Biography of Orville L. Bealer
Orville Bealer was born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. A natural born artist, Orville expressed his love of nature beginning at a young age, producing drawings, woodcarvings and oil paintings that could match those of a well-seasoned artist.
Orville had never taken an art class and when he expressed his desire to do so, he was discouraged by many accomplished artists who felt that he would lose some of his natural ability if he did. As you can tell by his artwork, no classes were needed!
Orville started oil painting at a young age, producing such works as “The Constitution” and “The Little Nurse” as gifts for his family. He also did several bird paintings in oil.
Orville began selling his artwork when he embarked upon a sign business, using his art to embellish many elaborate signs in and around north central Montana. His work also included murals painted on motorcycle tanks and pinstriping.
As his artwork became more widely known, he was commissioned to do large murals for bible conventions that depicted the natural beauty of the mountains. Many of these murals were between 12’ and 20’ wide, painted on canvas and stretched. In the 1960s, Orville was commissioned by a New York bible society to paint a large mural for their office building. His first commercial painting, Lake Maligne, was sold to Frank Kreska in 1967.
Until his death in 1995, Orville painted the love for nature that he held in his heart, following the pattern set by the detail artist Albert Bierstadt. The more you view his art, the more you are drawn into the peace and tranquility that comes from the beauty of mountain landscapes. Orville believed that natural beauty endures forever and with his wonderful talent, he has proven that to be true.
