Contemporary Artists | Period Artists (A-H) | Period Artists (H-Z)

Erik Leighton Koeppel

The Return Oil on canvas, 30 x 26 inches

In 1999 while attending the Rhode Island School of Design, Erik first studied with painter, Seaver Leslie. Following his very insightful course, Erik was honored with a summer apprenticeship at Seaver's studio on a farm in coastal Maine. Days were split between painting and farm work, beginning at the crack of dawn and ending with the setting sun. This was as much a lesson in life as it was in painting. In the eight years since, Erik has returned every summer, and has learned everything from peel-pole architecture in the rustic tradition to the secrets of finding delectable mushrooms in the forest. He also has performed exhaustive studies on advanced linear perspective, sacred geometry, and color theory. All being applied to studies in nature, and studio paintings constructed from his imagination. Most importantly, Erik cultivated an invincible drive for his work, and in his words "the ruthless perfectionism that is necessary to properly complete a painting."

After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2002, Erik spent two years studying at the New York Academy of Art, in Tribeca (New York City). This was a time of intensive study of the human figure, and an introduction to the New York City art scene. "Advanced human anatomy was combined with rigorous study of the live model. This training was very helpful in my efforts to craft ideal figures from my imagination. Throughout these periods of education I continued to expand on a body of finished paintings in whatever time I had to spare." ELK

Following his studies at the Academy, Erik spent one year teaching privately and painting. In this time he did numerous full scale master copies of multi-figure compositions from Raphael and other artists including figures, fabrics, animals, architecture, and landscape.