Creepingbear was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, on 8 September 8, 1947,[1] the son of Rita Littlechief (Kiowa) and Ted Creepingbear (Pawnee–Arapaho). He was a citizen of the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma and was also of Pawnee and Arapaho descent.[2] He began painting in 1974 as a self-taught artist.[3]
Creepingbear had a number of occupations including working for an electrical supply company before becoming a full-time painter in 1974.[1]: 70 He is considered one of the more important of Oklahoma's traditional artists. His paintings, in oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel, show a style that is fluid and dramatic and alludes to Native-American culture. He emulated the works of his Kiowa elders as well as American Western artists Frederic Remington and Charles Russell.
He worked with gallery owner Doris Littrell who helped promote his work. She provided him with shows, as well as serving as his main gallery and hosted both his first one-man show in 1981 and his final one-man show in 1990.[5]