Robert Draper, Diné Painter

Mainly self-taught, Diné of the Navajo Nation artist Robert Draper concentrated on painting in the European style, presenting realistic scenes of the beautiful landscapes of his home on the Navajo Nation. He painted realistic watercolor landscapes and genre of the Navajo Reservation. A favorite subject was Canyon de Chelly.

Robert Draper was born with the name Robert Martin (son of Janet Descheeny of the Navajo Nation and Frank Martin of Hopi and Laguna Pueblos) in Canyon del Muerto, New Mexico.

From the age of two, he lived with his grandparents who raised him. He was given their surname of Draper when he entered school at the age of eight.

Robert Draper (1938-2000) attended Chinle Boarding School on the Navajo Reservation, Inter-Mountain Indian School in Utah for four years, and the Institute of America Indian Arts in Santa Fe. He served a tour of duty in the U. S. Marine Corps. He had worked as an art instructor at the Chinle Boarding School and settled in Chinle.

Source: Donald Hagerty, Canyon de Chelly (askART)

TAGS:  Hopi - Laguna, Fine Art - Native American Paintings, Diné of the Navajo Nation