Jess Nelson

Jess Nelson is a puppeteer, production designer, sculptor, and muralist who performed various puppets on Barney & Friends as well as be the original production designer. He was also production designer for other television and film productions by Lyrick Studios. Jess should have used both his artistic and puppetry skills on Sesame Street, since both shows had great sets and artwork. Nelson also worked on two movies entitled After the Rain and Scrooge and Marley. He has even worked in the puppet studio, Leapfrog Productions, responsible for the original sets, props, and puppets on Barney & Friends. He worked alongside Ray Henry and Charles Bailey, the former also being a puppeteer. After Leapfrog Productions shutdown, Jess Nelson became more recognized as a photo-real muralist and multi medium sculptor with his own studio in D/FW. His artwork was featured in several national and international newspapers, magazines, and coffee table books. I still believe he should have worked on Sesame Street when he had the chance because then he would meet more puppeteers. But I suppose that Jess is more interested in art than puppetry. Maybe someday, Nelson could remember how much fun it was working on Barney & Friends and other television/film productions by Lyrick Studios. I hope he will continue doing murals and sculptors for the future, until he retires that is. Jess Nelson, from being on a children's show to an international success, you have done marvelous as an artist. Keep on doing what you do best and remember the puppetry fun you had someday. You never know when a Muppet performer might catch a glimpse of your murals or sculptors. Until that day comes when someone from Sesame Street sees your art, always keep yourself occupied Jess. You are definitely a real artiste Nelson!