Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1947, Al Lofsness was educated at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He graduated in 1970 with a B.F.A. degree in painting. He married in 1972 and has two adult children, and four grandchildren.
His early career was in commercial art as a creative director, designer and art director. in 1999 he left the applied arts and began painting full-time. His paintings have been popular with a diverse audience.
Since 1999 he has sold paintings to collectors in the United States, Europe and Australia. His hobbies include mystery novels, cooking and travel.