Raymond Chapman ARTIST, SIGN PAINTER, MAN OF FAITH By FRED AFFLERBACH | Photography contributed
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lthough he’s lived in Bell County for more than 70 years, you’ve probably never heard of Raymond Chapman. Nevertheless, you have likely seen some of his handiwork. Humbly yet methodically, Chapman has spent a lifetime painting, building and installing artistic, eye-catching signs. From banners at Belton High School in the 1960s, to signs at Scott & White Hospital, Temple Mall and the McLane Co., to a tea room in Cameron and a photography studio in Salado, Chapman has left an indelible mark on the community. Now that he has retired from sign making, Chapman has seized an opportunity to explore new mediums—oil on canvas and pencil to paper. He now accepts some work on commission, but will not commit to deadline. Six decades of waking early and working late was enough. “It was a thrill to do exactly what I had dreamed of for the past 60 or so years. I would not trade them for anything,” Chapman said. “So, I work for myself now. Instead of working to please the customer, only thing I have to do is please me.” But there is another side of the man behind the paintbrushes and pencils, the drills and saws and routers. Inasmuch as Chapman is known for his artistic touch, he is also revered for a lifetime of generously giving his time to those in need. At age 75, his faith and love of art have coalesced into a beautiful human tapestry. He often uses his craft to express his devotion to God and helping others. Some of his work has special meaning. After years counseling several times a week at Christian Farms-Treehouse, a rehabilitation center in Temple, Chapman created a pencil drawing of a man who was living there in an effort to get his life back on track. In a piece called “Never Alone,” a young
man sits at a picnic table and reads the Bible, a translucent Christ-like figure looking over his shoulder. Chapman said a courtyard at the rehab center was the inspiration for that scene. His counseling work at Christian Farms-Treehouse has affected another piece as well, one titled “The Way.” At first glance, you may recognize the underpass on the old highway between Belton and Temple. But there is more. “When people leave that rehabilitation center, when they graduate, they go through that underpass. I got the idea they’re going from that darkness into light. Everything being chaotic, that is their way out of addiction.” And upon close examination, you can find a faint telephone pole in the background that looks like a cross. A longtime friend and fellow member at Belton Church of Christ, Mickey Blanks, fondly recalls some of the numerous presentations he’s collaborated on with Chapman. Blanks would use photos of his English springer spaniel, Sadie, leaping five feet in the air to snatch a Frisbee or ball to illustrate how we should live life with zest. After Sadie died, Chapman stopped by for a surprise visit. “Next thing I know, Raymond shows up with this picture, a flashback when she was a young, energetic, full-of-life dog. It hangs in my living room,” Blanks said. “He’s very creative, has a fantastic artist’s eye. Very humble. He is a friend and a mentor to so many people. He is one of a kind. Evolving and maturing as an artist, he is an emerging talent that people need to keep their eye on.” Chapman spent his youth wandering the banks Continued
Raymond Chapman is seen in his studio where he now works on sketches and paintings at his own pace. TEXAPPEALMAG.COM
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