Today we’d like to introduce you to Randy L Purcell.
Hi Randy L , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I actually came to art a little later in life. I was 37 when I decided to go back to school and earn my BFA from Middle Tennessee State University. That experience completely changed the direction of my life. It gave me the foundation I needed to pursue something I’d always been passionate about but hadn’t fully explored.
After graduation, I became very active in the Nashville art community—showing work in group exhibits, joining artist collectives, and participating in local art crawls and events. It was such a creative time, and I made some amazing connections and lasting friendships that helped shape my career.
Over time, I developed my own encaustic process—transferring ink from magazines onto beeswax panels—to tell stories about memory, place, and the layered nature of experience. What began as experimentation grew into a distinctive style that now defines my practice.
Today, I live and work in Maryville, Tennessee, where my studio overlooks the mountains. It’s become a sanctuary where I can keep pushing my ideas forward—whether I’m working on new architectural paintings, my Honeytone guitar series, or developing immersive art experiences like the Mystery Art League.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say the road has been completely smooth, but I also wouldn’t call it rough. Like most artists, I’ve had my share of obstacles and opportunities. Early on, I was probably naïve enough not to realize how much I didn’t know—but that worked in my favor. I just kept doing. It was in the doing that my opportunities revealed themselves.
I stayed active—always creating, showing up to events, and connecting with other artists. I learned how to talk about my work simply by talking about it. There were definitely art events that didn’t go as planned, but I saw those as lessons in what not to do rather than failures.
So while it hasn’t always been easy, I never let the hard moments define my future. Each challenge became another layer in the process—much like the layers of beeswax in my paintings—something that ultimately added depth and strength to my practice.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m best known for my encaustic paintings created through a process I developed that involves transferring ink from magazine pages onto the surface of beeswax. There’s no paper in the final work—just the ink left behind on layers of wax. It’s a slow, meditative process that lets me build images piece by piece, much like putting together a mosaic of memories.
Through this method, I explore the relationship between memory, place, and time—how small fragments can come together to form a larger story. My subjects range from vintage signs and guitars to architectural landmarks and layered compositions that combine nature and the manmade.
In addition to my studio work, I’ve been developing the Mystery Art League, an interactive art experience where viewers become participants in solving a mystery hidden within a collection of paintings and sculptural elements. It brings together my love for storytelling, puzzles, and community engagement—inviting people to “step into the frame” and see art in a new way.
What sets my work apart is that everything I do—whether on wax or within an event—is about layers. Layers of image, meaning, and discovery. I’m most proud that my art encourages people to slow down, look closer, and find something unexpected beneath the surface.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I don’t usually focus on the art industry as a whole—I tend to stay focused on my own path and goals as an artist. That said, I think one of the biggest shifts we’ll continue to see is the growing need for people to experience something real and engaging beyond a screen.
We spend so much of our lives connected to technology that authentic, in-person experiences have become more valuable than ever. Being surrounded by artwork—feeling the texture, the scale, the energy in a room—is something that can’t be replicated digitally. I believe people will always crave that kind of connection.
That’s one of the reasons I started the Mystery Art League. It brings together art, storytelling, and interactive play in a shared space where people can explore, think, and connect. I see more of that happening in the future—art experiences that invite participation, curiosity, and community rather than passive scrolling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://randylpurcell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randylpurcell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randylpurcell
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randylpurcell/
- Twitter: https://x.com/randylpurcell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RandyLPurcell
- Other: https://mysteryartleague.com
