Robert Beatley's Visions of the West

Robert L. Beatley began drawing distinctive illustrations of everyday objects and the people of his rural, northwestern Oklahoma town before he reached school age. Recognizing that Robert exhibited a high degree of natural talent, a local doctor in his hometown of Cherokee sponsored Robert's first art classes at the age of thirteen. During high school, Robert learned all he could from his art teachers, as well as from local artists, and explored the use of a variety of media and multiple art forms. He was an avid reader of any and all art books available in area libraries, and took his early inspiration from the works of American Artists Walt Disney, Norman Rockwell, and Winslow Homer.

Robert majored in art education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.

He graduated in 1982 with a B.A. degree in Art Education, as well as a teaching certificate in Speech and Drama. He has been the District Art Director/Instructor for the Mooreland school system in Mooreland, Oklahoma, for the past 26 years. Robert has competed in, and won awards at, many area art competitions in Oklahoma, southern Kansas, and western Texas. In addition, Robert has been twice nominated for the Oklahoma Governor's Art Council, nominated for the Disney Art Teacher of the Year Award, and nominated three times for Who's Who in American Teachers. Mr. Beatley will have an exhibition from July 3^rd thru August 1^st 2009. A reception will be held on July 11^th Saturday from 2:00 pm  to 4:00 pm.