Paul Nickel, "Welsh" is a New Jersey artist who constructs his work in the American Folk Art tradition.  His inspiration comes from old samplers.  He laboriously paints, cuts and applies canvas,  and found objects, and self frames them.  He signs the pieces Welsh   He takes the tradition a step further with his incredible take on his subjects.   He was in the Merchant Marine so many of his subjects are ships or sea related.  He also draws from Americana for his subjects.  He is widely and enthusiastically collected .  Anyone who has been lucky enough to own one of his pieces usually comes back for more. 

Mr Nickel died in a car accident in 2008.