Harold Nelson Art

Biography

As a native of rural Nebraska, Harold Nelson has always had an appreciation for the rich beauty of his surroundings, whether it is the Southwest desert, his native prairies, or the shores of New England. Over the years he has taught basic and advanced drawing, still life, composition, and plein air oil painting at Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale Community College, privately and numerous workshops across the Southwest and mid America, as he loves to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

His painting style can be best defined as luminous realism. His subject matter is as varied as the land itself, but he always brings out the drama of nature in every finished work. He was selected in the past as one of the jury’s top award for excellence at the International Museum of Contemporary Art Masters of Fine Art, Salon International, San Antonio, TX and was one of 68 juried of over 500 entries for work titled “The Three Ancients of Zion”, published in CENTURY OF SANCTUARY, the Art of Zion National Park. This was a celebration of 100 years of art in Zion National Park, 1908-2008.

First Place winner of the AZ state-wide All Veterans Art Show 2013 with his work “Old English”. He recently had his Painting “Passing Storm Over the Badlands” juried into the 2013/2014 PAINT THE NATIONAL PARKS contest on tour for the last year and a half.

Whether a large mural as in the J. W. Powell River History Museum in Green River, Utah, or a heroic bronze for a hospital in Minneapolis, or corporate commissions, he is a man who works from his heart. He is living out his dream and believes everyone should strive to do the same. He and his family reside in Prescott, Arizona.

Artist Philosophy

“My intention or motivation is not so much to do paintings just for the commercial aspect which is a consideration, of course, but to visually record the more gentle side of life — glimpses of peaceful events and day-to-day experiences; scenes of faraway, lesser-known places and others close to home things I have seen and want to give to the world. If I do them well enough, they will be worthy of an Enduring audience.”

“The artist’s visual life is made up of patterns and textures. Through learning the use of these elements, the world will be revealed or betrayed. It is the inner self that defines this the ability to express a deep emotional level determines and defines one’s capability to reach out. They are in direct proportion.”

— 2016 Harold Nelson