Born in 1936 in New York City, Alan Lachman studied at Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts and the Art Students League in New York City where he studied under Robert Philipp, who at the time was called "one of the ten best painters in America" by critic Henry McBride. Robert Philipp took Lachman under his wing and invited Lachman on several occasions to his studio at Carnegie Hall. It was under Philipp's persistent tutelage that Lachman developed his painterly approach. His passion for color and expressionism would come later.

Lachman also studied at the Art Students League with pastelist Americo Difranza and quickly fell in love with pastels as well as keeping his passion for oils. He later filled ...