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Katherine Nelson

Drawing, Visual / Media

I travel to fascinating locations exploring fields, historic farms, grain stories, and dramatic lands. My approach to field research is just as much about seeking out adventures and making discoveries, as it is about creating art that will have a meaningful impact on the viewer. I draw primarily in charcoal constructing an interplay of lines, textures, and contrasts while simultaneously shining a light on the new grain revival that is weaving a tapestry of connections between people and places. 
My drawings are metaphors for the human prospect. ‘Harvests’ to me are exhibitions that depict the land as hallowed space through views of heritage farm architecture and landscape vistas. Implicit rural values relate to the natural environment, hard work, and community, and are relevant anywhere.

About the Artist

Katherine Nelson is an artist, educator, and juror based in the D.C./Baltimore region. She received a BS in Art Education from Skidmore College in 1985 and a Master of Arts in Drawing from SUNY Albany in 1990.  Katherine, who was born in The Hague, has experienced many landscapes and cultures living in Europe, the Middle East and on both the East and West Coasts of the United States. She has been featured in numerous solo, juried, and invitational exhibits in the USA and Europe including The US Embassy “HUB” in Brussels, Belgium, The Palais de Tokyo Museum, Paris, France, The National Cathedral in Washington, DC, The Albany Institute of History and Art, The Schenectady Museum, ABC’s “Extreme Home Makeover” as well TV ads, CD, journal, and magazine covers.  Nelson’s velvety, linear, and textural charcoal drawings explore meaningful connections deep within the current Grain Revival and depict agricultural slopes, saddles, and swales as hallowed space through views of heritage farm architecture. Katherine has also been teaching art at all levels for the past 25 years. Katherine currently offers online teaching and has taught regional workshops in the DMV since 2014.

Katherine Nelson website Katherine Nelson Art

Artist's Statement

I love charcoal because it is fluid, forgiving, mysterious and strong. I draw by layering dark velvety values and build textures that are obtained through an additive and subtractive process using a variety of charcoals, graphite, pastels, blenders, brushes and erasers.  Embracing my surroundings and drawing from ephemeral moments I strive create a sense of place within the artful viewpoints found in agrarian landscapes.  

Featured Work

Photos

Agrarian landscape with distant dust from combine harvesters and a row of backlit foreground trees. Layers of land describe the immense depth of field of harvested wheat landscape. Charcoal on paper. 22x30"
Dramatic charcoal landscape of wheat fields after a harvester and plow have etched bands in opposite directions on the hillside. A tiny farm house on the hill helps one imagine the scale of this enormous landscape and tasks at hand. Dust blowing above depicts a powerful wind on this agrarian landscape.
Graphite drawing on paper depicting the rhythmic flow of the agrarian wheat landscape of the Palouse region of the United States. This drawing documents years of farming, erosion, and harvesting on the dunes created by glacial outwash on the region of the Palouse.
Bedrock and a steep wall of columnar basalt are juxtaposed with an agrarian landscape of rhythmic lines creating a scene of contrasting elements. Plowed lines, enormous rocks, spring wheat, and wild grasses are juxtaposed in a play of textures and shapes. Fields of grassy landrace varietals stand in the foreground.
A country road deep in the heart of an agrarian landscape beckons exploration. Grassy fields on either side depict many textures. One can imagine the sight and sounds of birds and bugs while hiking on this singular path and over the hill to discover another epic view.

Booking

Booking Price: $1,001-$2,000

Please contact me through email at:
katherinenelsonart@yahoo.com

I can book by the day or the hour with a half day minimum. Booking price does not include travel expense which is separate. Please let me know what your project entails with regard to teaching a group, giving a demo of my drawing process, performance of a drawing from start to finish, and what your age group you are interested in asking me to teach/demonstrate drawing process. I am certified K-12 grades (NY) in Art Education. Thank you.

Paper, Projector, Charcoal, Erasers, drawing boards, etc

Please Inquire About Weekend Availability
Weekdays M-F
General Area Availability:
Chevy Chase, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Frederick, Annapolis (Full Day)
Closest Area of Availability:
Ellicott City, Colombia, Area of Howard County (Half day to Full Day)

Please Inquire for my professional Teaching and Exhibition References.