My Submission To The 2018 Guggenheim Fellowship

The application for the Guggenheim Fellowship took nearly a year to complete. The two step process involved the development of a project then, if accepted, the submission of artistic images. Many hours went into deciding just the right pieces for submission. Little direction is given to guide the applicant, and I found myself second guessing my decisions at times. It wasn't a simple process of choosing my favorite works, nor was it a simple one in developing a project the members would find interesting and worthy of further consideration. My goal was to show the board members my skills as an artist with the ability to produce art in diverse genres. The pieces I settled on reflected opposing styles that included tight realism, non-static impressionism (blurred dream-liked mages), mixed media paintings, and ink drawings. From my observation of the winners in the previous years, I knew I was taking a risk by not following the path of the "Tate Museum Model" of artists. I decided to follow my own heart and style that showcases artistic beauty that has been a standard for hundreds of years. I've never intended to emulate the masters of the past but do embrace beauty as an element that is essential to the human DNA; beauty is an element which we can see at every sunrise and every sunset. I may never again make the effort to apply for this prestigious award but take great pride in completing this journey. I aimed for the sky and enjoyed every step along the way. Thank you to the people that have helped me along the way including my parents, teachers, especially the late Dr. Furman Finck, Dean of DuCret School of Art, the references I asked to confirm my artistic ability (Stephen, Carl, Leslie and Terri), and my wife Kathy Buechel who has inspired me in so many ways. Below are the 18 works I was asked to submit to the panel of judges, along with a link of all the fine art winners. Many congratulations to them all.

On April 4, 2018, the Board of Trustees of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation approved the awarding of 173 Guggenheim Fellowships (including two joint Fellowships) to a diverse group of scholars, artists, and scientists. Appointed on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise, the successful candidates were chosen from a group of almost 3,000 applicants in the Foundation’s ninety-fourth competition. - (Link)

Eric Buechel Fine Art/ The Bee Hive Atelier

P.O. Box 277

Pleasant Hill Tennessee 38578

(931) 881-7806

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