Meet Bill and Merry Harkins Nebeker of Western Sculpture in Prescott

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill and Merry Harkins Nebeker.

Bill Nebeker grew up in Prescott, Arizona, and holds a reverence for the cowboys who settled the surrounding ranchlands and admires the cultures of Native Americans. As a boy, he got his first taste for Western life when his dad was a cowboy on the Long Meadow Ranch north of Prescott. Then attending an art show in 1964, by George Phippen, first president of the Cowboy Artists of America, Bill was inspired to sculpt. By 1967 he was sculpting in earnest, and showed his work to Phippen’s widow, Louise, sought her advice, was hired on the spot and worked for ten years learning the process of bronze casting from her son, Ernie. Long hot days making waxes, casting other artists’ works and studying Phippen’s extensive library inspired Bill to cultivate his God-given talent, which has developed into his illustrious 50-year career.

Nebeker’s first big career break came in 1974 when he sculpted a portrait statue of John Wayne. The Duke put his signature in the base of each of the 12 numbered editions cast, as an endorsement of Bill’s work. Bill presented that bronze to Mr. Wayne at his ranch in Arizona, and now it is proudly on display at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

A member of the Cowboy Artists of America since 1978, Bill served as President for the fourth time during 2015, the CAA’s 50th anniversary year. He has won Silver, Gold, Best of Show and Kieckhefer/Phoenix Art Museum purchase awards, as well as the 2009 Ray Swanson Memorial Award at the Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale; the 2016 Briscoe Western Art Museum’s James Bowie Sculpture Award, and Express Ranches Great American Cowboy Award at the 2016 Prix de West Exhibition & Sale. Nebeker’s sculptures are in collections of the Booth Museum, Cartersville, GA; Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, AZ; Eitlejorg Museum of Western Art, Indianapolis, IN; Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, TX; National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City; Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY; Palms Springs Museum, CA; Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ; and the Phoenix Art Museum, AZ.

The Arizona Historical Society and Arizona’s State Official Historian, Marshall Trimble honored Bill as a “2009 Arizona Culturekeeper”. That award is presented to Arizonans who have made a positive impact on Arizona’s history, culture, economy, and civic leadership, and for donating over 100 bronze sculptures over his almost 50-year career, which were auctioned or raffled to raise almost $300,000.00 for non-profits and charities throughout the Prescott area and around Arizona. Bill has been commissioned to sculpt four larger than life, public monuments in the State of Arizona; “Early Prescott Settlers” 1985; “Territorial Sheriff” in Glendale 1992; “AZ DPS Memorial to Fallen Officers” in Phoenix 1998; and “If Horses Could Talk” to be unveiled in Prescott 2019. Also, “Robert C. Norris – Boss of the T-Cross” at Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo in Colorado Springs, “The Eyes of Texas” at the Briscoe Museum in San Antonio, and “Capt. William (Bill) Gary”, at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX. Nebeker was honored as the 2014 Grand Marshall of Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo Parade, for his 50 years of keeping Arizona history alive through his cowboy, Indians, lawmen, outlaws & animal bronze sculptures.

Bill Nebeker has had many feature articles in Arizona Highways, Art of the West, Horse and Rider, Phoenix Home & Garden, Southwest Art, Western Art Collector, and Western Horseman magazines. Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ & Jackson, WY; Broadmoor Gallery at Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, CO; Texas Treasures Fine Art Gallery, Boerne, TX; and Mountain Spirit Gallery in Prescott, AZ; proudly showcase Nebeker’s sculptures.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No career road in life is totally smooth. My struggles to get started and actually learn what kind of clay, tools, and information was extremely difficult. Because I was so shy, I was afraid to ask for advice, and made several ugly sculptures out of water-based clay, instead of oil-based clay that can go through the Lost-Wax Process of bronze casting. Several frustrating times of my clays falling apart and crumbling. Trying to overcome my shyness so I could go to Scottsdale art galleries and try to convince them to carry my sculptures caused me many times of breaking out in hives and severe stomach problems. I had to struggle with fears of not being able to pay our mortgage in the early years because my wife, Merry had three little children she stayed home to raise. She did help by being a seamstress, Avon lady, ironing neighbors clothes and any other work she could do while home. When finally somewhat successful, it was hard for me to request to be represented by new galleries in several states and getting invited to more prestigious museum art exhibitions and sales. My struggles have not ended, but now it is working through the daily pain of arthritis, making myself push clay on large pieces for many hours. However, it has all been more than worth it and I feel blessed to have made a living, and had some successes in the work I love to do. My wife has always said, “my career has been a hobby that got out of hand.”

Please tell us about Western Sculpture.
My business name is Western Sculpture, Inc. I sculpt characters of the historic West; including cowboys, Native Americans of diverse tribal affiliation, old West outlaws and lawmen, Western wildlife, contemporary ranchers, lawmen, and military heroes. I work at my studio connected to our home in Prescott. I also oversee every sculpture that is sent to my local foundry, Thumb Butte Bronze, which is only two miles from my home. I am there at least two-three times each week. I check the correct placement of saddles, ropes, feathers, rifles, knives, hats, etc. and supervise the final patina (coloration) of my bronzes. I am best known for the historic accuracy and detail to my historic Native Americans, cowboys, clothing, horses, saddles and other gear. I am most proud that my business is known for its absolute integrity and reasonable pricing. It is run by me, my wife and two other part-time employees, and that through the bronzes sold over 50 years, I have supported over 10-20 other men and women at the foundry I am the major artist for whom they cast bronzes. I think I am different because of our ability to make and keep close friends with my clients, collectors, foundry workers, gallery and museum staff for 50 years.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I should have taken more instruction in drawing with local art teachers. Because I was so shy and did NOT like to draw, I was too intimidated to get drawing classes. I still don’t like to draw, and when I’m required to do so, I am terribly nervous. When I begin a new sculpture I don’t draw it out, or design it on paper, I use visualization. I have an idea of what my subject will be and continue for days “imagining” what I want it to look like finished. Then as I begin to build my armature, and pushing the first clay upon it, my concept crystalizes. As my sculpture grows I bend, shape and change what I feel is not correct or isn’t good composition. This makes me much slower in creating and finishing my work than other artists. I wish I had more drawing strengths.

Contact Info:

• Address: Bill Nebeker/Western Sculpture, Inc.
  1830 Hereford Dr.
  Prescott, AZ 86305
• Website: www.billnebeker.com
• Phone: 928-899-6458
• Email: nebekerart@cableone.net
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BillNebekerCowboyArtistofAmerica

Image Credit:
Bill Nebeker, Merry Nebeker, Travis Nebeker

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