Teen uses word of mouth to get business

Ran on Thursday, July 12, 2007

Teen uses word of mouth to get business

By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff

STANLEY — Some childhood hobbies fizzle and fade into memory. Chevy Studler's high school hobby is as obvious as the painting on the wall and will remain that way. In fact, it is the painting on the wall.
The 17-year-old has been commissioned around his hometown of Stanley to paint large murals on the walls of local businesses.
His first one was at a bar and liquor store, American Pride on Broadway street in Stanley. It was a replica of Joe Rosenthal's famous World War II photograph of the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima.
After the success and popularity of that painting, Studler's work began to snowball in interest.
American Pride lunch patron Liz Naylor of Stanley watched while Studler painted the patriotic-themed piece earlier this year.
"For such a young man, he's very talented," she said. "He has a good future ahead of him."
Fellow patron and town resident Mary Kirschner agreed.
"It is beautiful — very gorgeous," she said.
Studler got the mural job in the tavern after bar owner Darold Wall approved a sample of his work. He has since asked Studler to create three more paintings in the bar and some in his home.
John McLoone, owner and publisher of the Stanley Republican, was so impressed with the painting in the bar, he had Studler paint a large version of the nation's bird, the bald eagle, in the newspaper's office.
"I like eagles," McLoone said. "It looks cool; we get a lot of compliments on it; people come in just to see it."
Americana-themed paintings aren't the only work Studler does.
"I can paint anything," he said when Naylor asked him if he could paint a butterfly in her home.
Phil Miller has a private airport and hangar outside Stanley. On an airport wall there, Studler will recreate planes being built.
Right now he's working on a blue and white plane called the "Titan Tornado" on a blue and green background and has clearance to paint three more aviation-themed pieces. The owner and airport names are integrated into the painting in a graffiti style. "My favorite part is the graffiti," Studler said.
He uses brushes to freehand most of the pieces, and has started using an airbrush technique. Studler buys all of his supplies with a portion of the money he earns painting. He is saving the rest of the money for college tuition.
Studler hopes to go to a technical college in Wyoming to study automotive body work after he finishes his last year of high school at Stanley-Boyd in 2008.
His mother, Di Studler, is proud of each of her three sons, but is especially anxious to see her youngest son be the first to go to college.
"I'm very proud of him," she said. "I definitely encourage him."
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203.