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 Randy's
fascination with aviation and art stem from his early childhood, always
spending his free moments sketching any available aircraft or landscape
at hand. At 16, he worked for the local fixed-base operator at
his hometown airport in DeKalb, Illinois, then a former Naval
Pilot Training facility. His exposure to the day-to-day operations
added further to his skills as an artist, helping maintain and service
all manner of civilian and transiting military aircraft (always with
sketchbook close at hand). He traded his early illustrations and
paintings for "stick-time" and eventually earned his
private pilot's license before his drivers license! In addition to
many single engine civilian aircraft, he has piloted hang-gliders,
gyrocopters, completed static-line parachute jumps and participated on
many missions with the USAF Art Program.
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Randy graduated from
Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts 
with emphasis
in Illustration, Painting & Design. Since 1985, he's worked as
a freelance illustrator in Maine and Virginia, basing his work on
first-hand observation gained through many hours spent in the air.
Among many of his fine art illustrations, Randy recently completed an
exhibit design at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (Shepherd
Field). His designs and illustrations gracefully interpreted the
region's rich aviation history and helped the airport authority put it's
priceless heritage on public display. Illustrating historical aviation & military
subjects is Randy's hallmark, and it has earned him extensive
recognition as a prominent historical artist worldwide. He
currently resides with his wife, three daughters and two Australian
Shepherds in Northern Virginia.
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 Left,
Randy working as an Air Force Artist on the flight deck of a 815th
Airlift Squadron C-130J from Keesler, AFB, Mississippi. This
mission occurred just prior to Hurricane Katrina which devastated the base
and surrounding community.
The 815th's C-130J's are the most advanced tactical air lifters ever
produced. They utilize a host of new technologies and power plants
and feature a glass heads-up display and a fully-integrated digital
avionics system.
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