Kadir Nelson
Painter and Illustrator
June 2005
Millions of people go to movie theaters to see their favorite stars on the big screen. San Diego, Calif.-based artist Kadir Nelson, on the other hand, garners praise and attention from the same stars many Americans admire.
That´s because Nelson´s paintings hang in the homes of such luminaries as actor Denzel Washington and director Stephen Spielberg. While the 30-year-old is in the business for more than just fame, he can´t argue with the high-profile clientele. "It´s kind of like flipping the script a bit, because we see their work all of the time in our living rooms on our TVs, and then I hear that maybe my work is hanging in their living rooms," he says. "It´s very cool."
Both of Nelson´s parents were into drawing, and as a youth, Nelson´s artwork was an expression of his favorite pastimes. "It came as natural as breathing, and I have always loved to do it," he says. "It was an expression that was, I felt, unique to me." Nelson´s work also landed him a job with Spielberg as a visual development artist for the 1997 film "Amistad," something he described as a dream come true.
"I hope to continue to challenge myself, grow and improve as an artist. I think that is inspiration in itself," he says. "I would also like to learn to sculpt. It is something I have wanted to do for quite some time."
Painter and Illustrator
June 2005
Millions of people go to movie theaters to see their favorite stars on the big screen. San Diego, Calif.-based artist Kadir Nelson, on the other hand, garners praise and attention from the same stars many Americans admire.
That´s because Nelson´s paintings hang in the homes of such luminaries as actor Denzel Washington and director Stephen Spielberg. While the 30-year-old is in the business for more than just fame, he can´t argue with the high-profile clientele. "It´s kind of like flipping the script a bit, because we see their work all of the time in our living rooms on our TVs, and then I hear that maybe my work is hanging in their living rooms," he says. "It´s very cool."
Both of Nelson´s parents were into drawing, and as a youth, Nelson´s artwork was an expression of his favorite pastimes. "It came as natural as breathing, and I have always loved to do it," he says. "It was an expression that was, I felt, unique to me." Nelson´s work also landed him a job with Spielberg as a visual development artist for the 1997 film "Amistad," something he described as a dream come true.
"I hope to continue to challenge myself, grow and improve as an artist. I think that is inspiration in itself," he says. "I would also like to learn to sculpt. It is something I have wanted to do for quite some time."