For our 34th installment of Covers of the Week, we look at some romance covers illustrated by George Arthur Bush, also known as G. A. Bush. Bush was a prolific cover artist from the 1970s into the 1990s.
The Artist: George Arthur Bush
Did you know George Bush was an artist? No, we’re not talking about that George Bush. Although, incidentally, he does dabble in painting. Really, he does. If you look it up, he’s pretty good.
And no, we’re not referring to his papa, George Sr, either.
George Arthur Bush, also known as G. A. Bush, was a prolific cover artist in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1953. Bush worked in a variety of genres besides romance. Bush created fantastic cover art for publishers such as Jove, Charter, Fawcett, Dorchester, and Zebra.
An Eye-Catching Style
Bush’s covers had an eye-catching style that made his romance covers especially memorable. The way he played light and color against each other made his art stand out.
To achieve his unique look, George Arthur Bush used various paints. For example, for The Exiled Heart, first, he coated a foam board with acrylic Gesso. Then he painted the artwork in oils, and finally, he covered it with a spray of clear acrylic varnish to get that beautiful glow.
Bush was also a fine art illustrator who worked in multiple mediums. He has created book covers, worked in comics, designed collector’s plates for Danbury Mint and the Bradford Exchange, and sculpted in clay. He’s also worked in film and television.
Unfortunately, George A. Bush suffers from debilitating MS and can no longer paint and sculpt.
The Covers
Our Covers of the Week edition for Monday, November 29, 2021, to Sunday, December 5, 2021, highlights romance covers created by the very talented George Arthur Bush, aka G. A. Bush.
The Covers From Left to Right, Top to Bottom
- A Fire in the Heart, Francine Rivers, Charter, 1987
- Exiled Heart, Susan Tanner, Dorchester, 1993
- Wild Conquest, Rene J. Garrod, Zebra, 1987
- Count Vronsky’s Daughter, Carola Salisbury, Fawcett Crest/Ballantine, 1981
That fourth book is a presumably unofficial Anna Katerina sequel!