About the Artist

Biography

Della Burgus has been painting professionally for more than thirty years.  She enjoys using a variety of materials, especially acrylics, oils and pastels. Her style has been described as “soft realism," which is a painterly than a photographic approach.

Della was born in Des Moines and lived most of her early life in rural Iowa.  She later studied fine and applied art  and continued her education through workshops and seminars. Teaching classes of adults and children also served to help her identify and refine her style. Her work has most been influenced by the art of Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Leslie Harrison. She admires the radiant color and lifelike quality of their paintings.

Currently Della and her husband, artist Larry Burgus, live and work in Ankeny, Iowa with all their pets and animal friends. Besides sketching and painting, she enjoys traveling, reading and watching BBC mystery shows on PBS.

Her portraits, animal and wildlife paintings, landscapes and floral paintings have been purchased by collectors throughout the United States, as well as Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong.  Through her artwork she has been blessed to become acquainted with wonderful people all over the world.

Publications:

2005: I'll Meet My Maker in Blue Jeans, written by Kathleen Wade, illustrated by Larry and Della Burgus

2008: Animal World USA (newspaper)  October Featured Artist, "Della Burgus, An Artist with a Passion for Animals"

2008: Colour, Obsession, Joy and Torment by Micah R. Condon

2009: Best of America Pastel Artists, Volume II