Biography

“Every genuine artistic intuition goes beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality's surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery.”

— Blessed Pope John Paul II

When he was a boy, Neilson Carlin wanted to be Catholic priest – a strange desire for one raised as a Protestant.  However, adolescence brought the realization that his true calling was his other great love: painting.

While earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Neilson was fortunate to study with Martha Erlebacher and Renee Foulks, both leading contemporary figure painters. He concluded his formal studies privately at the Aviano Academy of Fine Art under figure painter Michael Aviano. Through Aviano, Neilson traces his instructional lineage directly to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of 19th century France.

Neilson specializes in portrait, figurative and still life painting. He maintains both an active gallery and commission career. His current gallery affiliations are with McBride Gallery in Annapolis, MD, Hardcastle Gallery in Wilmington, DE and The Brush and Palette in Kennett Square, PA. His commissioned work includes portraits and sacred art. Recently, Neilson was one of just four artists from across the country commissioned to complete paintings to adorn the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI. This 14-month project culminated in the execution of four, 11’ x 4.5’ multi-figure paintings of Catholic Saints Gianna Molla, Peregrine Laziosi, Therese of Lisieux and Blessed Father Miguel Pro.

In addition to his gallery painting and commissioned work, he has taught for more than a decade at his school, Studio Rilievo School of Classical Painting in Kennett Square, PA. Through the studio, he is training the next generation of artists and advancing the classical realist tradition.

His work has exhibited at the Arnot Art Museum, the Arts Club of Washington, the Louise Wells Cameron Museum, The Salmagundi Club and the State Museum of Pennsylvania. In 2003, his painting “Transcendence” received First Place in the Still Life category of The Artist’s Magazine’s 20th Annual National Art Competition. In 2004, his painting “Emergence” received Second Place in the Portrait category of The Artist’s Magazine’s 21st Annual National Art Competition. Both paintings were selected from over 12,000 entries nationwide. His work has been published in the Spring 2006 American Artist Drawing Magazine, Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing and How Did you Paint That? :100 Ways to Paint Still Life & Florals. In 2008, Neilson received First Place for his painting “Surrender at Gethsemane” in the Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Competition at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.

Resume

Education
1996-2001
Private study, Michael Aviano, New York, NY
1988-1992
BFA University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Presidential Scholarship

Solo Exhibitions
2006
Brush and Palette-Kennett Square, PA,
Landscapes and Other Things
2005
Hardcastle Gallery-Centreville,DE,
Recent Paintings
2004                                      
McKinney Gallery, West Chester University-West Chester, PA,
Contemplations and Other Work
Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery, Cabrini College-Radnor, PA,
Sermons of the Inanimate
1998
Ironhart Galleries-Greenville, DE,
Recent Paintings
1996
Neumann College-Aston, PA,
Recent Paintings

Group Exhibitions 
2008 
St. Vincent Gallery, St. Vincent College– Latrobe, PA, Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Competition
Sunset Hill Gallery – West Chester, PA,
Two Artists One Palette
2007  
McBride Gallery, Annapolis, MD –
Realism: Landscape, Still Lifeand the Figure
2006   
Arnot Art Museum-Elmira, NY,
71st Regional Art Exhibition
Maryland Federation of Art-Annapolis, MD,
Go Figure
2005 
McKinney Gallery, West Chester University-West Chester, PA,
Speaking for Themselves: Artists of Southeastern Pennsylvania
2004 
Garrubo-Bazan Gallery-West Chester, PA,
The Nude
Seraphin Gallery-Philadelphia,PA,
Masters and Mavericks 
New England Realist Art Center-Boston, MA,
First Annual Selected
Figure Drawing Exhibition
State Museum of Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, PA,
Art of the State, 2004 
Arts Club of Washington, Washington, D.C.,
The National Civic Art Society Invitational Exhibition                   
Garrubo-Bazan Gallery-West Chester, PA,
The Flower Show
2003
Century Gallery-Alexandria, VA,
A Classical Exhibition
Charter Oak Gallery-Fairfield, CT,
Realism Today
State Museum of Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, PA,
Art of the State
Garrubbo-Bazan Gallery-West Chester, PA,
The Flower Show
Philadelphia Sketch Club-Philadelphia, PA,
140th Annual Exhibition of Small Oil Paintings
2002  
Louise Wells Cameron Museum-Wilmington, NC,
Art for Humanity
Salmagundi Club-New York, NY,
American Artists Professional League Annual
Grand National Exhibition
Hardcastle Gallery-Wilmington, DE,
Plein Air
The Salmagundi Club-New York, NY,
Annual Juried Exhibition
State Museum of Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, PA,
Art of the State, 2002
Charter Oak Gallery-Fairfield, CT,
Realism Today
2001   
State Museum of Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, PA,
Art of the State, 2001
National Arts Club Galleries-New York, NY,
Allied Artists of America Annual Juried Exhibition
Franklin Mint Museum-Franklin Center, PA,
Renaissance of Creativity
Lionheart Gallery-Pound Ridge, NY,
Portraits
McBride Gallery-Annapolis, MD,
Autumn Celebration
2000    
J & W Gallery-New Hope, PA
Seaside Gallery-Nags Head, NC,
2nd International Sacred Art Exhibition
1999   
The Studio Gallery-Alexandria, VA,
Between and Beyond
First USA Riverfront Arts Center-Wilmington, DE,
Artfest
Bianco Gallery-Buckingham, PA,
Biennial Juried Exhibition
Immaculata College-Immaculata, PA,
75th Annual Juried Exhibition
Chester Springs Studio-Chester Springs, PA,
Anniversary Exhibition
Wayne Art Center-Wayne, PA,
Annual Juried Exhibition
MBNA Country Club-Newark, DE,
Friends of Ft. Delaware
Invitational Exhibition
Chester County Art Association-West Chester, PA,
16th Annual Invitational Exhibition
Philadelphia Art Alliance-Philadelphia, PA, 
15th Annual Creative People Art Show

