Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Bernard D'Andrea had artistic talent that manifested itself at an early age. He received a full scholarship to Pratt Institute and was drafted into the army during his third year of study. It is there that he began his first job in the art field by illustrating the army training manuals.

After his miltary service D'Andrea began a career in advertising, working at a major agency in New York, Cooper Studios. Citing Norman Rockwell as one of his inspirations during this time, D'Andrea created illustrations for publications such as Good Housekeeping, Saturday Evening Post, and National Geographic. Successful at this profession, D'Andrea continued producing illustrations for almost fifty years, his work becoming strongly influenced during the 1960's and 1970's by the new movement of Abstract Expressionism.

After many years in illustration, D'Andrea began taking painting classes at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. It was there that D'Andrea began to be inspired by the works of Jackson Pollock, Willem Kooning, Arshile Gorky and other artists of the New York School.

Over many decades, the artwork of D'Andrea has evolved from Rockwell inspired illustrations to large abstract canvases frought with personal meaning and emotion.

Currently living in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, D'Andrea continues to explore the methods and practice of abstract expressionist painting.