Robert Draper, Diné (Navajo),  was born with the name Robert Martin (son of Janet Descheeny, Navajo, and Frank Martin, Hopi-Laguna) in Chinle, Arizona.  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. He 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.  Draper concentrated on painting in the European or semi-European style, presenting realistic scenes of the beautiful landscapes of the Navajo Reservation.