Randy VanBeek (Born 1958) was born in the Pacific Northwest. He started artwork at a very young age. As a child he exhibited outstanding artistic talent and had a specific interest in drawing. He is a self-taught artist who paints in the traditional impressionist and realist styles. In fact his drawings have portrayed his different interests throughout his career. VanBeek prefers to paint in oils, and also reproduces his work on canvas and paper. He also offers restoration services and expertise on old master works and aged paintings, and works on custom commissions. The artist currently participates in various shows, and exhibits his work in many galleries. Wherever he travels, he carries his camera and painting equipment. When he discovers an effect or a scene that excites him, he attempts to capture what he feels or the impression of his visual experience. Most of his attention has focused on the 18th century Austrian and Dutch masters, and the 19th century American painters.
After graduating from high school, he pursued no formal art training. By then expressionism and abstract was the trend for most art colleges. He was always interested in traditional realism, so he decided to seek out his own education. Since he was living near Western Washington University, he had access to their extensive art library where he practiced and studied his favorite master artists’ techniques. The time he spent in museums in Europe and the United States also proved invaluable to his artistic development. He enjoys a broad range of painting styles and subjects. VanBeek doesn’t want to limit himself to a repetitive formula in techniques or a theme in subjects.
