Scott Nelles
Now Available! Shop Now at MyAmericanCrafts for hand cast bronze menorah, flying saucers complete with aliens, vintage cars, retro diners, Tango dancers and more by Scott Nelles.
While living in Seattle, in 1974, Scott began his career in a foundry. Seattle had a number of small non-ferrous foundries catering to the fishing industry. Previously in the leather business, he had bought and sold a lot of belt buckles. Belt buckles were his start into art foundry. Eventually Scott's artistry became focused on sand cast bronze sculpture and he opened a studio in Michigan.
Scott's sand casting involves a variety of materials to develop a pattern or model to be used in the final cast of his sculptures. Wax, oil-based clay, wood, metal, plastic, resin and sheet metal may serve to create the original mold. These plaster, resin or sand molds then are replicated in plastic or cast aluminum. The rigid mold is 'rammed" or packed with sand to make a sand mold into which molten bronze is poured to create the final sculpture. After a 2150 degree firing the metal is cooled and sand brushed from the surface. A process of sanding, polishing and lacquering follows.
The style of the buildings, toy cars, boats, rockets and airplanes reflect Scott's love of the Art Deco period. Scott Nelles bronzes continue to change and evolve.
Seattle had a number of small non-ferrous foundries catering to the fishing industry. I determined that I would learn this trade and apply it to making art. Since I had started in the leather business some years before, I bought and sold a lot of belt buckles. Making belt buckles would be my way into the art foundry. Fraser Bronze of Seattle was a father and son operation and they were very helpful in getting me started. I would make patterns for my buckles and John Fraser would show me how to improve on my methods and then cast the buckles for me. After finishing them in my basement workshop, I would make road trips around the country selling the line of buckles and so began my life in bronze casting.
With some years of practice and observation I decided it was time to open my own foundry. I moved back to my home state of Michigan where I could be closer to my family and friends. Through the years 1978-2000 I built and grew the business to the point of employing full time help and selling my sculpture nationwide. In 2001 I decided to implement a big change. I placed a small classified in a foundry trade magazine to sell the patterns and the rights to make my line of products that I had been producing since 1978. A large foundry purchased the line and still produces it under the name, Nelles Bronze Sculpture. In the meantime, I put myself to work on creating an entirely new line of pieces. It is this work that is showcased by the toy cars, boats, candlesticks and small animals that I now make in my studio. Both lines of work are available for purchase from me and in galleries nationwide.
