Jo Ann Nelson grew up in Collyer, Kansas, the eldest of six children, and remains close to the land and to her family. She received her BS and MA from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.  All post-graduate work was completed in Colorado, where she now makes her home.  A great source of inspiration for her art work has come from mountain hikes with her son and daughter.  Their love of nature, rocks, water and growing things has been the subject of many collections and discussions.  Consequently, the interaction with family members and the collections of natural objects have become the subjects that were used in all her art work.