Lawrence Van Alstyne II was born in Syracuse, NY. Early on, Van Alstyne showed signs of artistic talent, and by the age of 8, he was enrolled and attended art classes at Syracuse University. He later returned to the Syracuse University Art School after receiving a Liberal Arts degree from Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks.

Van Alstyne descends from the original Dutch settlers that landed along Hudson River in the early 1600’s. Many of his ancestors eventually settled in Sackets Harbor, NY. It was there, during the War of 1812, his great grandfather, a US Navy Captain, sank a British warship in the harbor.

After college, Larry moved to Lake Placid to teach skiing and enjoy the Adirondack lifestyle. As a ski instructor, and former racer, Van Alstyne has conveyed much of the excitement and feeling for this dynamic sport in many of his works. One of his many ski posters was chosen as the official poster for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid. Prints were created for all the major events and sold all over the world. To date, the Lake Placid Post Office proudly displays a 1980 Olympic limited-edition print.

In 1967, Lawrence Van Alstyne joined the USCG. He worked with the PIO Office as Diplomatic Relations Officer. He was soon appointed Official Artist for the Coast Guard and served with USCG Public Relations until he was honorably discharged in 1970.

During that time, the Department of the U.S. Air Force, by invitation of the Secretary, invited Van Alstyne to visit and illustrate air bases and commands around the world. In 1968, he was commissioned to do a portrait of President Lyndon Johnson, and in 1975 he presented a painting at the White House for President Gerald Ford.

In 1976, Van Alstyne was invited to take part in the U.S. Bicentennial celebration Opsail '76. He sailed aboard the 295’ USCG training barque Eagle from Newport to New York City, and then on the Hudson River in the July 4th Tall Ships Parade to capture the color and excitement of the occasion with his art.

Again in 1984, Van Alstyne traveled to Quebec as a guest of the U.S. Coast Guard to photograph and illustrate the splendor of the tall ships event which included the Eagle at Quebec City’s 450th Celebration.

In 1986, by invitation of the U.S. Government, Van Alstyne again sailed aboard the Eagle with celebrated journalist and anchor Walter Cronkite and went on to produce a limited-edition print of the Statue of Liberty. The print was used for fund raising purposes.

In August of 2000, while President Clinton and his family were visiting Skaneateles, Van Alstyne presented the first family with a signed print of the village. The President, his wife and daughter promptly signed it and returned it to Van Alstyne. It now hangs at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles, NY.

Van Alstyne is an accomplished watercolorist, but he also works in acrylic and photography. Being a versatile artist his work fits no one category. Throughout his career Van Alstyne's work has grown in magnitude. He applies his talent to industry and business, using quality graphic design for the needs of the modern business world. He is a master of his craft and feels that original art is always in demand.

Van Alstyne has been commissioned by many colleges and universities to create prints and posters that capture the architecture and overall atmosphere of the various campuses.

His work is included in many private collections in both the United States and abroad, as well as in the permanent collections of the Pentagon and White House in Washington, D.C.