February 21, 1934 - November 18, 2024

Bill W. Dodge is recognized as one of the most popular artists living in the Pacific Northwest. His depictions of life in Astoria, Oregon (his adopted home) hang in hundreds of homes throughout the region. The internationally recognized Columbia River Maritime Museum honored his colorful naive works in 2009 with a 50-year retrospective. 

Now in his  90's he continues to paint daily and reproductions of his works are available as hand-signed prints, note cards, jigsaw puzzles, and magnets, among other collectible items. During his more than half-century of painting, his originals have found their way into the collections of such celebrities as Opera Diva Beverly sills, Broadway Tony winner Dorothy Loudon, and Academy Award winner Joan Fontaine among many other entertainment and political personalities, including former President Reagan's daughter, Maureen. In 1988 he was invited by the White House to paint a wooden egg for the White House Annual Easter Egg Roll. It was displayed with other noted artists and cartoonists eggs on the White House lawn in a special exhibition created by the Smithsonian where it is now housed in the First Ladies Easter Egg Roll collection. A thank you letter for his contribution from Nancy Reagan proudly hangs on the wall of his studio. 

Copies of his works have been given away as prizes on such popular television shows as "The Price is Right" and "Wheel of Fortune." TV soap opera viewers are familiar with his art which was used to decorate the permanent sets of "All My Children" for almost four years. One major work was featured in a key scene in the Margo Kidder starring motion picture, "Trench Coat" and another appeared in the TV series "Falcon Crest." Most recently a painting was requested for the set of "The Prom" starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, and Nicole Kidman. He has done original painting for such International corporations as Nestle, Libby, McNeil & Libby, and Dole Pineapple. 

A very unusual background note about the artist is that he was born in the Charlie Chaplin Movie Studios in Hollywood in 1934 where his father was a member of the noted film star's electrical crew.

Bill gathers all of the historical monuments, businesses, Victorian homes, boats of all sizes on the Columbia, the Megler Bridge, historical events, and day to day life in Astoria, Oregon in his paintings and prints.