The Biography of Artist Riki R Nelson

To express my artistic vision on multiple levels. I embrace both contemporary and classical painting techniques, both realism and abstraction, but for the most part using the traditional medium of oil paint.

I strive for both the stark realism of the visual moment, as well as the expression of internal experience, sometimes punctuated by subtle archetypal imagery.

My internal artistic vision, comes from both waking and sleeping dream images, indefinable inspiration, and the ever present ever changing immediate world around me.

Sometimes it is the big collective moments, or a clearly defined dream image, but most often it is poignant personal moments; things I perceive yet cannot express or define with words, that will compel me to create a composition. I experience life far more as a multidimensional mystery, than as a clearly defined flat statement.

Each of my paintings is meant to be a true work of art. The original impetus for each piece comes from pure artistic inspiration. From the time a "vision" hits me, a painting may take weeks , months and occasionally years to compose and complete . I want each painting I create to contain a life and a spirit all it's own; to express something unique in a unique way.

I hope that I will continue to learn and experiment as long as I am able to paint; the purest spark of creative inspiration, can often only be ignited by the thrill of discovery.

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There are so many painters I am influenced by and admire, I cannot give a single favorite, but the short list would be - Elmer Bishoff, Richard Diebenkorn, Rosenquist, Hopper, Lucien Freud, Odd Nerdrum, Edward Hopper, David Lefil, Edgar Payne, Winslow Homer, and of course the timeless masters oil painters of their respective periods - Monet and Van Gogh; Rembrandt, Titan, Vermeer and Da Vinci.

Biography of artist Riki R Nelson.
Riki R. Nelson is a Contemporary American Oil Painter known for her realistic yet surreal portraits of bar patrons, jazz musicians, and 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" (ref 2). Using traditional realism, which she compliments with contemporary colors & 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 .

Artistic themes and style: Riki R Nelson became known for her candid portraits of jazz musicians and singers. This body of work has brought her both review (ref 2), and numerous mentions (ref 5,6,7,8). Her current work, focuses on bizarre, up market, bar scenes - these can include glimpses of angels and other archetypal images, or be true to life. "Real Life' Scenes include well dressed bar patrons accompanied by a stripper in glass box, or in a gold mask. Other Subjects include custom portraits, city street scenes, seasonal plein air paintings of the California coastline, and unusual alla prima style still life paintings of doughnuts, candy, ornaments and other non traditional subjects.

Early years: Nelson was born in Southern California. She grew up between LA and the San Francisco Bay Area where she lived with her parents, grandparents, and younger brother. 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, and her families' now retired fine art and antique business; Pearl Antiques of Los Gatos.

Business: Nelson committed to becoming a full time artist in 2005. Her worked gained immediate attention, and she was invited to hang in several galleries; by internationally known Peabody Fine Art Gallery (Owners Sharon and Adrian Thornton, 408 395 4071 & Gallery Director and Curator Ruth Dailey ruth@peabodyfineart.com ) where she is currently represented - and, by ISLG Design Galleries in both Campbell and Los Gatos - former owner, Lara Moore.

In the 1980's and early 1990's Nelson worked as a professional art consultant and sales manager in fine art galleries in both Carmel and the South Bay. Her list of gallery affiliations included; Dyansen Gallery in Carmel, Chabot Gallery in Campbell and Martin Lawrence Gallery in San Jose. This 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. During this time, She also worked as a jewelry designer, and a professional model.

She changed careers, to work in high tech as a web designer/developer, project manager, and graphic designer until 2002 when she made the decision to study art full time (she had been studying part time for years) Several years later, she was painting professionally.

Charities and affiliations: 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". Nelson has given numerous talks to art groups to help visual artists better understand how to present themselves and their art to the public.

Current & Previous GALLERY EXHIBITS -

Current Exhibit NEWS July 2013: "Lake & Sea Cloud Views, Los Gatos" plein air paintings of Los Gatos, Santa Cruz and Monterey, local water scenes.
DEC 2012 Christmas Paintings at Peabody Gallery in Menlo Park & Los Gatos Company gallery
JUNE 2012 Exhibit of Los Gatos Paintings at the Los Gatos Company gallery
FEB 2012 "Sweet Paint and City Art" Peabody Gallery Menlo Park, Paintings by Riki R Nelson
IN THE NEWS 2010 . At the Los Gatos Company Gallery
2012 Gallery Exhibit - "Sweet Paint and City Art" Peabody Gallery Menlo Park,

added to Wikipedia (Category) under American Women Painters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riki_R._Nelson

Dec 2012 Exhibit , City Paintings and Christmas Paintings, Los Gatos Company gallery Los Gatos ..

Dec 2012 Exhibit , Christmas Paintings,, at Peabody Fine Art Gallery Menlo Park..

Jan 2011 Info on Current Exhibit at Peabody Fine Art Gallery Menlo Park..

Jan 2011 Info on Current Exhibit at the Los Gatos Company Gallery Los Gatos...

Gallery Representation and previous shows and projects -

Projects: May 2010 work in progress a 36" x 24" major studio bar scene painting of Steamers Grill House, based on a photo shoot done last Halloween. (release date and gellery, to be announced this summer)

Projects: May 2010 a series of small "alla prima" still life paintings of cocktail sets and liquour bottles.

"Peabody Fine Gallery" Menlo Park Ca. http://www.peabodygallery.com/ seascapes and still lifes late summer -gallery exhibit dates to be announced, web exhibit ongoing.

"The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" (Exhibit opens May 18th, 2010) 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA

Education: Nelson is an extremely disciplined and dedicated fine artist. The core of her training in realism she attained on her own, through years of rigorous study from, books, lectures, tapes, observation and experimentation. This process of "self training" continues to present.

