Do Something You're Passionate About.

Meet 2022 NC Seafood Poster Artist: Vickie Lynn Randgaard ”Do something you’re passionate about. Do something you love,” declares Crystal Coast artist Vickie Lynn Randgaard.

If you love the Crystal Coast and you enjoy beautiful artwork, you'll appreciate Vickie’s creations and her zest for life.

If you're hesitant to follow your dream because you think it's too late, be encouraged as you learn of Vickie's nontraditional timeline in becoming a professional artist.

”When my children were young I wanted a clean house and clean children, so I never painted.”

Fast forward to today Vickie describes her art studio as always in mayhem and chaos with twelve paintings going all at once. “I don’t have the patience to sit and finish one. When I have a new idea, I start a painting.”

She can paint until eight or ten at night and has to force herself to leave the studio because she’s so comfortable there.

Vickie’s art career never followed a plan.

Written by Hope Schaefer. Artwork by Vickie Lynn Randgaard

”My artwork is a blessing I never expected. My passion for this is deep. It makes me feel alive.”

As an artist, Vickie can’t put herself in a box. She draws inspiration from her love of the grittiness of New Orleans. She believes her style of artwork created on old choppy found objects like wood and tin connects through their vulnerability.

Vickie traces her love of art back to the six weeks each summer she and her siblings spent at Play Core. At the inner-city Minneapolis camp, she thrived in the freedom of creating all day.

It’s taken decades but Vickie has rediscovered the joy of those carefree creative days.

When Vickie goes into her studio to create commissions and other pieces she tries to avoid social media.

”It’s too distracting and you stifle yourself when you compare.”

After completing her work she browses social media and posts.

When artists ask her advice, she simply replies, “Just Create."

To younger artists and moms with young children she encourages, “Don’t beat yourself up. Everyone has time to take out a sketch pad and start. It might not be tomorrow, but always know that spark is in there.”

Vickie acknowledges her work is constantly evolving.

"As you get more experience and you use more tools, you gain more knowledge as an artist and you start saying, I’m gonna take a chance..”

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”I’m not afraid to fail at things.”

Vickie has been taking chances for years. In 2002 she opened a coffee shop in Havelock. It was a family venture as her kids worked with her after school. Sure, it was a significant risk, but she's always believed if you don't try to create your dreams, you'll live with regrets. She and her husband sold the coffee shop in 2009.

Because they were a military family, Vickie, her husband, and three children moved often. They maintained a home in Havelock, with plans to return when he retired.

Vickie loves how her artwork has also become a family affair. Her husband built her studio and is completely supportive because he sees how happy painting makes her.

Her grandchildren love to FaceTime to share their latest creations.

Reflecting on the craziness during the Covid crisis, Vickie said she was thankful, "My children were in a place where they were content, I got to do what I loved every day. I have a God who loves me."

Vickie places a high priority on community and mentoring. That's one reason she's thrilled to be part of Salt Studio and Gallery in Morehead City.

“If the art community was more open to caring and sharing it would be a really joyous place.”

Diagnosed with lupus and forced to face the risks of COVID 19, Vickie had a choice to make. She could just sit and worry or she could live her life.

She decided to live her best creative life, follow the AIP diet, play golf with her husband every morning and frolic with her three puppies.

Vickie's dream for the future is to create a Play Core type art experience in Havelock.

“I have a heart for kids that aren’t exposed to art or don’t have the opportunity.”

”You’re not sharing your gift if you’re not mentoring.”

If you're creative and sometimes experience blocks, Vickie's insights may help.

She's learned to accept the times when her creativity is completely dry.

She understands creativity is a process, so those dry times give her a break and she's a better painter when she returns to the studio.

FOLLOW VICKIE ON INSTAGRAM @VICKIELYNNART

SALT GALLERY 1512 ARENDELL STREET MOREHEAD CITY, NC

FOR SIGNED POSTERS: VICKIELYNN'S.ART@GMAIL.COM OR DM ON INSTAGRAM