JD Challenger

JD Challenger was born in Oklahoma with a creative fire that first began to burn at a young age. He learned color, shading, light and shadow from closely observing nature and drawing what he saw. Always fascinated by the culture and customs of the Native Americans whom he considered his closest friends, the young Challenger absorbed their stories and traditions. He began sketching his observations of their lives. At first, he was reluctant to show his paintings in public for fear of offending the people he greatly admired. Upon witnessing a Ghost Dance ceremony, Challenger discovered his mission and what he wanted to paint. With encouragement from friends, he showed his work to some Native Americans, one of which was a holy man. The holy man would tell Challenger, "Your path is to tell our story and educate others."