LatinosUSA

Andrew is a painter from the land down under, actually born in New Zealand, but now a long time resident of Sydney, Australia. He has been writing, making music and of course painting for a very long time and due to a work injury he now dedicates one hundred percent of his time in the work of art. Let’s get to know Andrew a bit better, no?

Andrew’s website and artists blog is Notes from the Edge and I would encourage you to give him a visit…

OUR CHAT

LatinosUSA: How much time in the day do you dedicate to your creative work?

AB: I write, make music, and paint, largely untrained, but it is hard to put a time value on any of my art because even when I am not making or producing I am always thinking about it.

LatinosUSA: Other than the job of art, what other duties or responsibilities do you think an artist (writer, painter) has?

AB: I think that art is a way to decipher the undecipherable. I know that sounds a bit trite but I live with multiple acquired disabilities and I can find no other way to make sense of the world around me. Personally I do not see any responsibility for an artist, as long as it is true to the artist other’s opinions should not matter. Saying that I have been attacked by several people over the content of my stories. To tell you the truth I would prefer somebody to say, «you cannot write, or you are not a good writer» rather than somebody telling me off for the content of my stories. Art should be about freedom and not censorship.

LatinosUSA: What is your opinion of AI?

AB: AI is a big problem in our society. Can AI write a novel, or produce an original piece of art? Also it is taking work, jobs, away from people. Yes a computer can reproduce the Mona Lisa but can a computer create an original piece of art?

IN HIS OWN WORDS

My name is Andrew Buchanan, born and raised in NZ now living in Sydney. I entered Sydney University to study an English degree with a high distinction. I have been unable to complete my degree due to acquiring multiple disabilities: To include a STBI, post-traumatic epilepsy, deafness – profoundly in one ear and 30% in the other, visual field deficits and T12-L1 paraplegia from an accident at work on a building site.
I have worked in the hospitality and construction industry my entire life up until becoming disabled. My insurance company and the NSW Government have now deemed me “unfit to work” – drat.

As stated previously I write paint and make music to get all of the bad “goobies” out of my soul/mind/body.

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I would like to extend my appreciation to Andrew for this interview and wish him good health and continued success in his work. And I would also like to share a sample of his artwork:

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Thank you! If you are an artist, painter, writer or in any way associated with the art world and would like to be interviewed please contact me by sending me your email address.