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BILL NEBEKER

ARTIST BIO INQUIRE
 
Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets.
Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets. Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets. Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets. Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets. Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets. Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.” <br> <br>Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets.
Untitled23 1/2 x 18 1/4 x 8 1/2 in.(59.69 x 46.36 x 21.59 cm) bronze
Provenance
Private Collection
Born in 1947, Bill Nebecker grew up along the Snake River in Idaho. He carved horses and dogs as a boy but never considered becoming an artist. He first learned the craft of saddle making but was inspired to begin sculpting in 1964 when he attended a show of paintings and sculptures by George Phippen. When Phippen died two years later, Nebecker took a job at his foundry, the Bear Paw Bronze Works in Scull Valley, operated by Phippen's son. His big break came in 1972 when John Wayne learned Nebecker had sculpted a portrait statue of him, and Nebecker and his wife presented it to “the Duke.”

Nebecker's sculptures are well-researched and impress as authentic depictions of the historical American West in the tradition of Charles Russel and Frederick Remington. As Nebecker quickly reminds us, 'Western art is honest and realistic. Western art is portraying a way of life that people take seriously. If you don't portray it correctly, it irritates those who do know what was real.' Nebecker's sculptures sell on both the primary and secondary markets.
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