RLN Biography

Robert Lyn Nelson, one of the premier American artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, was born February 1, 1955 in Upland, CA. His remarkable talent was evident by the age of three, when he began drawing with charcoal and pencil. By the time he was seven years of age, he painted and drew everyday, creating an impressive collection of art, astonishing everyone who saw his work. He created numerous illustrations, drawing straight from the pages of our past, depicting stunning images of famous battles in American history. However, evidence of his early love for the environment and his respect for the earth, came in the form of countless awards for conservation—starting at the age of seven. Always perfecting his skills, he continued to study art, drawing and painting everyday throughout his childhood, all the while learning to work with new mediums and adding new genre to his growing collection of artwork.
He began creating impressive murals, sculptures, landscapes, seascapes, and experimenting with still life. He was heavily influenced by some of the greatest and well-known artists of all time, including Rembrandt, Monet, and Dali. Other great influences include two incredible American artists of the twentieth century, Maxfield Parrish and Andrew Wyeth. However, he discovered a great love for cubism while studying the work of its creators, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque—an influence that is evident in Nelson’s work to this day. He won a scholarship and attended classes at Chaffey College at age thirteen when he began exhibiting at a series of one-man shows and group shows in Southern California.
When he was twenty-two years old, he moved from Oahu to Maui, all the while, continuing his journey as a perpetual student of art history. It was while diving in the tropical waters of Maui that he was inspired by the sense of being in two worlds at one time, that he desired to capture that sensation on canvas. And in 1979 he painted “Two Worlds”—a painting that virtually created a new genre of art. The “two worlds” concept was a springboard for Nelson’s career, gaining him international recognition for his artwork as well as his conservation efforts. And in 2001, he was given the incredible honor of being the youngest artist to be featured in a one-man show at the Smithsonian Institute (hosted by Jean-Michel Cousteau). His name is synonymous with the conservation effort and his art critical in changing public attitudes about whales and dolphins. In fact, he forever changed the way we view our relationship to our planet.
Although Nelson is an incredibly talented artist, what really sets him apart and makes him exceptional is the fact that he is extremely intelligent and educated. His philosophical expressions create an incredible depth in his work. He has always believed that an artist should not be limited to one form of expression, and this has been proven with his wide range of accomplishments, which include artist, author of articles and children’s books, and environmental hero. Although most famously known as the originator and master of ocean art, many of Nelson’s collectors would be surprised at the wide range of styles he has mastered. He has continued to experiment with new forms, inventing new styles such as neo-cubism and non-objective soft abstractions. As a very prolific artist, Nelson has created thousands of paintings with the same level of talent and quality that would rival any of the greatest artists of our history.
Robert Lyn Nelson is a perpetual student of art history, paying homage to the great Masters in his own work. But more so, he has created his own unique style and invented techniques, continually breaking new ground, marking his own place in the history books of modern art. He is a true pioneer. In his short lifetime he has gained worldwide recognition, has been honored by his contemporaries, his style has been widely imitated, his works collected by numerous U.S. presidents, conservationists, fellow artists, celebrities, and countless others who appreciate his message of peace, hope, and a bright future for all generations to enjoy.
Nelson currently resides in Maui, Hawaii, continuing to enjoy this island as a true tropical paradise. He is the father of two daughters, Margaux (born 1990) and Sienna (born 1992), who have always been an inspiration to him and his artwork since they were born.