David Leffel

David Leffel biography:

David A. Leffel was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1931.  He was only four years old when he drew his father’s hat.  After that first drawing, he and friends often competed to see who could draw the best comic book characters.

He enrolled in Parson’s School of Design after high school where he studied advertising and design.  Following a series of jobs as a commercial artist he left the constraints of business and commercial art to pursue his own personal ideas.

In 1959-1960, Leffel studied at the Art Student’s League in New York City. There he developed the chiaroscuro technique that has led to his frequent tribute as a “20th-century old master.”  In 1972 Leffel returned to the Art Students League as an instructor.

Under the influence of the great 17th-century Dutch masters, especially Rembrandt, Leffel’s work reflects a personal belief that a painting must convey a sense of mystery and beauty.  Throughout the interplay of light and shadow, through texture and shape and color, Leffel transforms the simple and ubiquitous objects of everyday life into rich creations of enigma and presence.

Although he concentrates much of his efforts on still lifes and portraits, since his move to New Mexico in 1992, Leffel has done more landscape paintings with strong skies, dark clouds, and a magnificent shaft of light.  For the self-described light and shadow painter, the canvas presents the challenge to create “beauty and simplicity through colors, textures, shapes, lights, and darks, as they are the tools of the artist. If he can see.”

Paintings:

“Self Portrait”
David Leffel
Oil   4 3/4″ x 4 1/4″
$6,000

See additional information about “Self Portrait”.

“Copper Pot”
David Leffel
Oil   14″ x 18″
$15,000

See additional information about “Copper Pot”.

Do you have a David Leffel painting you would like to sell? We have clients interested in adding her artwork to their collections. Call us 602-730-2451 or email us sales@artzline.com.