Leland Erickson brings a lifetime of artistry, teaching, and craftsmanship to the table — and the brush. A retired professor with lifetime of experience in his passion, Leland has guided students through the world of education in various studies. He was a Henley Putnam University professor for his demonstrated expertise in military history. A true craftsman at heart, Leland blends salvaged parts with a passion for creative experimentation. With a substantial knowledge in the origins of disruptive camouflage painting and an arsenal of war-time design in history, his art in war minis has an edge in hyperrealism and creativity! His miniature work draws on a vast toolkit of methods — airbrushing, glazing, layering, non-metallic metal (NMM) effects, weathering, and basing — resulting in pieces that look like they’ve leapt off the screen of a cinematic fantasy or sci-fi epic. He has a lifetime of study in military history combined with nearly a half century of accumulated practical experience and knowledge of figure painting and model building.

In his Miniature Painting Classes at Purple Dragon Games, Leland offers accessible, inspiring instruction for painters of all experience levels. Whether you’re picking up your first brush or refining advanced techniques, you’ll find his sessions to be equal parts educational and energizing. Students praise his patient teaching style, deep technical insight, and ability to make every project feel like a work of art.

Leland’s philosophy is simple: every miniature has a story to tell — and the right brush in the right hand can make it come alive. Join him to discover how to turn small figures into mighty works of imagination and skill, guided by a teacher who paints not only with color, but with wisdom.