Location: United States
Artist Bio
I grew up in the north St. Louis suburb of Ferguson and I spent a lot of time drawing cars, trees, old buildings, even my youngest brother, who would occasionally sit still for me. The art departments and teachers in my school district were exceptional. Every year I would endure summer school just so I could fit in art class the rest of the year. Class field trips to the St. Louis Art Museum so inspired and imprinted my young mind that I still seek out certain artworks when I visit the Museum today. Fortunately, my parents always encouraged and facilitated my interest in art. My father had artistic ability as did his mother who could draw and paint as well as play and teach piano.
I left St. Louis in 1965 to attend the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. I started out in architecture, but found the math and science requisites overwhelming so I switched to painting and drawing my third year. I was in absolute heaven. I even met the love of my life, my future wife Susan, in a printmaking class. I received my BFA from KU in 1970, and went from there to Syracuse University in upstate New York where I got my MFA in 1972. The next year, Susan and I moved to Minneapolis to work with Susan’s brother George in his leather goods store where we learned leather crafting and a bit of small business practice. After two years of long cold winters, we migrated to northwest Arkansas to open a leather shop on Dickson Street in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Upon entering the world of self-employment, my painting and drawing activity pretty much ended and since 1974 I have concentrated on making a living primarily as a retailer in Eureka Springs, AR. I was convinced that the same creative energy used in producing art could be applied to the world of business. This belief must be true as Nelson Leather Co., our first retail venture was followed by Crazy Bone which opening in 1990, and most recently two “Life is Good” brand clothing stores. During this time I dabbled in painting small oil portraits of friends and relatives, but the responsibilities and challenges of commerce prevailed. In August 2005, Susan and I built a new home. Once we were moved in, the big bare walls cried out for art. Inspired, I started making pencil sketches for a wooden wall piece to be placed in the entry hall. Michael Holt, a woodworker friend, agreed to fabricate the piece. We installed it in late 2006 and I have been creating these wall sculptures ever since. The individual parts of each piece are carved, painted, stained, waxed and assembled in my studio in the lower level of our home, which is about a block away from the historic 1886 Crescent Hotel. I work with many kinds of wood: bass, birch, catalpa, western cedar, pine, fir, and maple. I hand select most of it from a small, family run sawmill in rural Oklahoma. The wooden pieces are roughly an inch and a half thick which adds a substantial look and feel to them. The edges are usually painted and always hand waxed to insure the colors will remain vibrant. I brand each piece with my logo and signature. The large works are like multidimensional puzzles and I treat each piece of the puzzle as an individual work of art. The smaller works are made from odds and ends with no drawings needed. The pieces of the smaller works serve as experimental platforms for carving painting and staining. I refer to my current wooden wall art series “instrumentals”, that is, without figurative representation. The finished work is on display at the new J. A. Nelson Gallery at 37 Spring Street in the Eureka Springs historic district.
I enjoy the intimacy of working with the wood by hand. Being covered in sawdust and wood chips is a joyful part of the process. I feel fortunate to have stumbled onto a way to combine woodwork, painting and drawing in a unique, personal expression of what I find beautiful. I am a lucky guy. I have found my own personal voice after all these years and I look forward to exploring the unfolding path ahead.
These sculptures are like multidimensional puzzles and I treat each piece of the puzzle as an individual work of art. I enjoy the intimacy of working with wood by hand. Being covered in sawdust and wood chips is a joyful part of the process.
A plank of wood, some power tools, a studio full of light, nature, and acrylic paint; all in the hands of an artist with a sense of humor, imagination, and passion for all things fun and beautiful. These sculptures are like multidimensional puzzles and I treat each piece of the puzzle as an individual work of art. I enjoy the intimacy of working with wood by hand. Being covered in sawdust and wood chips is a joyful part of the process. These sculptures are created from many kinds of wood: bass, birch, catalpa, western cedar, pine, fir, and maple. I select each piece of wood from a small family-run sawmill in rural Oklahoma. The thickness of these wooden slabs adds a substantial look and feel to the finished work. Every piece is hand waxed to insure the colors will remain vibrant. I refer to my current wooden wall art series “instrumentals”, that is, without figurative representation. I feel fortunate to have stumbled onto a way to combine my woodworking, painting and drawing in a unique, personal expression of what I find beautiful. For more information and purchase info, go to www.janelsongallery.com
96"x69" $10,400 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic and oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
20"x20" $1500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
43"x37" $5000 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass and Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and enamel. The surface is hand finished with wax and the thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed. This is a series and various colors and designs are available.
61"x55" $6600 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with enamel, and hand finished with wax. The thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
55"x40" $7500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood and Baltic Birch ply matting. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic and enamel. the surface is hand finished with wax and the thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
60"x52" $6200 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
72"x46" $8100 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
79"x56" $9800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stains, and enamel. The surface is hand finished with wax and the thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
46"x26" $1800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Western Cedar and Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. The thick edges are also painted and waxed.
48"x22" $1500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Redwood, Western Cedar, and Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, stains, enamel, and hand finished with wax. The thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
34"x23" $2500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Western Cedar, Pine and Bass wood.. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, enamel, pigment sticks, and hand finished with wax.
This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass, Maple, and Catalpa wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, Danish oil, enamel, and hand finished with wax. The thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
20"x27" $1800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Western Cedar, Maple, and Bass woods with a free form matt of Baltic Birch ply.. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, enamel, Danish oil, and hand finished with wax.
60"x60" $6600 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, enamel, oil-based stains, and hand finished with wax. The thick (2.5") edges are also painted and waxed.
