History

In 1974, while living in Seattle, I began my career in the foundry. Seattle had several small nonferrous foundries serving 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 my methods and then cast them 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. From 1978 to 2000, I built and grew the business to the point where, with the help of my small crew, we produced and sold my sculpture nationwide. By 2001, I had become tired of my old line of ideas and decided to make a big change.  I placed a small classified ad in a foundry trade magazine to sell the patterns and the rights to manufacture my line of products, which I had been producing since 1978. A large old-world foundry in Montreal purchased the line and produced the work under the name Nelles Bronze Sculpture.  Unfortunately, the Nelles Bronze Sculpture line is no longer available. Although many of my original pieces are being offered on EBAY. I have included some reference pages to give you an idea of the extent of my original work at that time.  

After selling my product lines, I had nothing to make, so I set to work creating an entirely new line of pieces. It is this work that is showcased by the toy cars, boats, candlesticks, banks, bells, and small animals that I now make.