Randy Brienen

For Randy and Debra Brienen, art and family go hand in hand. Both born in central Illinois, the married couple lived in Tallahassee for forty years before journeying to St. Augustine in 2023. Raising three children together, the couple always made time to enrich their lives as artists. “I always loved to draw and paint,” says Debra. “I’m mainly self taught. However, I have taken lessons from many respected artists.” Randy’s creativity began much the same way, with an affinity for drawing and painting that led him into higher education. “I spent two years as an art major in college,” he says. “Then, I was drafted and went to Vietnam.” Coming into their art careers side by side, both Randy and Debra work mainly in acrylic while Debra also paints with oils. They both started painting professionally in the early 2000s. “I opened a business called ‘Painted Memories’ in 2006,” says Debra. “I would create paintings developed from clients’ travel photos or home landscape photos in order to preserve memories on canvas that they could hang on their walls.” Randy went professional in 2007. “Right away, I found collector interest in my impressionistic and abstract pieces,” he says. While they have complemented each other well through their careers, Randy and Debra each come with their own individual styles and inspirations. “My style is a loose, non-detailed application of vibrant color using brushes and a palette knife,” says Randy. “My entire career, I have been inspired by the impressionists. My work is stimulated by nature and the ever changing atmosphere.” Also inspired by impressionists like Monet and Renoir, Debra says, “I always try to paint what I see. This lends to a somewhat more detailed style. I’m motivated by anything that captures my intuition that it may make for an interesting painting.” She continues, “I also enjoy helping others preserve their memories.” The Brienen’s share many accolades, which include three side by side shows where they displayed their work together. Both longtime annual participants at Lemoyne “Chain of Parks” art festival, Randy and Debra have artwork displayed at Tallahassee art galleries, ‘Weezie’s’ and ‘Strauss Gallery’ and are both past board members of Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts. Randy served as a past Vice President of Tallahassee Area Watercolor Society while Debra’s work can also be seen at River’s Edge Gallery and Island Dog in the Apalachicola area. Also an author, Randy recently published his bi-terrorism thriller, ‘The Solution’. Today, the Brienens serve together as members of the St. Augustine Art Association and have their works displayed at High Tide Gallery and Lixury for Less in Ponte Vedra. Their move to St. Augustine was out of love for their family. “We wanted to be near our daughter and two grandkids,” says Randy. Their tenure at High Tide Gallery came soon after they were settled in. “We stopped in the gallery on the island and showed them examples of our work,” says Debra. Randy further elaborates, “We’ve always pursued venues to place our art. High Tide was the first gallery here to contact us.” Regarding their futures in art, Debra says, “I will continue to paint as God gives me the ability.” Randy concludes, “I will continue to be inspired and transfer my inspiration to canvas.”