Johnston County — William “Bill” Chase can be found creating artwork from detailed portraits to silly cartoon characters inside a customized trailer off U.S. 70. While some artists prefer to use pen and paper, Chase creates his art with an airbrush.

A peek inside The Airbrush Shoppe trailer reveals much about the artist who calls himself “Wild Bill.” Hundreds of license plates are hung along the walls and on the ceiling, showcasing airbrushed images of pop princess Britney Spears, action hero Batman and his arch rival The Joker, Ariel from the Disney movie “The Little Mermaid,” and many others.

The hardest images Chase is asked to replicate are deceased children.

“It is heartbreaking because I have three children of my own,” Chase said. “I did a portrait of a little girl who was run over. I waited one year before I did the portrait on a canvas and gave it to (her father). I never asked a dime for it.”

Thousands of stencils — each drawn by Chase - are stored in file cabinets. He transfers the stencil to a canvas, such as clothing, mugs, car tags and even motorcycles.

After envisioning the perfect colors, Chase lets his creativity flow. After the project is finished, Chase puts on a sealant to prevent water and other damages.

Chase, 46, has been an airbrush artist for more than 20 years. He has created many personalized pieces, but his most intricate work was on the hood of a Dodge Ram. The client wanted a Latino piece of artwork to represent his heritage. He handed Chase a black and white drawing of dozens of objects, including an eagle, women, skulls and pyramids, that had been thrown together.

Seven days later, Chase airbrushed the exact drawing infused with bright colors onto the pick-up’s hood.

“I like doing stuff that is different,” Chase said. “It’s a true blessing from God that I stuck with it and followed my dream of being able to do what I enjoy.”

Drawing has been a part of Chase’s life since he was a child growing up in New Orleans. But he was not exposed to airbrushing until he spent six years in the Marine Corps.

While with the corps, Chase asked an airbrush artist to make a few things for him at Carolina Beach.

“I had him do a motorcycle tank with a unicorn,” Chase said.

“I tried to clear coat it myself and ruined it. He went to a lot of trouble, and I paid him several hundred dollars, but I ruined it by being inexperienced. I decided right then and there that I was going to do airbrushing.”

After marrying his wife Beverly in 1985, Chase worked at a garbage company. He took leftover trash, such as baby strollers, clothes, tools and jewelry, to sell at a flea market in New Orleans. As customers sifted through the items, Chase said he airbrushed car tags.

He ran his own business, Uptown Airbrush, from his home until the family moved to North Carolina 10 years ago.

“I thought this has to be God’s country,” Chase said of North Carolina. “This has to be where people come to relax and live.”

Throughout the years, Chase has set up The Airbrush Shoppe in different parts of Clayton. He has come back to his spot off U.S. 70, where he set up his first location.

Chase, who lives in Archer Lodge, tries to teach airbrushing classes during his spare time.

“The first thing I teach is how to make a beach scene because that is the bread-and-butter thing to do,” Chase said.

“It is very hard to figure out how to make the airbrush work. Everything I taught, I taught myself. No one taught me how to airbrush.”

For most business owners, the reward is making a substantial amount of money. But Chase’s reward comes from the people he meets who are pleased with his final product.

He enjoys the smiles, the nods and two little words, “thank you,” more than any green paper a client could slip him, he said.

“It’s cool when people appreciate your work,” Chase said.

“Most people love what I do, and they are happy for me to create it. For me, it’s a privilege to work for them.”