By Tamara L. Young
When Bradley Vander Veen was a restless little boy, life didn’t hand him the easiest beginning. With his father in prison and his mother working long hours to keep the family afloat, Bradley had energy to spare and nowhere to put it. Trouble found him often at school—until his second-grade substitute teacher had an idea.
Instead of discipline, she handed him a pen and paper. “Art was a way to express myself and have people focus positive attention on me,” Vander Veen recalled. That small act of encouragement changed the trajectory of his life.
In third grade, Bradley won his first art competition with a self-portrait. In high school, he began leaving his mark on walls – through four murals. His favorite, a World War II D-Day tribute, tested his skill. “It challenged me using only gray scale and working on shadow placements,” he said.
Now 32, Vander Veen’s art has found a new home in Destin. His heavy acrylics and flowing pours echo the rhythms of the sea. With several currently on display at the Destin Library, his paintings capture a world of marine life, landscapes, and playful perspectives.
“My work is a collection of places, animals, and experiences,” he explained. “It’s about understanding the planet’s environments and transforming them into a unique outlook of fun and creativeness, giving people a reminder of life’s simple pleasures that our planet offers daily.”
One signature element of his work is the way he incorporates repurposed materials. Seashells, sand, and recyclables aren’t just objects to him—they’re textures, memories, and reminders of shared responsibility. “We’re not the only animals using the water,” he said. “I hope it inspires people to clean up after being at the beach.”
While his canvases continue to draw attention, Vander Veen also runs a full-time remodeling business—painting, power washing, and tackling nearly every task “except roofs and pools.” Art, though, remains a passion. He welcomes commissions and is currently at work on a custom mural for Café Bienville in Niceville.
Vander Veen holds a bachelor’s degree in Museum Studies and Gallery Practices from the University of Colorado, a program steeped in the care, conservation, and curation of cultural works.
For Destin locals and visitors alike, his pieces can be viewed through the end of 2025.
Among the color, the grit, and the movement of the pieces lies something even more profound—the reminder that creativity can change a life.
