See the article, Bill Chappell, Cowboy Artist from the Winter, 2001 Edition of Cowboy Magazine™

Bill Chappell, Western Artist and Sculptor

A cowboy is a multi-talented person. An artist, too, is versatile. Combine the two in the personage of Bill Chappell, and the result is authentic Western scenes captured on canvas and in bronze.

Born in 1919, Chappell grew up as a west Texas ranch hand and experienced all the hardships and joys known by cowboys of a passing era. His early range life and keen-eyed observation shaped his thinking and his art. Before the age of 10 he was making clay sculptures, paintings, and wood and leather carvings. His leather work expanded into saddlery, and he began making silver buckles and accessories.

His wife, Fay, is a constant inspiration to his work. After their marriage, in 1939, Bill served in the Navy, having charge of occupational therapy in leather crafts at a California base. After the war he returned to Seymour, Texas, where he owned and operated a saddle and boot shop until 1953. It was during this time one of his most outstanding works was done, a life-size leather carving of Will Rogers. His leather carving and artistic skills were given recognition when he was commissioned to make the saddle for the World Champion Rodeo Cowgirl.

Bill has continually read about and tried new things. He became an avid oil painter after moving to Colorado in 1953 and now concentrates on paintings and bronzes. Both mediums find ready acceptance from collectors throughout the nation, and several people have reserved advance copies of each new Chappell bronze.

Magazine covers featuring his work:

• Cowboy Magazine
• Western Horseman
• Southwest Art
• Art West
• Numerous newspapers

Major resource book listings:

• Ten nationally-distributed Christmas/note cards by the Leanin' Tree Card Company of Boulder, Colorado.
• Since 1980 has done a painting each year for the South Texas Children's Home in Beeville, Texas that has been reproduced for their Christmas cards.
• Commissioned by Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas to produce the "Hardin-Simmons Cowboy" in bronze and painted the same in a rodeo setting.
• Featured artist at the International Art Show at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas

Major art collections in which Bill Chappell's work appears: