Robert Nelson

I’m best described as a traditional representational artist focused on pastel landscape and portraiture, with occasional forays into animals, still life, abstract and genre work.

Yellowstone Park is my current stomping ground. My goal is to capture views that are clearly Yellowstone, yet not the commonplace. I have a seasonal job there and spend my spare time out and about in the Park when I can. In the winter, that means nordic skiing, some snowshoeing and some travel by snowcoach (heavy duty vans with giant, low-pressure balloon tires.) Painting outside with pastels is tough because so much dexterity is needed with the sticks and paper but which is hard to come by because of the cold and wind.

During a career in accounting and finance I began involvement in fine art in the mid ‘90s and developed interest in pastel after receiving a set as a gift.  Rock-climbing, mountaineering and skiing have been avocations for many years and I therefore feel a deep bond to remote and high-altitude surroundings.

My art education consists of workshops, visits to museums of the world, reading and observation. Some favorite artists include Degas, Zorn, Rembrandt, Sargent, Schmid, Shiskin and Van Gogh.  I guess that means I'm mostly self-taught.

I feel strongly that a sense of place must be conveyed in landscape with my personal perspective. John Carlson was quite correct when he said something to the effect that Nature sometimes needs to be improved upon.