A two-time Creative Power winner, native Wisconsinite, and longtime Madison artist, Bill Beese grew up in Wausau in the 1950’s and 60’s. Beese studied art at UW-Marathon and UW-Madison. He derived the inspiration for his work from nature, whether real or imagined. As an artist with multiple disabilities, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and PTSD, Beese worked with Arts for All Wisconsin for many years. “It has been an outlet for my work — selling it and just getting it out there to be seen,” he says. “Working with AFA I have realized that no matter how bad you have it, there’s always someone who has it worse. Feeling sorry for yourself gets you nowhere.” Bill Beese died in 2024, though his art continues on.