Formal Education: Numerous drawing & painting courses, over a 20 year period, from both private tutors and city colleges.
Notable instructors: studied painting under portrait Steel Teng, Linda Harris, currently 2013 studying classical art techniques from the Neocentric School of Realism in Santa Cruz CA.
Other Notable instructors: Heidi Bueckner, and Tobin Keller.

Official Site :
The artist's studio located in the south bay area of San Francisco, California, USA
http://www.riki-arts.com/

* Exhibitions and Hi-lights *

2010 - Exhibit November - New Christmas Paintings - Street scenes, still lifes, & unique paintings of Santa Claus and night & day city scenes of Los Gatos at "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA
2010 - October PRESS - 1/4 page mini review of new exhibit the Los Gatos Weekly Times, both hard copy & online edition
http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16253080?source=rss&nclick_check=1
2010 - Exhibit October One evening only - unveiling of major bar scene painting at Steamers Grillhouse,
2010 - Exhibit October - New Major Painting, "Contemplating Cerino" and new collection of night city scenes exhibit opens at "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA
2010 - Exhibit Opens May 18th - Featured artist, front salon show, Large and small works - "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA
2010 - May 22nd - Live Oil Painting Performance - "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA
2010 - June 5th - Live Oil Painting Performance - "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA
2010 - Peabody Fine Art Gallery Menlo Park - Seascapes and Still Lifes late summer - date to be announced
2010 - Peabody Fine Art Gallery Menlo Park - ongoing web exhibit www.peabodyfineart.com
2010 - Ends May 16th - Peabody Fine Art Gallery Los Gatos In Gallery Live Oil Painting Performances
2010 - Ends May 16th - Peabody Fine Art Gallery Los Gatos extensive front salon exhibit

2009 to My 16th 2010 - Live Oil Painting Performances Sat and Sun noon to 5, and an Alla Prima and Plein Air Oil painting Exhibit along w/ Front Salon exhibition of
major works at Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos,

2009 to My 16th 2010- "A New Direction, recent Paintings by Riki R Nelson", Front Salon exhibition at Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos,

2009 July "Jazz on the Plazz" Los Gatos - Solo invitational guest exhibiting artist at the John Proulx concert on Wednesday July 22nd 2009

2009 - One of only two Visual Artists to be honored and given awards for outstanding achivement in the arts. for the year of 2009,
by The National League of American Pen Women Santa Clara Valley Chapter.

REVIEW 2008 August - "Dissonance of Jazz" by Arts Writer Emilie Doolittle - interview with artist and art exhibit review - nearly
full page article in the Los Gatos Weekly & San Jose Mercury News, both online and hard copy -

2006 - - Appeared in the October 06 issue of Art Business News Magazine picture gallery, both online and hard copy

2006 -- Featured Artist in an extensive article of the Winter 2006 issue of Skyline Magazine both online and hard copy -

As David Niven once said, "If the news says 'Joe Doakes drinks his bathwater - everyone now has heard of Joe Doakes".

In the spirit of including both conplimentary and controversial opinons, I have included this Sept 2009 article, that mentions one of my paintings
in regards to degeneracy in modern art. (article appeared in several other publicatiions sept 22nd 2009)
WARNING- The article includes strong language and several potentially distrubing images.

2008 August - "Angel at the Bar, Jazz on the Plazz, Bar Paintings and Jazz Art by Riki R Nelson", Solo Front Salon show and Solo Artist reception at Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos

2008 August- "Jazz on the Plazz" Los Gatos - Solo invitational guest exhibiting artist at the Nestor Torres concert

2007 Show and Solo reception -" Women of Jazz, A Celebration of Today's Divas", A Collection of New Oil paintings by Artist Riki R Nelson of female jazz singers and musicians at Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos

2007 Solo Exhibiting Artist - "Jazz on the Plazz" solo exhibiting guest artist at two concerts

2005 - 2007 - ISLG Design Gallery, both Los Gatos and Campbell Galleries - exhibiting artist, landscapes and portraits.

2006 - September 06 exhibition and one man artist reception at Peabody Fine Art Gallery of Los Gatos

2006 - Sole artist invited to exhibit and appear for two consecutive weeks at the Jazz on the Plazz concert series in Los Gatos.
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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

2005 - 2007 - ISLG Design Gallery, both Los Gatos and Campbell Galleries - exhibiting artist, landscapes and portraits.

2004 - Borders Cafe Espresso Los Gatos champagne reception and month long solo exhibit of oil paintings

2003 - Borders Café Espresso Los Gatos OceanScapes, Visions of the coast champagne reception and month long solo exhibit of paintings and drawings

2006 "Take 3" one of three artists in a large, month long exhibit at Los Gatos City Council Chambers

2004 - "Key Featured Artist" at the Toll House Los Gatos' celebration of the opening of the hotel's new restaurant, the "3 Degrees Restaurant"

July 05 - Western New York - Artist Riki Nelson's "Sax in the Park" print was purchased to be featured in the "Sax in the Park" Charity Auction,

2010 - Exhbit Opens May 18th - Featured artist, front salon show, Large and small works - "The Los Gatos Company, Gallery of Fine Art, and Contemporary Craft" 17 1/2 N. Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos CA

2010 - May - Peabody Fine Art Galleries - Menlo Park, gallery exhibit date TBA - ongoing web exhibit at www.peabodygallery.com

(location closes, May 17th 2010) Peabody Fine Art Galleries - Los Gatos, 11 N. Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos California USA, 408 395 3440 http://www.peabodyfineart.com Owners - Sharon and Adrian Thornton, Gallery Director Ruth Dailey ruth@peabodyfineart.com
Previous Gallery Representation
ISLG Design Gallery Los Gatos - previous owner Laura Moore
ISLG Design Gallery Campbell -

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