Artist Statment: My work has always been anchored in drawing. I spent years drawing and painting from life. This instilled a strong sense of space and structure. At some point I became more interested in the negative space surrounding the objects I was observing and modifying the objects themselves. I began to organically develop an abstract language, but the sense of structure and organization remained constant in the painting. I apply paint in layers using palette knives, brushes and oil sticks. I initially draw loose gestures and a variety of spontaneous marks. Often traces of previous layers remain visible, allowing colors to interact in ways I could not have anticipated. This process leaves me feeling quite lost a lot of the time, and I have had to learn to become comfortable with that feeling. This sometimes builds to frustration, and I will scape off much of what was applied, but the result of doing this is often something wonderful that moves the painting forward. I view the painting process as a collaboration between myself and the materials. A conversation starts that has a beginning and an end, but everything in between is unpredictable. It seems at first some exciting things may show up but it’s important to disregard these first, too beautiful bursts, work over them, and develop something deeper from them. As the painting evolves, shapes and lines solidify, and I begin to see how the parts affect the whole. This way of layering, adding and subtracting, creates a history on the canvas. Shapes have a story to tell. Lines that have been obliterated and resurrected over and over again have an emotional charge. This process that started as a wild party ends up as a contemplative carefully edited composition, involving precise modifications, while hopefully leaving the life force in tact. About the artist:Jenny Nelson is an abstract painter and a painting instructor. She begins each of her canvases with layers of color that are improvised, abstract and even chaotic. Through a process of addition and subtraction she brings each painting into balance with sensitivity and an attention to detail. Committed to abstraction -- yet very sensitive to her environment, she creates paintings that are energetic, responsive and finely tuned. Jenny attended Maine College of Art in Portland Maine, and is a graduate of Bard College, where she received a scholarship to the Lacoste School of the Arts in France. She has been living in Woodstock, New York for nearly two decades, including a Residency at the Byrdcliffe Art Colony from November 2004-08. Jenny has exhibited for many years nationally and regionally including; Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY, and the Thomas Henry Gallery, Nantucket, MA. SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:Solo Shows:2023 The Summer Show, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY2022 The Go-Between, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC2021 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY2019 Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY2019 Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC2018 Light Waves, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC2017 New Works, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2016 Sailing in Place, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC2013 Traveling Light, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2012 New Work, Smink Modern, Dallas TX2012 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2011 Awakenings (Duo with Keun Young Park) Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2010 New Paintings, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY2008 Autumn Elegance, Asher Neiman Gallery, Red Bank NJ2008 The Light Between, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY2007 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2006 Of Line and Light, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY2006 Abstractions, Gallery 100, Saratoga NY2005 Spring Collection, Coffey Gallery, Kingston NY2005 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2004 Summer, Omega Institute, Rhinebeck NY2004 New Work, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2003 Paintings from Shady, Coffey Gallery, Kingston NY2001 Fisher Studio Art Gallery, Annandale-on-Hudson Group Exhibitions:2022 Arriving at Byrdcliffe, 1902 - 2022, Kleinert James Gallery, Woodstock, NY2022 Small is Beautiful, Flowers Gallery, London, UK2020 An Abstract Conversation, Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY2020 FOCUS: Fish and Dish (A fresh take on still life), Woodstock Artist's Association & Museum, NY2019 An Artistic Legacy, Woodstock Artist's Association & Museum, Woodstock, NY2018 20th Anniversary Show, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC2017 Due East: Woodstock Artists in Nantucket, Nantucket Arts