Randy L Purcell
Maryville, TN
Randy's work is the result of a unique encaustic process where he transfers ink from magazines onto a thin layer of beeswax.
Message
Randy L Purcell (b. 1968, Paducah, KY) discovered his passion for art later in life, embarking on his creative journey after years of searching for the right vocation. In 2005, he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at Middle Tennessee State University, where he developed his signature encaustic technique—transferring magazine ink onto beeswax to create intricate compositions.
His work explores memory and perception, inviting viewers to experience the interplay between detail and distance. From afar, his paintings resemble faded photographs, evoking nostalgia, but up close, they reveal a complex collage of text and imagery sourced from magazines, reinforcing themes of storytelling and fragmented recollection.
Randy’s distinctive approach has earned him widespread recognition, including media features, awards, and an international following. His work has been exhibited in galleries and unconventional venues alike, including Nashville International Airport (BNA), Grand Rapids Public Museum, Middle Tennessee State University, and numerous Middle Tennessee art crawls. His public art projects include a Metro Arts Nashville bike rack design and murals for Nashville’s ARTober celebration and MTSU’s Veteran Center. He has also showcased his work at prestigious events such as ArtPrize, ArtFields, and a solo exhibition in Canada.
Beyond his personal practice, Randy is a dedicated advocate for the arts. He co-founded the Nashville Collage Collective and the collaborative Four Artist TN and has served on the boards of L’Evate, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, and NUMBER: Inc. Magazine. Passionate about sharing his craft, he teaches encaustic art through workshops, in-class demonstrations, and online courses, inspiring others to explore the rich possibilities of mixed media and image transfer.
Randy is represented by The District Gallery in Knoxville, TN,The Copper Fox Gallery in Leiper’s Fork, TN, and KOREGallery in Louisville, KY. For further information, visit his website, social media, and YouTube channel. He resides in East Tennessee with his wife Tracy and their dog Jagger.
Statement
Memory is an amazing thing. It’s the “lost and found” of our lives. Exploring that repository is an intrinsic part of my intention…but this is more. Without doubt, each painting is a reflection on things I’ve encountered in my life. But my artwork also includes my sense of wonder. I’ve come to realize that it’s the little things that can create and trigger memories. Consequently, I allow an influence from one moment of my life to lead me to the next, which allows me to follow a seemingly random, and endless, path of experiences. As a result, my paintings each represent chapters in the book that is my life.
The process of cutting and transferring ink from magazine paper onto beeswax is a tedious technique. However, the work is peaceful and silent, and it allows me space for introspection. Just like memories, some of the transferred imagery can represent various facets and moments of my life, all things that have brought me to the present. This medium presents these subjects as well as we may remember them. Do we ever recall one thing without being reminded of others?
I begin each piece by going through my photos, taking time to reflect on my experiences and on past works. Of course, I paint a lot of bees because they are responsible for the medium I use. I like to raise awareness of their importance to our environment, but most of my subjects have a connection with things I’ve encountered. I hope to draw you in with familiar subjects—but hold your attention with an overwhelming array of textures and imagery!