Douglas A. Teeples was born in the small mountain town of Salmon City, Idaho. Raised as a fun loving boy within a
close family unit, Douglas was encouraged to develop his artistic talents, and
praised whenever he sketched portraits of family members.
At the young age of twelve years, Douglas was awarded a scholarship to an art
college for submitting a charcoal/pencil sketch to a national contest. He had to
refuse the award because of his age. Early the next year, however, he won
another contest in which he took first place in his age group in the entire
state of Idaho. This contest was judged by a board of nationally famous artists.
Pencil and charcoal sketching, along with pastel painting, were a large part of
his life throughout high school and college years. While attending the
University of Utah Douglas studied under the world-renowned sculpture, Avard
Fairbanks. Among Douglas' early sculpture pieces was a self-portrait which
brought acclaim from his teacher and fellow students.
Douglas began painting with oils in 1969. He taught himself but gleaned his
techniques from many different artists, among whom was Brownell McGrew. Douglas
painted a
oil portrait of Brownell
in 1979 and presented it to him at an art show in
Laguna Beach, California. That same year he was commissioned to paint a three
generation portrait of Tino Tuiolosega, the next heir to the title of King of
the Olosega Islands in Samoa.
In 1980 Douglas donated a large (four-foot by six-foot) oil painting to the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Its theme was "Christ Blessing
Children". The 80s proved to be a maturing time for Doug's art. In an interview,
Douglas stated, "It's a thrill to watch each painting come to life as the
personality of a new figure emerges from nothingness to become a radiating
vibrant personality." His enthusiasm is evident by the large number of paintings
he produces each year. Douglas received his Native American name from his Navajo
foster daughter. She named him “Three Feather” and embroidered the shirt shown
in the photo on this linked page. D.A.Teeples' artistic signature always includes three eagle feathers.
In December of 1987 Douglas made a step in a new direction. He traveled abroad
with his family to photograph and paint people with cultures different from his
own. The next full year was spent in
Saipan, Thailand, Vietnam and the
Philippine Islands. Hundreds of photographs were taken and dozens of paintings
and sketches resulted. He developed a skill and interest in painting portraits
of children during this adventure.
After returning to the United States, Doug's main interest returned from
painting children and working people to the western theme of rugged mountain
men, native Americans, and historical figures. He and his wife moved to the
hills of Indiana in 1992. There he designed and built their house and his dream
art studio. He works today in his studio, away from the confusion of congested
America. He lives a peaceful productive life on what he gratefully calls his
"Meadows".
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