[dubious – discuss] After completing his secondary education in 1910, Nelke began his career as a seaman working as a ships carpenter, eventually rising to the rank of 2nd Mate.

[2] Nelke would spend over fifteen years at sea before finally settling in Brooklyn, NY, near his brother Waldemar.

After settling in America, Nelke continued working as a carpenter and painted out of his studio on Baltic Street in Brooklyn.

His background as a seaman and ship builder allowed him to produce highly detailed and accurate paintings of seascapes and nautical vessels.

[2] This attracted interest in the commercial market and Nelke was commissioned to paint several pieces which would be reproduced on items such as prints, playing cards and jigsaw puzzles to be sold to the public.