Charles Bell (1935–1995) born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a BBA degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1957, then served for two years in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant. Bell worked as an accountant and served as comptroller of the International Nickel Corporation until 1980. According to a Guggeheim Foundation biography, Bell never received any formal training in his art. He claimed inspiration from Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud. He also worked in the San Francisco studio of Donald Timothy Flores, where he painted mostly small-scale landscapes and still lifes. After moving to New York in 1967, Bell created his paintings by photographing a subject in still life. According to art critic and historian, Henry Geldzaler, Bell’s best works were in the pinball series.