Tryon artist Richard Christian Nelson is presenting a show of his recent paintings at Skyuka Fine Art in Tryon from Feb. 11 through March 10. There will be an opening reception Friday, Feb. 11 from 5 – 8 p.m.

Nelson and his wife, Kimberly, opened Skyuka Fine Art in January. The gallery features artwork from renowned artists of the past and present. Anyone who purchases artwork at the gallery by any artist in 2011 will be eligible to win a free framed charcoal portrait (subject of winner’s choice) by Rich. Each purchase will give a chance at winning a portrait. A drawing will be held on the gallery’s one-year anniversary celebration, Jan. 1, 2012.

Nelson has built his reputation as ‘Rich’ Nelson. The change to his full name came from the need to be found more easily on the internet. The upcoming show will feature landscape oil paintings of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and paintings from his travels. It will also feature recent still life and figurative work and a few portraits.

Nelson states that he is “endlessly fascinated by people, places, and things and considers it a privilege and a challenge to capture some aspect of their essence on canvas. I work toward ‘painterly realism;’ good drawing and composition, rendered with strong natural color, in such a way that you can still ‘sense’ or ‘feel’ the paint. The effect of this process is that the subject begins to artfully reveal itself to me and hopefully, the viewer.”

Nelson says he strives to do museum quality work that will be around long after he and his subjects have left this world. He has won a number of honors in the last year including: a finalist in the “Portrait/Figure” category of The Artists Magazine 27th Annual Art Competition, first place in oil and an honorable mention for drawing from the Portrait Society of America’s “Choose Your Medium” Portrait Competition, and second place in the Portrait Society Of America’s ‘Outdoor Portrait’ Competition, to name a few.

His work has been featured in “American Artist,” “American Art Collector,” “International Artist” and The Portrait Society Of America’s magazine, and he is listed in “Who’s Who in American Art.”

Hailing from Detroit, Mich., Nelson earned his BFA from the College of Creative Studies in 1988. It was at CCS that he developed his love of painting, drawing, figurative art and art history. Nelson has been working as an artist ever since, initially as an illustrator, then as a portrait artist, gallery artist and instructor. Nelson also teaches workshops focusing on landscape, still life and portraiture as well. Visit richardchristiannelson.com to learn about the workshop schedule for 2011.

“Richard Christian Nelson-Recent Paintings” runs from Feb. 11 through March 10 at Tryon’s Skyuka Fine Art, with the opening reception on Friday, Feb. 11 from 5 – 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., or by appointment at 828-817-3783.

Skyuka Fine Art is located in downtown Tryon at 133 N. Trade St. For more information go to skyukafineart.com or email info@skyukafineart.com.