Eric Buechel grew up in Randolph, New Jersey, where his artistic talents became evident at an early age. 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 frequently traveled to New York City to immerse himself in the works of the great masters at various museums. After completing high school, he received a scholarship from the New Jersey Art Directors Club and enrolled at DuCret School of Art in Plainfield, New Jersey. There, he learned from Dr. Furman J. Finck, an artist and educator, gaining invaluable insights into the importance of paying attention to detail. Later, he transferred to Broward Community College in South Florida to earn a fine arts degree. Immediately after graduating, Eric launched his professional journey in Manhattan as an illustrator and eventually 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 entering the environment. His company, Advanced Recovery, also extracted precious metals from discarded circuit boards. His work garnered significant media attention, including a feature article on the front page of The New York Times and other major newspapers and network news programs worldwide. In the same year, United States Senator Lautenberg nominated Eric for the New Jersey Science and Technology Award. Although his career took a detour, his passion for art remained. In late 2003, he sold his company and relocated to Tennessee, enabling him to fully dedicate himself to his artistic endeavors, such as creating art, writing, and teaching child and adult art classes. A nationally recognized artist, Eric has received multiple awards, including 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 their property with his wife and grandchildren. He also stays very busy tending to their bees, the gardens, chickens, dogs, and cats while seeking inspiration for his next project, which involves writing stories that inspire those who are young at heart.