Meet Randy Dickerson | Creative Director & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Randy Dickerson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Randy, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think I ever truly had a choice—creativity has always been part of who I am.

As a kid growing up in rural southeast Alabama, I spent a lot of time alone as an only child—either deeply observing my surroundings or lost in my own imagination. If I wasn’t outside exploring the woods, I was inside drawing, watching cartoons, and dreaming up stories.

In college, I tried a variety of majors, but nothing felt right. Then I took a painting class and had a true epiphany. I got completely lost in the creative process. It was a feeling I had experienced many times before, but for some reason, this time I knew I needed to build a life around that feeling.

I ended up pursuing graphic design as a “safe” creative path, and that decision led me to an incredible career—leading creative teams, working with amazing people and brands, and earning plenty of accolades. But eventually, I realized I was still neglecting the part of me that needed to make art for its own sake.

About six years ago, I rededicated myself to painting, and now I’m focused on reaching my creative potential in everything I do—and helping others do the same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My artistic journey hasn’t been a straight path. I’ve always been an artist at heart, but my career first took me into the world of design. For years, I worked as a designer and creative director, collaborating with world-class brands and unbelievably talented creatives to bring ideas to life.
It was an incredible experience—exciting projects, travel, and lifelong friendships. Alongside my colleagues, I won major industry awards, including an Emmy and a CommArts – Interactive Annual Award of Excellence. But as much as I loved the work, I was still neglecting something important—creating art for myself.
After more than a decade in a high-profile creative leadership role, I was laid off. Instead of jumping right back into the corporate world, I took time off. I painted, hiked, and reconnected with my creativity. That time reminded me that art isn’t just something I do—it’s something I need to do.
Today, my painting is a constant exploration, blending abstract, realistic, and surreal elements to create visually layered, thought-provoking pieces. My work pulls from pop culture, nostalgia, found objects, treasure, flora, and fauna—experimenting with how these themes connect and influence one another. At its core, my work is about interconnectedness, exploration, and storytelling, and it is ever-evolving, pushing me to continually discover new ideas, techniques, and perspectives.
What sets me apart is that I approach art the same way I approached my design career—with an obsession for problem-solving and a relentless pursuit of creative potential. My work is deeply personal, but at the same time, I want it to spark curiosity and imagination in others.
It hasn’t been easy. The biggest challenge has been finding time while working a demanding career. There have also been creative struggles—moments of doubt, times when the work wasn’t progressing, and the constant battle to push my paintings further. But I’ve learned that showing up consistently is the only way forward.
If I want the world to know anything about me, it’s that I am fully committed to the exploration of art and the pursuit of my creative potential. My work is always evolving, always pushing into new ideas, techniques, and ways of seeing. More than anything, I hope that journey inspires others to embrace their own creativity—to explore, experiment, and chase whatever artistic path calls to them.
I don’t regret anything about my path. Everything that’s happened has led me to where I am today.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta has too much to choose from, so I’d mix in a little of everything—art, food, vintage treasure hunting, and some outdoor exploring—depending on what they’re feeling.

For art, we might hit The High Museum, check out the Goat Farm, or just drop by Scraplanta for weird upcycled art supplies.

If they want to get outside, we could do Sweetwater Creek, Stone Mountain, Chattahoochee parks, or maybe Piedmont Park. I also really like Arabia Mountain since it’s a bit more under the radar and has great views.

If they like digging for cool finds, we’d hit Decatur Vintage Estate Market for antiques and art or head to Little Five Points to browse quirky shops and record stores.

For food, there are almost too many options, but I’d let them choose between Taqueria Del Sol for tacos, Little Bangkok for great Thai, Antico for some of the best pizza in the city, or Matthews Cafeteria in Tucker for old-school Southern comfort food.

For neighborhood exploring, Downtown Decatur is always a solid choice—good food, great little shops, and a cool, walkable vibe.

My favorite way to experience Atlanta is to just go explore—follow curiosity, stumble onto hidden gems, and see where the day takes us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support, mentorship, and inspiration of so many.

First, I have to shout out my parents and grandparents—they’ve supported me in everything I’ve done and instilled in me the values of kindness, hard work, and treating people the right way. They also helped foster my sense of wonder and curiosity, which continues to drive my creative pursuits.

Next, the teachers. From high school, Mrs. Fowler and Mrs. Cody, who both overlooked my class clown antics, saw something in me I didn’t yet see in myself, and encouraged me to “be somebody.” Then, there are the art professors who pushed me beyond my limits and continue to shape my artistic thinking today: Janet Hinton, Alvin Sella, Robert Cox, Uta-Maria Krapf, Roger Meadows, and Rip Ellis.

In my design career, I’ve been lucky to work with some of the most talented creatives out there—mentors, peers, and teams that have pushed me to think bigger, execute better, and never stop learning. Andrea, Steven, Shai, Andrew, John, Jason, Scott, Terry, Linda, Keith, Martin, Cliff, Aaron, Thad, Rick, Frank, Kris, Chris, Cary, Brandon, Nik, Michael… there really are too many to name.

Of course, my wife. We met in art school, and she’s an incredible photographer, artist, and creative thinker. Her way of seeing the world has influenced my creative pursuits from the day we met. She’s my muse and constantly inspires me.

Lastly, my kids—they keep me grounded, remind me what really matters, and inspire me every day.
Apologies to anyone I may have left out—so many people have influenced and supported me along the way, and I’m beyond grateful for all of them.

Website: https://www.rld-studio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rld_studio/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-dickerson-972596/

Twitter: https://x.com/rld_studio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rldstudio/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RLDSTUDIO

Image Credits
For my bio photo the photographer was Patricia Blood