Time Spent With Our Pets Is Never Wasted Print

**Artist Statement:** As a national award-winning artist with roles including painter, graphic designer, illustrator, photographer, art director, and art history lecturer, my work reflects themes of change and the challenges that come with it. Life's obstacles serve as pathways to new experiences, reminding me that change is the only constant. This transformation doesn’t come easily; it is achieved through persistent effort. Shifting one’s perspective can fundamentally alter how we see the world around us. **Short Biography:** I was raised in a rural area in northern New Jersey, just west of Manhattan. My artistic foundation was laid by my father, Ernest J. Buechel Sr., a talented artist and master-modeler from Koblenz, Germany. After dedicating my youth to studying the great masters and honing my skills, I received a scholarship from the New Jersey Art Directors Club in 1977 and attended the DuCret School of Art. My experiences included numerous visits to prestigious museums in New York City, where I met Furman J. Finck, a prominent portrait painter. His mentorship taught me the art of creating highly detailed portraits using Wolff's carbon pencils. Following my studies, I attended Broward College and earned a fine arts degree before beginning my career as an illustrator and graphic designer in New Jersey and New York City. In 1991, my path shifted as I started exploring electronic recycling, particularly with precious metals, circuit boards, and cathode ray tubes. My innovative work gained recognition, leading to a feature story in the New York Times in 1993 and a nomination for The New Jersey Pride Award in Science and Technology for my efforts in lead recovery from cathode ray tube glass. Eventually, my company, Advanced Recovery, helped with the cleanup of the Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. After selling the business in 2002, I moved to Tennessee, where I opened an art store, gallery, café, and art restoration studio. However, my life took another turn when I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to a three-year battle that ultimately inspired me to incorporate photography into my art. Throughout this journey, I held onto the belief expressed by Chuck Close: "Inspiration Is for Amateurs; The Rest of Us Just Show Up and Get to Work." My artwork has been exhibited in galleries across the U.S.