Fletcher Martin was born in 1904 in Palisade, Colorado. His artist's skills were largely self-taught. During his career he taught art at the University of Florida, State University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, San Antonio Art Institute, and Washington State University. He served as a war correspondent for Life magazine during World War II. He was the recipient of the Walter Lippencott Prize in 1947 and the Benjamin Altman Prize in 1949. His works can be found in the collections of Abbott Laboratories, Brandice University, the Cranbrook Institute, the Denver Art Museum, and the Library of Congress.