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NELSON Biography |
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As an avid traveler, sailor, and scuba diver, the elusive, dazzling quality of sunlight brought to life all that I encountered in the world. I try to capture that in my artwork. The way the sun plays on the water, the way the wind fills a sail, the way the water carves a stone -- all inspire me to create shapes that move, dance and play.
I have chosen resin casting as my medium because of its unique ability to capture light. The long and demanding sculptural process involves many stages and I begin by creating a form, carving and shaping on a small scale, often in clay or wax. That form is enlarged using another material, carving and refining it further, until the object is ready to be used in the complex process of making a mold. This involves technical precision and many separate steps. When the mold is completed, resin is mixed and poured -- a challenging and not always successful process. When the resin has cured, I remove the mold and begin the finishing process, grinding the rough form within with successively finer grits until I can apply a final double polishing. From beginning to end, the process for one finished piece is long, and I do every step myself. It is always a surprise to see a new piece emerge with a life of its own, taking in light and giving it back. My sculptures are complete only when imbued with light. |
