After all of our research and thoughts about Robert William Meyers it is a real pleasure to comment on this wonderful artist. Robert William Meyers was born in New York City in 1919. The son of strict parenting, his parents had hopes of another accountant in the family. It must have caused some stir when he turned his direction to his artwork. His art career was prompted toward the West by movies he enjoyed as a boy.

He studied at the Grand Central Art School and at the age of nineteen used a neighbor boy for the above work.

Other studies included the National Academy of Design with Ivan Olinsky and the Traphagen School of Fashion. A review of Bob's work shows his true mastering of figures in his work. After World War II, he began illustrating for children's books and western paperbacks.

In December of 1950, he began his employment with the Charles E. Cooper Studios of New York, New York. After just a few weeks, he met James Bama and they formed a friendship lasting for the rest of their lives. From approximately 1952 to 1962 he completed ninety-four illustrations for short stories in the Saturday Evening Post. Bob also did illustrations for True and Argosy magazines. The Saturday Evening Post evolved from the issues in 1950 where virtually the entire magazine was done with illustrations to later there becoming fewer and fewer illustrations. Bob could see the "writing was on the wall" as to the future of the commercial illustrator. All of the issues early on were magnificent in their design and use of illustrations including even the commercial advertisements.

In 1960, he moved his family to the 300 acre Circle M Ranch on the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Yellowstone National Park, fifty miles from Cody, Wyoming. Tragically Bob's life and career ended in 1970 over a dispute with a neighbor who attempted to have an easement through the Circle M. During the summer of 1970, Meyers was inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America but was never able to participate in their annual show.

Bob Meyers was just living a way of life. Robert W. Meyers was a visionary who could see the ending of the commercial illustration world and recognized his love for the west.

Gary L. Temple and Marylee M. Moreland

"#69 Untitled-Tree and Wagon"
(Watercolor)