Welcome to the official launch of a new artist interview and news channel “The Creative Push!” Visual artist Randy L. Purcell is the first interviewee because of his unique artistic approach. He is known as a beeswax artist for his encaustic process of transferring ink onto the wax. Over the past decade, Randy has perfected a technique and style that are all his own with this special medium.
“Early on the process was exciting because it was so fresh and new, I know that whatever subject matter I choose I know I can somehow make it different. I love being a beeswax artist!” – Randy L. Purcell
Randy is a passionate member of the Nashville arts community and likes to help people. He and I actually first met in 2010 for the “ReTune Nashville” art project, in which a team of artists repurposed damaged musical instruments to raise funds for the 2010 Nashville flood victims. He donated his time to create one-of-a-kind items for the project, including an autographed guitar for the “Nashville Predators” hockey team.
Randy got into art after trying a number of other careers. He’s originally from Paducah, Kentucky, where he worked as a tugboat deckhand, a delivery driver, and for a uranium enrichment plant before relocating to Nashville. Moving to Music City allowed him to meet his wife, Tracy. But he was still trying to figure out what vocation suited him best.
At 37 years old, Randy decided to go back to school and study art. While he wanted to develop the skills he needed to create a studio furniture line, Randy saw the value of experimenting with other mediums. He studied painting and learned about methods of encaustic art, which included transferring ink from magazine pages onto beeswax. Just like putty pulling the ink from a page that’s been pressed against it, this transfer process carried some of the original pictures and text from a magazine onto a beeswax-coated canvas. Playing with iconic or familiar imagery, Randy discovered a way of making collages that would be a new direction for him as a beeswax artist.
“The textures I can put into a painting are endless, I keep finding things I can do differently.” – Randy L. Purcell
After graduating in 2009 with a BFA in painting and sculpture, Randy decided to pursue a career as a professional artist. Over the last 10 years, Randy’s work as a beeswax artist has appeared in galleries and private collections all over the US and Canada. Over the years he has mastered his process and because it is a specialty, his work is extremely unique. He is active in the arts community with groups such as Nashville Collage Collective and Four Artist TN. He serves on the board of several organizations, including Turnip Green Creative Reuse and the nonprofit arts magazine Number: Inc.
The Creative Push Artist Interview Vlog On YouTube
In this first video interview episode, beeswax artist Randy Purcell shares how he finds creative insight and motivation within his work. Here, he encourages other artists with advice through his own successful experiences and techniques.
The Creative Push Podcast
You can also take the interview with you and listen to it as a podcast.
I had the pleasure of chatting with Randy back in 2020 to discuss his “Mystery Art League” augmented reality art show concept for the online news site Launch Engine. For more information about the artwork of Randy L. Purcell, be sure to visit his website and social media.
This will be a place for artists and makers of all kinds to share personal insight into their processes with the world. Painters, photographers, musicians, writers, and other inspired experts will discuss what they create and why it’s important.
Thank you for reading, if you liked this story please share it with other creatives. I hope that you will sign up to be a part of this creative tribe!
To read more artists’ interview stories visit The Creative Push blog!
To listen to more interviews check out The Creative Push podcast!
To see my photography visit Sheri ONeal Photography!
There is much more on the way!!
Do you know someone who would make for an interesting interview? Please feel free to reach out via email and social media! I’m always looking to connect.
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