Randy Groden

About the Artist: Randy Groden
I’m a visual artist driven by instinct, imagination, and a deep emotional connection to the creative process. My work is a mix of energy and intimacy—bold in color, often playful, sometimes mysterious, but always rooted in authentic expression.

My paintings live in collections across the country, each piece created with intention and heart. I work in a variety of mediums, allowing spontaneity and story to guide the brush. Whether it’s a portrait, a wild burst of abstraction, or a member of my now-infamous Chicken Collection, my goal is to make work that resonates—art that feels like it’s always belonged to you.

I’m currently based in Lubbock, Texas—but my journey has taken me far beyond the plains. I spent nearly 15 years living and painting in Hawaii, immersed in tropical color, island rhythm, and the kind of light that transforms everything it touches. Like Gauguin drawn to Tahiti, I was captivated by the natural beauty and quiet mystery of the islands—waterfalls, hibiscus skies, and the graceful strength of island women who often became muses.

During that time, I had the unexpected pleasure of working with individuals connected to the Playboy world—models, collectors, and cultural figures who ad...

Education & Experience
I didn’t just fall off a turnip truck. At 69, my education has come the long way—through decades of making, sharing, and living art. I’ve painted in every kind of space, sold work to collectors across the country, and taught thousands of students how to draw and paint. But the truth is, I’ve learned just as much from each of them as they ever learned from me.

From beginners picking up a brush for the first time to seasoned creatives rediscovering their spark, every class and every student has added to my own understanding of what art truly is: a conversation, a relationship, a lifelong unfolding.

My journey has taken me from 15 sun-drenched years in Hawaii—where waterfalls, island muses, and even a brush with the Playboy world shaped my vision—to Santa Fe’s artistic heart and now to the wide skies of West Texas. Each place, each person, and each painting continues to teach me something new.

And if the day ever comes when I think I’ve learned all I can… well, that’s when I’ll stop. Until then, I’ll keep showing up to the canvas with the same curiosity that’s carried me all these years.