Clifford Beck facts for kids

Clifford Beck, Jr. (January 11, 1946 – October 16, 1995) was a talented Navajo American artist. He was a painter, illustrator, and photographer. Born in Keams Canyon, Arizona, he showed his art all over the United States. He was especially known for his beautiful portraits of older Native people. He often used oil paints and pastels in his work.

About Clifford Beck

His Early Life

Clifford Beck, Jr. grew up on the Navajo Nation. His father, Clifford Beck, was a tribal councilman. His mother, Ester Yellowhair, was a weaver. Clifford was part of the Tl'izilani and Ashiihi clans.

As a child, he went to the Piñon Boarding School and Holbrook Elementary School. During the summer, he would go back to the reservation. There, he helped take care of the family's livestock.

He finished Flagstaff High School in 1963. After that, he received a scholarship from his tribe. This allowed him to attend the California College of Arts and Crafts. While studying there, he learned about the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. Degas became a very important influence on Clifford's own art.

Other artists also encouraged his work. These included the painter R. C. Gorman. Clifford even had an art show with Patrick Swazo Hinds. He continued to return home for summers. During these times, he worked different jobs. One job was as an illustrator for the Navajo Times newspaper.

Becoming an Artist

After graduating in 1968, Clifford Beck worked as a designer. He worked for the Indian Health Service in Arizona. In 1971, he started teaching art. He taught at the Navajo Community College for a while.

By 1980, Clifford was able to become a full-time artist. Many of his first portraits were of his own family members. He often painted older people. He once said, "I prefer to paint the older people, the more traditional ones." He felt these people had kept their culture strong.

His Art and Legacy

Besides his fine art portraits, Clifford Beck also drew pictures for books. He contributed illustrations to several books for the Navajo Curriculum Center Press. One example is Grandfather Stories of the Navajos from 1968. He worked on these books with other Navajo artists. These included Andy Tsinajinnie and Hoke Denetsosie. Clifford Beck also influenced a modern artist named Gary Yazzie.

Clifford had his own art studio in Flagstaff called Taz. This studio helped publish some of his artworks. They made prints and lithographs from his original pieces.

Clifford Beck passed away in Flagstaff, Arizona, on October 16, 1995. He was 49 years old. Before he died, he helped create a special art show. This show was called A Quiet Pride: The Art of Clifford Beck. It was held at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.

He is buried in the Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona. His gravestone has a special message: "In beauty it is finished."