1964 Born in Big Sur, CA to artists:
Nancy Chappell - Designer / Painter and Walter Chappell - Photographer.

1964 – 1982 Formative years spent in rural settings in California and New Mexico. Many impressions absorbed from: parents work in studio, time among the vegetable garden, staying with Taos Pueblo friends, among parents dinner parties and social events with myriad of artists, poets, writers, musicians, dancers, film makers and eccentrics. Much time among hot springs, rivers and the sea.

1982 Graduated El Molino High School, Forestville, CA as honor student and athlete. Began attending Santa Rosa Junior College with study in Business and Computer Programming. Worked Nights as a chef at the Forestville Inn.

1984 After 3 month sojourn in the Colorado Rockies and time with father in New Mexico, began intensive study of photography at Santa Rosa Junior College under John Le Baron.

1986 Traveled to Southwest for printmaking apprenticeship with father. He introduced me to a whole school of 20th century photography including the work of Strand, Stieglitz, Adams, Weston, White, Cunningham, Caponigro and others. Fieldtrips made to: Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu Mosque, Bandelier Ntl. Monument, Taos and Santa Fe architectural studies. Visits to the studios of sculptor Tony Price, Painter Paul Shapiro, Painter David Barbero, Photographer Paul Caponigro. Began intensive study and work on the Northern California landscape and the Salt Point series. “Award of Excellence” for submissions to Photographer’s Forum Magazine. Three images selected for major group show at Santa Rosa Junior College Art Gallery, “50 years of Sonoma County Photography”. Assisted corporate / architectural photographer Burton Pritzker.

1987 Solo Show premiering “The Salt Point Portfolio” at the Bodega Landmark Gallery, Bodega, CA. Began friendship and professional relationship with gallery owner Lorenzo De Santis continuing to exhibit and sell work through his gallery to present day.

1988 Solo Show “ The Intimate Landscape” Bodega Landmark Gallery, Bodega, CA. Published three images and statement in Sonoma County Cultural Arts Calendar concurrent to show.

1989 Awarded “Kelly Scholarship for Art” Santa Rosa Junior College.
Began art studies at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA.

1990 Son, Morgan Tyler Chappell, born 12/5/90 Santa Rosa, CA

1991 Solo Show “Northern California Landscapes and Details” Bodega Landmark Gallery.
Solo Show “ The Sonoma Coast” Student Union Art Gallery, Sonoma State University. Student teaching photography lab section at Sonoma State University. Formalized the series in progress “Camp a Family Album”. Awarded “ Bolles Scholarship for Art” Sonoma State University.

1992 B.A. Art, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
“Award of Excellence” from juried show “Vision Sonoma” at California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA (currently SMOVA) cash prize and image published as note card.
Two Person Show “Silver, Gold, Platinum” Chappell and Ingalls at the Bodega Landmark Gallery. Son, Morgan, fell ill with neurological cancer. I stopped photographing until1995.

1994 Two Person Show “Black and White Photography by Chappell and Youngblood” at California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA (currently SMOVA). Accepted position as Advisory Board Member for ROP Photography program, Ukiah High School, Ukiah, CA 1994 to present.

1995 Began Photographic series “Les Fleurs Passionnees” the impassioned flowers. Formed friendship with poet/photographer Robert Kurtzfeld and painter Lorri Kurzfeld both instrumental in photographic reawakening. Photographic diptych “Iris and Eros” censored from Mendocino Savings Bank Floral show after 3 weeks into exhibition due to “erotic overtones”.

1996 Show “Selected Works by Chappell, Ingalls, Le Baron” at Bodega Landmark Gallery. Slide presentation on B+W photography for ROP Photo class, Ukiah High School, Ukiah, CA.

1997 Solo Show “ A 10 Year Survey” over 50 pieces in exhibition at the Finley Community Center, Santa Rosa, CA

1998 – 2000 Met Joan Emm, Mendocino artist, began working with Polaroid SX-70 manipulations. Made photographic trip to big Island of Hawaii. Sojourn to Southwest. Guided an 18’ raft for 280 miles photographing the Colorado River Grand Canyon. Photographic journey through Mono lake, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Monument Valley, Chama River, Abique, Plaza Blanca, Arches Ntl. Park. Final visit with my father in El Rito,NM before his death in August 2000.
Began study and usage of digital technologies.

2001 Began documentation / catalogue project of Walter Chappell Estate and finalized project in 2003. Presentation on SX-70 Manipulation for ROP Photo class, Ukiah High School, Ukiah, CA.

2002 Three Person Show “Salmon Creek Moon and other Work” Chappell, Ingalls, De Santis at Bodega Landmark Gallery, Bodega, CA.
2005 Currently living and working in “off the grid” studio on our 40 acre ranch in rural Mendocino County, CA.