Bill Mittag paints the American West before the photographers (shadow catchers), soldiers and road builders changed it forever. Though he occasionally paints western and landscapes, he is primarily known for his Native American camp scenes. His oil paintings on linen have a historical quality about them, giving the viewer the feeling of “being there”.

Bill was born in West Texas and grew up in the sand hills of Southeastern New Mexico. Living 15 miles from the nearest small town, he had the freedom to roam the countryside on a “little paint mare”. “I shot bank robbers, chased Indians and won the Cheyenne Steer Roping several times a week” says Bill. “I guess that vivid childhood imagination was the start for my current subject matter”. Before he became serious with his art, Bill was health care administrator and competed in the rodeo scene in the team-roping event. An arthritic hip curtailed his love for his horses and sport and his wife Jeannie redirected his interest by giving him a beginner oil painting set. “That was almost 30 years ago with many failures and later successes”. Though he is primarily self-taught, he has taken some workshops at the Scottsdale Artists School and has painted with a number of the Cowboy Artists of America at the CA Museum. Painting full time, his work is in several major galleries and he exhibits in juried invitational shows throughout the United States.

Some of the more notable invitational art shows include the Gilcrease Museum (miniature show), C.M. Russell Museum, Albuquerque Museum (miniature show), Nita Stewart Haley Museum, Artists of the West show, Amarillo Rotary show, Coors Western Wildlife show, Mountain Oyster show and Settlers West (miniature show).

He has won several awards including recently the Western Art Roundup (Indian Heritage Award), featured and poster artist for the Art of the Rockies Guild and numerous first places and honorable mentions. His work is in the collections of corporate and private individuals throughout the United States and several foreign countries.