Ol' Smokey Print

Eric Buechel grew up in Randolph, New Jersey, where his artistic talents became evident early on. He had the privilege of learning many techniques from his father, Ernest J. Buechel, Sr., a skilled artist and master ship-modeler. As a youth, Eric often traveled to New York City to immerse himself in the works of great masters at various museums. After finishing high school, he received a scholarship from the New Jersey Art Directors Club and enrolled at the DuCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. There, he learned from Dr. Furman J. Finck, an artist and educator, gaining valuable insights into the importance of paying attention to detail. Later, he transferred to Broward Community College in South Florida to earn a degree in fine arts. Immediately after graduating, Eric began his professional career in Manhattan as an illustrator and later as an art director. In 1991, he shifted gears to pioneer a recycling process that reclaimed electronic waste, including cathode ray tube scrap, effectively preventing millions of tons of lead from polluting the environment. His company, Advanced Recovery, also extracted precious metals from discarded circuit boards. His work attracted significant media attention, including a front-page feature in The New York Times and coverage from major newspapers and network news programs worldwide. That same year, U.S. Senator Lautenberg nominated Eric for the New Jersey Science and Technology Award. Although his career took a different path, his passion for art remained. In late 2003, he sold his company and moved to Tennessee to focus fully on his artistic pursuits, including creating art, writing, and teaching art classes for children and adults. A nationally recognized artist, Eric has received multiple awards, such as Best in Show at the Knoxville Dogwood National Exhibition and Best in Show from the Arts & Culture Alliance of Knoxville. Besides his art, he is a member of his church choir and enjoys spending time on his property with his wife and grandchildren. He also cares for their bees, chickens, dogs, and cats while seeking inspiration for his next project, which involves writing stories to inspire those who are young at heart.