Center, Nantucket, MA2017 Composition: The Abstract Landscape, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY2014 Women in Abstract, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte NC2013 Hidell Brooks Anniversary Show, Hidell Brooks Gallery, Charlotte, NC2013 AD Boston Art Fair, Gold Gallery, Boston2012 Contemporary Painters, Carrie Haddad Gallery Hudson, NY2012 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA2012 Tria Gallery Summer Exhibition, Manhattan, NY2012 AAF NYC, Tria Gallery, Manhattan, NY2011 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard, MA2011 AAF NYC, Tria Gallery, Manhattan, NY2011 Figures and Abstractions, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2010 Art Hamptons, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2010 Featured Artist, Dragonfly Gallery, Martha's Vineyard MA2009 LA Art Fair, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto CA2009 Curators Choice, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY2009 Instructors Exhibition, Woodstock School of Art, Woodstock NY2009 Group Exhibition, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto CA2009 Small Works, Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta GA2009 Winter White, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2009 Contrasts, Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta GA2009 AAF NYC Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2008 Summer Cocktail, Tria Gallery, Manhattan NY2008 5"x7" Show, Kleinart-James Gallery, Woodstock NY2007 Faculty Plus One, Columbia Greene Community College, Hudson NY2007 Art Basel Miami, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY2007 One New Work, Chace-Randall Gallery, Andes NY2007 5"x7" Show, Kleinart-James Gallery, Woodstock, NY2006 Beach, Gallery Yellow, Cross River NY2006 Flow, Kleinart/James Gallery, Woodstock, NY2006 Group Exhibition, James Cox Gallery, Woodstock NY2006 Collectors Choice, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY2005 Group Exhibition, Chace Randall Gallery, Andes NY2005 Passionate About Art, Kleinert/James Gallery, Woodstock NY2005 New Talent, Alpha Gallery, Boston MA2004 Six Women Painters, Albert Shahinian Fine Art, Poughkeepsie NY2004 New York Underground Art Fair, Pool Art Addict, Four Points Hotel NY2003 Senate House Show, Kingston NY2002 Group Exhibition, Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson NY Juried Exhibitions:2004 Woodstock Artists Association, Woodstock NY2002 Hudson Valley Artists 2002, Samuel Dorsky Museum, New Paltz NY Selected Collections:Warren Bierwirth, Paris, FranceCecilia Greene, New York NYHelen Chapman, New York NYMichael & Sheila Faharty, New York NYChristopher Dlutowski, New York NYJim & Dianne Footlicke, New York NYLaurent Gaudry, New York NYNancy Seigal, Boca Raton FLHolli Gersh, Boca Raton FLKenneth & Margaret Uhle, Ridgefield CTDr. Lee Sider, Mt. Tremper NYFriedrike Merck, Woodstock NYWeston & Julia Blelock, Woodstock NYMiller Howard Investments, Woodstock NYKingston Hospital, Kingston NY Media:Jenny Nelson, Accidental Storyteller, Carrie Haddad Gallery, 2017Jenny Nelson's chaos, Hudson Valley One, 2017A Conversation with Artist Jenny Nelson,, Blog Talk Radio, 2017Jenny Nelson | Art, Work & Showing Up, Best Self Magazine, 2016Artist Spotlight Series, The English Room Blog, 2016Three Abstract Artists Christie Scheele Blog, 2013Modern NYC, Review, "Traveling Light" at Tria Gallery, 2013Off the Palette, HV Biz, Interview, July 2011In Her Own Words,Times-Herald Record article, DB Leonard, February 2011Balance in the Abstract, Roll Magazine Feature Article, May 2010Catskill Mountain News, Review, May 2010The 60/60 Portrait Project with Franco Vogt, December 2009Roll Magazine, Cover Artist, December 2009Studio Visit Magazine, Fall Edition 2008Spring Awakening,Woodstock Times Feature Article, Paul Smart, June 2008"Blue Bird" Featured in Beautiful Homes Magazine, Summer 2007"Float" Featured in Universal Studios movie: Definitely, MaybeDirected by Adam Brooks 2007 releaseWoodstock Times, Review, Paul Smart, May 2006Art New England, August 2005Pulse Magazine, Nick Chassman, Review, June 2005Woodstock Times, Review, Paul Smart, April 2004Guide Magazine, Featured Artist, December 2003Kingston Freeman, Review, Mary Cassai, August 2001Woodstock Times, Review, Phyllis Gilbert, July 2000Education & Awards:Portland School of Art, Portland, Me 1988Bard College, Annandale on Hudson, NY 1998-2001Lacoste School of the Arts, Lacoste, France 2000Scholarship: Lacoste School of the ArtsResidency, Nantucket Center for the Arts June 2018Residency, Byrdcliffe Art Colony 2004-08Guest Speaker: Syracuse University Visiting Artist Lecture Series 2017Instructor, Woodstock School of Art 2009-presentBoard of Advisors, Woodstock School of ArtJuror ASK, Art Society of Kingston, Regional Juried Show 2014 Juror WAAM, Woodstock Artist Association and Museum 2018