Selected Collections
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, WI
MBNA America, Newark, DE
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Media PA
Bayard-Taylor Memorial Library, Kennett Square, PA
Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory, Wilmington, DE
Lenfest Communications, West Chester, PA
Meridian Venture Partners, Radnor, PA
Genesis Health Ventures, Kennett Square, PA
Dr. Abdus Salam Jahanara Gramine College,
Chowbury, Bangladesh
Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Thornton, PA
The Franklin Mint, Franklin Center, PA
Edgecraft Corporation, Greenville, DE

Teaching Experience
2008  
Portrait painting workshop, Biggs Museum, Dover, DE
2006 
Artist-in-Residence, Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
2005 
Artist-in-Residence, Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
2004  
Artist-in-Residence, Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
2002  
Artist-in-Residence, Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
Portrait drawing workshop-Delaware Foundation for the Visual Arts, Wilmington, DE
“Introduction to Painting”, beginner oil painting-Chester Springs Studio, Chester Springs, PA
Portrait painting workshop-Greater Norristown Art League,
Norristown, PA
2000 
Painting from Nature”, landscape painting-Chester Springs
Studio, Chester Springs, PA
Artist-in-Residence-Conestoga High School, Berwyn, PA
Portrait demonstration-Greater Norristown Art League,
Norristown, PA
Portrait demonstration-Gloucester County Art League
Mullica Hill, NJ
Portrait demonstration-Artist’s Guild of Delaware County,
Springfield, PA
1999     
Portrait painting workshops-Delaware Foundation for
Youth in Art, Delaware College of Art and Design,
Wilmington, DE
1998   
Portrait painting workshops-The Association of Christian
Schools International, Eastern College, Wayne, PA
1996 
Portrait demonstration- Art League of Delaware County,
Springfield, PA
Art Instructor, grades 9-12-The Christian Academy, Media, PA

Awards
2008     
First Place, St. Vincent Gallery, St. Vincent College -
Nationwide Juried Catholic Arts Competition
2006   
Finalist, Art Renewal Center-
3rd Annual International Salon
2005     
Finalist, Art Renewal Center-
2nd Annual International Salon
2004
Second Place,
The Artist’s Magazine 21st Annual Juried National Competition,
Portrait Category
Honorable Mention,
New England Realist Art Center,
First Annual Selected Figure Drawing Exhibition
Rose Roy Memorial Award, State Museum of Pennsylvania-
Art of the  State, 2004
2003  
First Place,
The Artist’s Magazine 20th Annual Juried National Competition,
Still Life Category
Finalist,
The Artist’s Magazine 20th Annual Juried National Competition,
Portrait Category
2002
Finalist,
The Artist’s Magazine 19th Annual Juried National Competition,
Portrait Category
Finalist,
The Artist’s Magazine 19th Annual Juried National Competition,
Still Life Category
Rose Roy Memorial Award, State Museum of Pennsylvania-
Art of the State, 2002                                          
2000
Second Place,
Seaside Gallery-2nd International Sacred Art Exhibition

Artist Statement
Although I never made it to the seminary, I am somewhat unconvinced that my choice to become an artist strayed from a type of religious life after all. My cloister is a studio papered with icons of classical paintings and drawings. With reverence, I venerate the great artistic saints such as Michelangelo and Caravaggio. Each day I recite a litany of the principles of drawing, color and composition. Relying on centuries of tradition as my guide, I utilize the wisdom of generations past in adherence to classical painting methods. At the altar of my easel, paint and canvas are the sacraments through which I bring my congregation of viewers into communion with the sublime.