Douglas Nelson
As a native Chicagoan, I spent 33 years living and working in Europe where I was inspired both by its beautiful landscapes but also its towns and urbanscapes which are so uniquely European. I developed an interest in the Ukrainian-born artist Sonia DeLaunay, who spent most of her working life in Paris. Using bright colors and clear abstract forms, she was a key figure in the Parisian avant-garde movement in the early 20 th century. I became an avid collector of her original lithographs, which led to my interest in creating works of color and geometric forms.
While I painted mainly as a hobby while in Europe, it was after my return to the US a few years ago that my passion for painting became more compelling.
I live in Oak Park, Illinois, which is home to Frank Lloyd Wright and is a haven for architecture and the arts. This environment has helped to fuel my passion to create original images. I also enjoy working with wood, and I sometimes produce mixed-media works.