Edutainment > Rod Nelson - born 1948

Woodblock

Rod Nelson
Leaf Surface
copyright Rod Nelson

Mr. Rod Nelson is a British artist who makes decorative and ornamental woodblock prints. He also creates black and white prints in a reduced style and full of lovely humor.

Statement by Rod Nelson

"For many years I earned my living from woodwork as a carpenter and joiner. For the last ten years, I have carried out work in relation to forest protection and sustainable forest management. I like to feel that a connection with trees, forestry, wood and the working of wood is at the center of my working life."

"My interest in printmaking (and of course, printing from wood blocks) is mostly derived from the fact that there was a printing press at our home. On this lovely old machine, my adopted father, who was a professional musician and a keen amateur printer, would produce printed work of very high quality - he was something of a perfectionist. Sometimes he felt that work could be enhanced with decorative motifs or with small illustrations and from time to time he would ask me to produce a lino cut or a drawing. So, very tentatively, I began to produce lino cuts to order, without having much confidence in my artistic ability. Right from the start, I loved the feeling of printmaking, and I am still smitten. The beauty of the materials, the tools and the processes, and the fact that one does not need expensive or cumbersome equipment to produce ambitious work, all have a perennial appeal for me."

"My principal influence has undoubtedly been the work of Shiko Munakata. The humour, freedom and power of his work carry to me a sense of happiness and relief as though I have arrived during a long journey at a welcome signpost. Of course, there are several other artists from "the East" and "the West" whose printed work I love - among whom I must acknowledge Eric Gill, Gwen Raverat, Picasso, Naoko Matsubara, Reza Derakchani and Franz Masereel."

"I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Merlyn Chesterman, who has been enormously helpful and encouraging for my printmaking work. She has somehow managed to imbue me with enough confidence to begin teaching, which I find (to my amazement) that I really enjoy. We also have a rather successful and enjoyable sideline in designing public art projects both in the UK and overseas."

Exhibitions

He exhibited locally in Gloucestershire, England.

• 2006 - Prints were selected for the Society of Wood Engravers and Printmakers travelling show.
• 2007 - He had prints accepted for the Society of British Artists show at the Mall Galleries in London.

The images on this web site are the property of the artist(s) and or the artelino GmbH and/or a third company/institution.  Reproduction, public display and any commercial use of these images, in whole or in part, require the expressed written consent of the artist(s) and/or the artelino GmbH. .