Jonathan Nelson

Jonathan Nelson is a Diné illustrator, graphic artist, and fine artist. His eclectic subject matter includes a blend of Diné culture, Star Wars, and the southwest desert landscape with a unique style influenced by comic books, street art, and graphic design. Jonathan’s original art and designs featuring Indigenous peoples and culture create an authentic portrayal of Indigenous life in order to decimate stereotypes.

His nontraditional superhero comic, The Wool of Jonesy (Native Realities) was an American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor Book. He was a contributing author and illustrator of Tales of the Mighty Code Talkers, Volume One (Native Realities), which was a Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick and received the American Indian Youth Literature Award. He illustrated First Laugh-Welcome Baby by Rose Anne Tahe and Nancy Bo Flood (Charlesbridge), which was selected to be a Junior Library Guild Selection, a Notable Social Studies Book, a New York Public Library’s Best Book, and a Bank Street Best Book, among other accolades. For Hey, Dog by Tony Johnston (Charlesbridge), Kirkus praised his illustrations: “Nelson is a master at capturing nuance in facial expression and body language, both human and canine.”

He illustrated the Junior Library Guild Selection Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck (Charlesbridge, 2022), which Professor Debbie Reese hailed as “one of the best books I’ve read” on the American Indians in Children’s Literature blog. Letter for Bob by Kim Rogers published in 2023 (HarperCollins/Heartdrum) and received three starred reviews. The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books praised Jonathan’s artwork in that emotionally resonant picture book:: “Vibrant digital art features characters with oversized heads and huge, welcoming smiles that beam with joy, while warm tones and pastoral scenes provide a gentle sense of comfort and safety.”

When Jonathan isn’t illustrating picture books, he is further developing his personal art or taking on select design projects under his graphic design business, Badwinds Studios. Badwinds Studios specializes in creating publications, logos, T-shirt designs, and other marketing material. His fine art of drawings and paintings reflect a thriving, adapting, and resilient Diné culture. His style is influenced by graffiti, graphic design, and cartoons that contribute to the evolving and contemporary Indian Art. He is also planning his graphic novel debut. Jonathan hails from Hogback, New Mexico, and currently resides in Denver.

Download Jonathan Nelson’s Illustrator Showcase

To see more of Jonathan’s artwork visit his website and Instagram @badwinds.