Kiley Busko, the wonder of wildlife watercolour painting

Kiley Busko is a fascinating self-taught artist living in deepest Minnesota, in the United States. She has had a boundless passion for art and design since her earliest childhood. This natural attraction for the aesthetic really came into its own when she started to experiment with watercolours during her high school years, spending her time painting after school. Although painting was close to her heart, Kiley decided to study furniture design at university, attending the prestigious Minneapolis College of Art and Design. There she learned all the secrets of furniture making, subtly combining wood and steel.
After graduating, she quickly started to achieve international recognition. She was awarded the Windgate Fellowship by the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design in recognition of her talent in the delicate art of making refined furniture. That recognition was the springboard for Kiley to start her business making custom furniture and picture frames, in a modern mid-20th century-inspired style.

© Kiley Busko – Pileated woodpecker – Watercolour on 300 gsm ARCHES® Aquarelle cold pressed paper

Kiley’s life took an unexpected turn in 2018 when a simple birdwatching hike reignited her passion for watercolour painting. She started to paint again, captivated by the species she encountered during her outings in the countryside. The call of nature became irresistible and in 2021, she decided to start a new chapter, giving up furniture making to devote all her time to painting.

Inspired by the local wildlife in Minnesota, Kiley draws her inspiration from every bird and animal she sees during her walks. What is particularly striking about her paintings is how vibrant they are, capturing the movements and instinctive personality of her subjects. Her use of quick brushstrokes, muted with large washes, gives her works a sense of movement, bringing them alive in a unique way.

© Kiley Busko – Raccoon – Watercolour on 300 gsm ARCHES® Aquarelle cold pressed paper

Kiley’s skills are not limited to her painting, she also has a talent for teaching. She generously shares her techniques on her YouTube and Patreon channels under the name “Painted Wing”, teaching viewers how to do expressive watercolour paintings of animals. Recently, she wrote a practical guide entitled “30-minute Watercolor Animals”, published by Page Street Publishing, which has been widely praised for its simplicity and accessible approach.

In addition to her videos and book, Kiley regularly organises painting workshops all over Minnesota, and especially in Otter Tail county. Her work can also be seen in different galleries and shops around the Midwest, where her art continues to delight and inspire.

© Kiley Busko – Sandhill – Watercolour on 300 gsm ARCHES® Aquarelle cold pressed paper