From NASA to Jesus, John Nelson has illustrated life and America for 94 years

At 94 and a half, he admits proudly, John Nelson of Savannah is still working and continues to exhibit the variety of paintings and illustrations he has amassed through a fun, productive career.

Art has been John’s life and, while he only paints portraits these days, he stays active by piddling in his home studio at The Landings on Skidaway Island. John and his wife moved to Savannah several years ago when their son was planning to re-locate here. When their son’s plans changed, the Nelsons ended up buying the house their son had purchased.

During the month of April, John’s “Life of Jesus” paintings are on display in the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church, Savannah, at 223 Bull St. on Chippewa Square. The exhibit is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and before or after Sunday morning services.

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His paintings also are frequently displayed at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. “I won first place last time,” he said.

Born and raised in Chicago, John recalls his mother telling him he was “drawing too much” when he was 8. But she obviously recognized her son’s natural talent and allowed him to fine-tune his skills at the Art Institute of Chicago while he was still in high school.

One day John was sent home early from the institute because a reception with alcohol was planned and John was only 17. Unfortunately, he missed an opportunity to meet honoree Norman Rockwell, one of the greatest illustrators of all time.

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In the 1940s, John joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Army’s Psychological Warfare unit as an artist. Following his military stint, he continued a a versatile career as a fashion artist, as well as an illustrator for printing companies and advertising agencies. Eventually he established his own company -- John Nelson Design and Illustration, Inc.

From one day to the next, John never knew what he would be charged with illustrating or what clients for whom he would be working. From tractors to space rockets and most everything in between, John illustrations are detailed and colored with vivid hues.

“It was fun,” he recalled recently, while attending the opening reception for him at First Baptist. He walked around the room pointing out the different stages in the life of Jesus that he has painted as recently as a few years ago. The paintings are reminiscent of Jesus and other biblical figures featured on vintage Sunday school books and the cardboard hand fans given out by funeral home personnel before the age of air conditioning.

Faith has always been an essential part of John’s life, he explained. Years ago, he created annual calendars of religious art and discovered the joy of weaving his art career with his life of faith, he added. His 200-plus religious paintings are the result of that long-term ongoing calendar series published internationally.

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John’s industrial and advertising art included clients such as Northwest Airlines, The Toro Company, John Deere, the St. Paul (Minn.), Port Authority, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, 3M, Meredith Publishing, and Norwood religious calendars, among many others.

He has illustrated Better Homes and Gardens’ cookbooks and a series of volumes he illustrated for The Children’s World, including ones on tennis great Billie Jean King, football legend Vince Lombardi and U.S. Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, which he counts as a favorite.

A highlight of John’s career was his selection by NASA as an artist in the space agency’s art program entitled, “The Artist and the Space Shuttle”. His painting, “Space Visitor,” toured Europe with NASA’s exhibition and that painting of the Columbia space shuttle is now part of NASA’s permanent art collection.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Illustrator John Nelson reflects on 94 years illustrating US, NASA