ART FOR SPORT?
Irvine16 x 12
Oil on Board
Looking at the peaceful landscapes of Dave Chapple it's hard to imagine that he was once a pro football player. In fact, he held the record for the NFL's longest punt in 1979! Now, he is better known for his beautiful California landscape paintings. But, those football days are not forgotten.
"I had spent six years playing football, and either I had to continue playing football until I was 35...or find out while I was still young if I could make it as an artist."
Country Road
16 x 12
Oil on Board
As a child, Dave became very ill and spent much of his time studying and sketching animal wildlife. Later, Dave learned a great deal more about animals and their habitats during his job as a taxidermist. These observational skills didn't fulfill their artistic potential yet. Dave found himself holding a key position at the Los Angeles Rams football team as their star kicker. With his passion for art and nature increasing, Dave spent the off-seasons painting wildlife and landscapes. In 1975 he took a chance and decided to pursue a career as an artist, leaving his pro football career for good.
He did make it as an artist! The discipline he learned from his football days came in handy when applied to his rigorous 60 hours per week painting schedule. As he began exhibiting at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, his work quickly found popularity. His beautiful hand-painted wildlife etchings, many of which you may remember, became wildly popular. Soon the commissions began rolling in, working for such golf legends as Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples, as well as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and prominent PGA courses.
"I had spent six years playing football, and either I had to continue playing football until I was 35...or find out while I was still young if I could make it as an artist."
Country Road16 x 12
Oil on Board
As a child, Dave became very ill and spent much of his time studying and sketching animal wildlife. Later, Dave learned a great deal more about animals and their habitats during his job as a taxidermist. These observational skills didn't fulfill their artistic potential yet. Dave found himself holding a key position at the Los Angeles Rams football team as their star kicker. With his passion for art and nature increasing, Dave spent the off-seasons painting wildlife and landscapes. In 1975 he took a chance and decided to pursue a career as an artist, leaving his pro football career for good.
He did make it as an artist! The discipline he learned from his football days came in handy when applied to his rigorous 60 hours per week painting schedule. As he began exhibiting at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, his work quickly found popularity. His beautiful hand-painted wildlife etchings, many of which you may remember, became wildly popular. Soon the commissions began rolling in, working for such golf legends as Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples, as well as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and prominent PGA courses.
Over thirty years after his initial leap into the art world, Dave is still in high demand as a artist, and we are proud to present a group of new landscapes. Dave's California landscapes are peaceful and handled in a traditional manner. His warm palette, balanced by cool greens and blues, evoke that temperate climate we all enjoy to the envy of others. Dave paints the historic California we can all appreciate.
In his painting Irvine, Dave depicts the way he remembers Irvine growing up, "When Irvine Blvd. was just a one lane street." Remember California's magestic Eucalyptus trees? Dave paints them with a nostalgic, appreciative eye. In Country Road, just imagine taking a stroll with a friend through this warm landscape sprinkled with vibrant orange and lavender wildflowers. You can't help but allow yourself to rest, take a deep breath and relax in front of his vision of California.
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