instruction. He also serves as an advisor to those students who go into Art Education, as well as students working toward a Bachelor of Art or Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Org Memberships: CIVA (Christians in the Visual Arts)
Courses Taught: Painting I-IV; Studio Problems and Creative Problems in Painting/Drawing; Drawing I-III; Art Appreciation (non art majors); Art History Surveys (I & II); History of Modern Art; Art History IV; and Special Topics in Art History; Travel Course to Italy; Senior Seminar; Freshman Seminar
Publications: One of Mr. Buesking's paintings (Adventus) was selected this year for the cover of The Progressive Christian magazine a few years ago. The same work has been included in "Art that Tells the Story" by Chris Brewer.
Started Work: Fall, 1991
Favorite Thing About Work: Mr. Buesking enjoys familiarizing the students with processes in painting and drawing that enable them to create from their personal vision more successfully.
Originally From: Strasburg, IL
Personal Information: After growing up in Strasburg, a small town in central Illinois, Michael did a four-year tour of duty in the United States Army. From 1982 to 1985 he studied at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, and was influenced most directly by artists Herbert Fink, Ed Shay, and oil painting professor, Larry Bernstein. Michael then pursued a master's degree, also at SIU-C, graduating in 1987 with a MS in Ed in teaching art. In 1991 Evangel University hired Michael to teach painting, drawing and art history. While continuing to teach at Evangel, he began a MFA program at University of Missouri, Columbia. There, Michael was strongly influenced by painters William Hawk and Frank Stack. A sabbatical in the spring of 2002 enabled him to complete his MFA with a thesis exhibit of paintings and monoprints: "Prophet as Artist: Symbolic Actions of the Old Testament Prophets." Michael continues as an Associate Professor of Art at Evangel University. He lives in Springfield, MO, with his wife Debra and his children, Molly and Sam. In addition to participating in and judging local and regional shows, he has work displayed in Praise Assembly of God Church in Springfield and at Evangel University.
Other: Buesking's recent series of work [based on images of the prophets and artistic/symbolic actions they performed as part of their message to the Israelites and other nations of the Old Testament] is characterized by a single figure close to the front of the picture plane. The human figure, in its various attitudes and gestures, is important as a conveyer of meaning. Buesking's work functions as SIGN and SYMBOL on one hand -- to be understood and read by the believing community -- and, on the other hand, it functions as ILLUSTRATION of an event, mood or idea in a more or less realistic space. In this sense, he demonstrates his desire for the work to have an appeal also to viewers beyond the community of faith.
Top 5 Strengths:
input
learner
intellection
context
achiever
Personal Page: http://www.prophetasartist.com