57"x44" $5500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
89"x48" 6500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
25"x77" $4600 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
44"x68" $7500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
40"x40" $5200 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
51"x68" $6800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
52"x40" $3800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
57"x40" $2800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. There is a three dimensional, triangular "shelf" that runs the length of the piece, that make this painting functional art, if hung horizontally. Piece is shown tilted. This would make a great mantle piece.
110"x40" $7200 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
65"x48" $5200 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. There are two rounded "shelves" just below the large circles on the wings that make this painting functional art, if hung straight upright. The piece is shown tilted.
19"x26"x9" $1700 This handcrafted wood painting, table top sculpture, is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This sculpture is in two pieces that sit next to each other for a slightly adjustable look.
66"x30" $6200 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
20"x48" $2800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Soft Maple wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, oil-based stain, and hand finished with wax.
60"x34" $6300 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This piece can be hung vertically or horizontally.
“No. 136 Yes, We Have No Bananas”
54"x42" $6800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
15"x52" $2900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This piece can be hung vertically or horizontally.
24"x48" $3900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This piece can be hung vertically or horizontally.
46"x28" $3700 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
50"x35" $5900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
53"x28" $5700 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
22"x50" $2900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
24"x50" $2900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This wood painting can be hung vertically or horizontally.
22"x50" $2900 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This wood painting can be hung vertically or horizontally.
32"x32" $6800 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
50"x33" $4500 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
38"x35" $1350 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine and backed with Baltic Plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax. This is a series of six and each piece is unique. Exact coloration and patterning will vary slightly.
60"x20" $2600 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine and backed with Baltic plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
36"x39" $1950 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. Backed with Baltic Plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
44"x47" $3950 This handcrafted wood painting is created with various woods, including Bass wood, Cedar, and/or Pine. Backed with Baltic Plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
34"x35" $3100 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood and backed with Baltic plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
38"x39" $3250 This handcrafted wood painting is created Bass wood and backed with Baltic plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
36"x36" $3100 This handcrafted wood painting is created with Bass wood and backed with Baltic plywood. The wood is shaped, carved, and textured, then painted with acrylic, and hand finished with wax.
Introducing CURVATURE... A new line of functional art from unique coasters to Artistic furniture, including stools, benches, chairs, rocking chairs, and lap trays. These sturdy and attractive pieces of art are the perfect addition to any home, office, or business and goes beautifully with James A. Nelson's wood sculpture art.
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Coasters”
5"x5" Only $19.50 for a colorful set of 4! Various colors available! Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, cork, stain, and wax. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Bench”
31"x20"x15" Various colors available! Only $175 for this sturdy and artistic Bench. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stain, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Stool”
16"x12"x12" Various colors available! Only $85 for this sturdy and artistic stool. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stain, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
Get the set! Chair, stool, and a set of 4 coasters for only $279.50. Add a bench for $175 more. Various colors available for this sturdy functional art! Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stained, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Bench”
31"x20"x15" Various colors available! Only $175 for this sturdy and artistic bench. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stain, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE J Chair”
34"x21"x18" Various colors available! $625 for this sturdy and artistic chair. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stained, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE J Chair detail”
Various colors available! $625 for this sturdy and artistic chair. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stained, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Chair”
17"x33"x18" Various colors available! Only $175 for this sturdy and artistic chair. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stain, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Rocker”
Various colors available! Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, painted, & waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood Coasters by Curvature”
5"x5" Only $19.50 for a colorful set of 4! Various colors available! Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, cork, stain, and wax. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood Coasters by Curvature”
5"x5" Only $19.50 for a colorful set of 4! Various colors available! Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, cork, stain, and wax. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood Bench by Curvature”
31"x20"x15" Various colors available! Only $175 for this sturdy and artistic bench. Handcrafted with Baltic Birch wood, stain, and waxed. www.janelsongallery.com
“Handmade Wood Lap & Breakfast Tray by Curvature”
This handcrafted lap tray is created with Baltic Birch wood, stained with beautiful colors, and hand waxed to keep the colors vibrant.
“New Handmade Wood CURVATURE Line”
This new line of artsy furniture and household goods is a beautiful touch to any home, office, or business. www.janelsongallery.com
“No. 12 Big Woody”
“No. 25”
“No. 43 Borogove”
“No. 45”
“No. 47 Elmer”
“No. 49”
“No. 51”
“No. 53 Modig”
“No. 60”
“No. 70”
“No. 66”
“No. 76 Zag”
“No. 82”
“No. 85”
“No. 87 Flying Nuns”
“No. 93 Stingaling”
“No. 108”
“No. 115 Sister Twister”
“No. 116 Boyoyoing”
“No. 121 Bandersnatch”
“No. 122 Upseedayzium”
“No. 123 Let It Go”
“No. 124 My Favorite Gas”
“No. 125 Big Bug”
“No. 126 Peek-A-Boos”
“No. 128 Squeezium”
“No. 131”
“No. 135 Edible Utah”
“No. 139 Smackaroni”
“No. 141 Reemus”
“No. 143 Gerty Gumbo”
“No. 145 Clownectomy”
“No.147 EIEIO”
“No. 148 Dundoodat”
“No. 149 Poncho Peench”
“No. 150 Tryem Bothon”
“No. 166 Prison Zest”
“No. 176 Mr. Sippy”
“No. 181 Aloonium”
“No. 185 Up For Duck”
“No.187 Ruffson Johnny”
“No. 189 Poots”
“No. 192 Too Many Ticks”
“No. 193 Hot Ship Soup”
“No. 197 Humdinger”
“Handmade Wood CURVATURE Set”
