JD Challenger is a Southwestern artist whose work depicts Native Americans of the late 1800s. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Challenger "started drawing about the time he could hold a pencil in his hand. Even then he felt the absolute need to express himself artistically."

Virtually "self-taught," Challenger did not have the "luxury" of attending art school. He learned color, shading, light and shadow from closely observing nature and drawing what he saw. "As the years progress, I have discovered those aspects most important to me and have used my passion for artistic creation as a means to explore such themes."

After working at various odd jobs - disc jockey, fiddle player, and sign painter (to name a few) - Challenger decided to give up art and persue a "real job." His wife, Denise, encouraged him to continue painting; and while living in Taos, New Mexico, his passion and style began to emerge. His focus shifted to painting portraits of Native Americans after witnessing a Ghost Dance ceremony. "As I stood there watching the chanting and the dancing, I knew what I wanted to paint....nothing had ever been clearer." Challenger had never painted a portrait. Once again, he began to educate himself, often painting from dusk to dawn to perfect his technioque.

Each painting is created with the intention that it should take on a life of its own. JD Challenger continues the Native American tradition of illustrating history in the form of a pictorial. He invites us to revisit history and come face -to-face with ghosts and spirits of the past.

"The subjects I paint have chosen me far more often than I have chosen them."
JD Challenger

View JD's work