Featured Artist - J. D. Challenger

J. D. Challenger is a Southwestern artist whose work depicts Native Americans of the late 1800's.  Born and raised in Oklahoma, Challenger says he started drawing about the time he could first hold a pencil in his hand.  From that time forward, he has always felt a strong  need to express himself artistically.

Virtually "self-taught", Challenger did not have the luxury of attending art school.  He learned
about color, shading, light and shadow from closely observing nature, and then replicating
what he observed.  He notes, "As the years progress, I have discovered those aspects of
the world which are most important to me,
and I have used my passion for artistic
                                                                            creations a means to explore those themes".

     After working at various odd jobs - disc jockey, fiddle player, and sign painter (to name a
     few)  to help support his painting, Challenger decided to give up art and pursue a "real job". 
     Believing in his talent, his wife, Denise, encouraged him to continue painting, and while living in
     Taos, his passion and style began to emerge.  After witnessing a Ghost Dance ceremony, the
     artist decided to shift his focus to painting portraits of Native American people.  "As I stood
     there watching the chanting and the dancing, I knew what I wanted to paint - nothing has ever
     clearer".   We are happy he saw things so clearly.

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