Come enjoy a new exhibition in the Maudee Carron Gallery at The Art Studio, Inc. on the first Thursday of each month. This event is always free and open to the public from 5:00-8:00pm.
Join us on November 2nd for the opening reception of “Just A Thought… III”, Faye Nelson’s 20th art exhibition!
The artwork will be on view through November 23 during TASI’s regular gallery hours:
Tuesdays through Saturdays, from noon until 5:00pm
While attending Texas Tech’s Graduate School at Junction, Texas, I was introduced to colored pencil. It has been my medium of choice for 40 years.
I have explored the effects of colored pencil and graphite on various surfaces. Like acrylics, pastels, and watercolors, colored pencils have been tested by time and have become a widely accepted art form.
For this exhibition I have chosen a new direction and I used different symbols to express my thoughts and my feelings.
“Just a Thought… III” is dedicated to the swiftly deteriorating Bolivar Peninsula. This peninsula has always been a favorite part of my life. When I saw an accumulation of photographs showing the peninsula at its best, there was an instant emotional connection.
My gratitude goes to Harvey Warren, photographer, who graciously gave me permission to use his work as inspiration for my 20th exhibit.
–Faye Nelson, 2023
Faye Nelson Autobiography, August 2023
World War II permeated every part of our lives when I was young. It was the biggest influence on my life. All seven of my uncles enlisted, but my dad was above the age limit. Round Robin letters, sent in turn to each member of the family, including servicemen far away, were the highlight of our week. Each person included his own response and mailed it to the next one, who did the same. Hearing of deaths in battle had us searching newsreels for glimpses of family.
In 1942, we were making our home in Beaumont, Texas. My dad and mom and all my aunts found employment with the local refineries and rubber plant. By the time I was in second grade, I had attended nine schools from Tennessee to Texas. Making friends had been one of my young challenges. My drawing skills allowed me an opportunity to be accepted. I could draw any kind of airplane, from Spitfire to a bomber, as well as scenes of battle, conjured up in my mind, at age 7.
The war ended, and I grew up. I graduated from high school, then went on to Abilene Christian College, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in 1957. That year, I married my high school sweetheart. In five years, we had three children, had built four homes, and moved 11 times. My art interests were on the back burner.
In 1965, I went to work at Oran Biskamp’s sign shop, which was directly across the street from the Beaumont Art League. This was a boost for my yet-to-come art career. I learned brush lettering and the Roman and Italic alphabets. I could letter signs 40 feet long. I developed the skill of film cutting used for silk screen printing. Developing asthma from using solvents, I had to put this phase of my endeavors behind me. I had wondered about the Beaumont Art League as I went to work each day, so I dropped in to check their schedules. I started taking oil painting classes with Phyllis Lee, a locally known artist.
During an economic recession, as jobs became scarce, I began substitute teaching to help make ends meet. I liked teaching so much that I entered Lamar University and earned an all-levels teaching certificate in art. In 1974, I went to work for Beaumont Independent School District as a high school art instructor. I also taught workshops for South Park Independent School District, Region 5 Educational Service Center, and Lamar’s Learning Tree. I became proficient in oil painting, pen and ink calligraphy, and lost wax jewelry making.
In 1983, I started classes at Texas Tech University’s summer graduate at Junction, Texas. My aim in attending Texas Tech was to get a master’s degree, but life interfered. While there, I earned 29 graduate hours. I was introduced to colored pencils and learned their characteristics on various surfaces. Colored pencil art has been tested and accepted in fine arts. I would be identified with colored pencil 40 years later. It is still my choice.
So many artists’ lives and works interest me, but none as much as Salvador Dali. I admire his uniqueness. I appreciate his ability to uncover feelings and thoughts through symbols and pictures, while protecting the inner self that I feel Is most private.
In 1989, I won Best of Show at the Beaumont Art League, resulting in being awarded a solo exhibition in 1990. I have shown my work statewide with exhibitions in the Allen Center, in Houston; the Icehouse Museum, in Silsbee; Texas Artist Museum Society, in Port Arthur; the Warehouse, in Corsicana; Shore Gallery, in Abilene; Northlake College, in Irving; Eisman Gallery, in Richardson; Walker Design Gallery, in Dallas. I was four times awarded an exhibition as Best of Show winner at the Beaumont Art League. In 2019, I exhibited my thesis project there and was awarded a master’s degree in art education for Texas Tech University, at age 85.
My work has been accepted into national exhibitions at the Beaumont Art League, Beaumont, Texas; the Longview, Texas, National; the Fort Smith, Arkansas, National; and the Plano, Texas, National; winning two first place awards, a third place, and Viewer’s Choice. I also took first place award in the Gulf Coast National Juried Art Show at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas.
After being accepted into three National Society of Artists National Juried Shows, I earned the title of Signature Member that gives me the privilege of using the initial of “NSA” after my name.
For 35 years, my husband and I lived on a farm near Nome, Texas. The love of nature and all of its facets greatly influence my choices of objects and symbols, as I create and execute my compositions. After the loss of my husband, I moved to Beaumont. I continue to produce art in my studio. I want to thank Harvey Warren for his permission to use his beautiful photographs of bolivar peninsula as inspiration for my 20th exhibition “Just a Thought…III”