Randy Wheeler seeks to capture the soul of Patagonia in his paintings. The gauchos and sweeping landscapes of southern Argentina provide an endless source of inspiration. He has spent years exploring, sketching, and painting the people and places he encounters on his journeys, inviting viewers to share in that sense of wonder and connect with his vision.

Gauchos, the cowboys and ranch hands of Argentina, live a horse-centered life that, like the American cowboy’s, may soon fade into legend. Each painting tells a true story. They are never staged, but drawn from life and memory, grounded in real places and people. Randy paints to preserve these moments in oil and pastel, capturing a culture and a landscape before they pass into history.

His style is loose yet representational, with hints of surrealism. Though he began painting later in life, his growth was accelerated through mentorship at Watts Atelier, where he studied under master draughtsman and painter Jeff Watts. In 2017, Jeff welcomed him into his private studio, where Randy learned the nuanced language of oil painting. He also studied with acclaimed artists Natalia Fabia and Joseph Todorovitch, whose skill and generosity helped shape his artistic voice.

Whether painting a windswept Patagonian valley or a quiet portrait of a friend, Randy strives to infuse each piece with intimacy and soul. “Art has given me a way to build relationships—with the land, with people, and with those who feel something stir within when they see my work. My highest goal is to offer something real, something lasting, something that feeds the spirit.”

In addition to his Patagonia series, Randy creates portraits of friends and family, always seeking to capture genuine moments and emotions.