Riki R. Nelson is a contemporary American oil painter known for her realistic and surreal portraits of

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s, bar patrons, city street scenes. In a 2008 review, her work was described as, "realistic in the physical sense and raw in the spiritual sense, capturing the discordant element of self". Using traditional

realism Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to: In the arts *Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts Arts movements related to realism include: *Classical Realism *Literary realism, a move ...

, which she complements with contemporary colors and compositions, she expresses a uniquely creative vision rooted in the elegance of traditional realism, while utilizing subtle surrealism to capture what she perceives as ‘the undercurrent of pathos’ in contemporary life. Nelson works exclusively in traditional oil and oil paint mediums. Nelson is best known for her candid portraits of jazz musicians and singers. This body of work has brought her both review and numerous mentions. Her current work focuses on up market bar scenes - that often include glimpses of angels and other

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images - custom portraits, and city street scenes. She also does seasonal

plein air ''En plein air'' (; French for 'outdoors'), or ''plein air'' painting, is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. The theory of 'En plein air' painting ...

paintings of the

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coastline.

Early life and background

Nelson was born in Downey, California. She grew up between there and the

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with her parents, Pearl and Ray Nelson, and her younger brother, Dr. Eric R. Nelson. She was painting and drawing from an early age and was further encouraged in this by her mother's love of the arts and

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek ''poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings i ...

and her families’ now retired fine art and antique business; Pearl Antiques of

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Career

In the 1980s and early 1990s Nelson worked as a professional art consultant and sales manager in fine art galleries. Her list of gallery affiliations included; Dyansen Gallery in Carmel, Chabot Gallery in

Campbell Campbell may refer to: People Surname * Campbell (surname), includes a list of people with surname Campbell Given name * Campbell Brown (footballer), an Australian rules footballer * Campbell Brown (journalist) (born 1968), American television ne ...

and Martin Lawrence Gallery in San Jose. This experience gave her an understanding of the art business ‘from both sides of the canvas’ and has given her a very positive reputation in the art industry. Her work has been carried and featured by the Peabody Fine Art GalleryCurrent Gallery Representation: 2009 Peabody Fine Gallery, Los Gatos, Menlo Park Ca. http://www.peabodygallery.com/ of Menlo Park & Los Gatos since 2005. Nelson has donated both time and art to charities over the years including :The Los Gatos Art Association, The American Pen Women, Pacific Autism, and the organizations that sponsor ''Jazz on the Plazz'' in Los Gatos, CA. Nelson has given numerous talks to art groups to help

visual art The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts ...

ists better understand how to present their art to galleries and the public.

References

External links

* * 006 Art Business News Gallery Events section – photo and listing
One of the two Visual Artists to be honored this year for their achievement in visual art by the National League of American Pen Women, Santa Clara Valley Chapter.

2005 –"Beauty in the Night, Scenes of the City" : Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos oil paintings of local Jazz and street scenes. Month-long exhibition and solo artist reception.

Current Gallery Representation : 2016 Peabody Fine Art Gallery, Menlo Park Ca.

Studied for two years at The Neoteric Renaissance School of Art - classical drawing and painting under Florence Academy Artists Lisa Silas, Matthew Riggs and Johnathan Chorn.

Studied under portrait artists Linda Harris and Heidi Buckner.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Riki R. Living people 20th-century American women artists American women painters People from Downey, California 21st-century American women artists Year of birth missing (living people)