| The Stone Sculptor Jason P. Nelson |
Artist Biography
Jason was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. His interest in visual arts began at an early age. He began having
some commercial success as a painter by the age of 16. One of his earliest drawings is on permanent display in the VIA Rail
train station in North Bay, ON. At the age of 18, he was commissioned to paint public artwork for the City of Sault Ste Marie as
well as several murals for private businesses. After high-school, he briefly studied art at Sheridan College and then at Windsor
University. However, at this point in his life he lacked the focus and dedication that is needed to succeed as a full-time,
professional artist. He soon found himself scraping–out a living working in dead-end jobs.
In 1997 Jason met Cathy (the wonderful woman that he would eventually marry). The spirit of adventure soon lured the young
couple to the west coast. By this time Jason was in his early twenties and he was beginning to lose interest in painting. He
had always been intrigued and inspired by the classical style sculpture that he studied in Art History, but, it was in Victoria B.C.
that he first tried carving stone and his passion for art was rekindled. Because of financial limitations and the fact that he was
learning this art-form through personal investigation, trial and error, he had to start small with only the most basic of tools.
In 2000, their Northern Ontario roots drew Jason & Cathy back east, to Thunder Bay, where they settled-down to raise their
family. Jason was hired to be the resident sculptor at the Thunder Bay Agate Mine. However, they needed more money than
the Agate Mine was able to pay, to support his growing family. So, he began working in the forestry industry, planting and
thinning trees in the Great North Woods. These grueling jobs left him with little time and energy for his artwork, or, his family-
life. However, it did toughen him physically and mentally and taught him to respect, but not to fear powerful tools… traits that
would help him in his emerging career as a sculptor. He continued to sculpt in the off-season on a part-time basis.
In 2008 Jason decided that he was finally ready; the time was right to pursue his goal of becoming a full-time professional
sculptor. Carving rocks for a living has not been easy; obtaining a studio, tools, equipment and supplies while at the same time
paying household bills, has been a challenge. Fortunately, he is an artist that loves a good challenge.
Jason now works almost exclusively in stone. His sculptures and bowls can be found in private collections through-out North
America and beyond. The City of Thunder Bay has often purchased his work, to be given as gifts to visiting dignitaries. In 2010
his “Veined Octopus”, sculpture won 1st place in the Representational Sculpture category of the prestigious American Art
Awards (an annual contest juried by Art Gallery owners from all across the USA). In 2010 he also received a Northern Arts
Grant, from the Ontario Arts Council. This grant is helping to finance the production of a life-size figurative sculpture of a
man and woman; it is currently being carved from a 2700 lb piece of Cararra Marble.
In the future, Jason hopes to leave his home based studio behind and get into an industrial type facility that is better suited for
large-scale projects. He hopes to break into the public art market and is also seeking gallery representation in major art-
markets such as New York, London, Toronto, etc. However, his main objective will always simply be artistic growth. Although,
he is currently happy working in the most ancient of mediums, he is also an artist that embraces change and likes to try new
things. His artistic journey has just begun.
some commercial success as a painter by the age of 16. One of his earliest drawings is on permanent display in the VIA Rail
train station in North Bay, ON. At the age of 18, he was commissioned to paint public artwork for the City of Sault Ste Marie as
well as several murals for private businesses. After high-school, he briefly studied art at Sheridan College and then at Windsor
University. However, at this point in his life he lacked the focus and dedication that is needed to succeed as a full-time,
professional artist. He soon found himself scraping–out a living working in dead-end jobs.
In 1997 Jason met Cathy (the wonderful woman that he would eventually marry). The spirit of adventure soon lured the young
couple to the west coast. By this time Jason was in his early twenties and he was beginning to lose interest in painting. He
had always been intrigued and inspired by the classical style sculpture that he studied in Art History, but, it was in Victoria B.C.
that he first tried carving stone and his passion for art was rekindled. Because of financial limitations and the fact that he was
learning this art-form through personal investigation, trial and error, he had to start small with only the most basic of tools.
In 2000, their Northern Ontario roots drew Jason & Cathy back east, to Thunder Bay, where they settled-down to raise their
family. Jason was hired to be the resident sculptor at the Thunder Bay Agate Mine. However, they needed more money than
the Agate Mine was able to pay, to support his growing family. So, he began working in the forestry industry, planting and
thinning trees in the Great North Woods. These grueling jobs left him with little time and energy for his artwork, or, his family-
life. However, it did toughen him physically and mentally and taught him to respect, but not to fear powerful tools… traits that
would help him in his emerging career as a sculptor. He continued to sculpt in the off-season on a part-time basis.
In 2008 Jason decided that he was finally ready; the time was right to pursue his goal of becoming a full-time professional
sculptor. Carving rocks for a living has not been easy; obtaining a studio, tools, equipment and supplies while at the same time
paying household bills, has been a challenge. Fortunately, he is an artist that loves a good challenge.
Jason now works almost exclusively in stone. His sculptures and bowls can be found in private collections through-out North
America and beyond. The City of Thunder Bay has often purchased his work, to be given as gifts to visiting dignitaries. In 2010
his “Veined Octopus”, sculpture won 1st place in the Representational Sculpture category of the prestigious American Art
Awards (an annual contest juried by Art Gallery owners from all across the USA). In 2010 he also received a Northern Arts
Grant, from the Ontario Arts Council. This grant is helping to finance the production of a life-size figurative sculpture of a
man and woman; it is currently being carved from a 2700 lb piece of Cararra Marble.
In the future, Jason hopes to leave his home based studio behind and get into an industrial type facility that is better suited for
large-scale projects. He hopes to break into the public art market and is also seeking gallery representation in major art-
markets such as New York, London, Toronto, etc. However, his main objective will always simply be artistic growth. Although,
he is currently happy working in the most ancient of mediums, he is also an artist that embraces change and likes to try new
things. His artistic journey has just begun.
An octopus can fit its entire body through an opening the size of its eye!
| Fine Art Sculpture in Marble, Alabaster and Soapstone |
| 571 Court St. North Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada (807) 343-0591 jason@thestonesculptor.com |
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| "A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials ." ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca |