Born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Jon Thunder is very proud of his ancestry. Jon shies away from the term, "Indian Artist". "I like to refer to myself as a human being who is artistic and I don't really think my art fits neatly into any one category, as it encompasses many subjects and themes as does life....Since early memory I have been a student of life. My interpretations of experiences and lessons learned are the creative force behind my art. I'm trying to express what is in my soul and follow a personal vision quest. My goal is to survive as an artist. Anything beyond that is gravy," His art shows the force behind the personality. Jon has works in Russia, Germany, England, Holland, and the United States. Upon entering the public sector, his first competition piece won the Indian Territory Arts and Humanities Council Award, the most recent award being the 28th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show, Graphite Division. He was also named one of the top ten native American artists in the nation, an honor that he still enjoys today.