Artist: Chris Forrest

Title: Water Lilies

Medium: Lithograph on Paper

Limited Edition: 291/300

Art Dimensions: 22 H x 28 W inches


ARTIST BIO:

Painter, Veteran, Printmaker

"One does not so much view a Chris Forrest painting as walk into the scene unobserved. A key to Chris’ success with his subjects and their environs is his love and appreciation for the wilderness and enjoyment of what lives there." Southwest Art Magazine.

Chris' first memories of art interest are colored pencils in the first grade; oil painting lessons at age 10, and his first gallery show age 11. Growing up in rural NJ the outdoors was a large part of his childhood experience, with frequent family outings/fishing trips to the NJ Pinelands, Blue Ridge Mountains of VA, summer trips to a Canadian fishing camp, and Boy Scouts. While he always expected to go to art school, he finally decided studying civil engineering at VA Tech would provide him the opportunity of an outdoors lifestyle. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the US Army and served 10 years. Highlights include tours in Vietnam & Germany, command and operations assignments, graduate school in civil engineering at NC State, and both ranger and airborne training/schools. During his last assignments in the States he rekindled his art in his free time focusing on wildlife with original hand drawn lithographs & etchings along with painting. His calling became obvious when he realized he was always reading some art instruction book as opposed to the latest road construction manual. He resigned from active duty and for the following 10 years was a full time printmaker and painter producing some 125+ hand drawn lithographs and etchings. During this period he also camped extensively for reference experience and as of now has wandered in all 4 corners of the country and eastern Canada.

In 1987 the company distributing his work closed and he made the decision that the time had come for career #3. He developed a financial services practice allowing Chris to work with w/individuals, practices, and businesses throughout the country. He briefly tried to dabble in art in the mid 90’s but it was an exercise in frustration to try to fit it in with his other responsibilities.However he kept up the art study knowing the day would come for a return to art. By mid 2019 he had transitioned his practice which allowed him to start painting again. Living on a NJ coastal island his focus now is on everyday marine environments with wildlife in oils and acrylics. He is thoroughly enjoying the challenge of painting again, and attempting to get up to speed on today’s art world of web sites, social media, etc.

He is a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists and member of the American Society of Marine Artists, International Guild of Realism, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, and Oil Painters of America. His work has been featured in American Art Collector, Hyperrealism Magazine, PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art, Wildlife Art, Prints, and Northlight Magazines along with Samuel’s Contemporary Western Artists. He is listed in multiple editions of Who’s Who in American Art and American Artists of Renowned. Notable covers include Readers Digest and Duck's Unlimited. His work has been exhibited in the Academy of Natural Sciences, Denver Museum of Natural History, National Wildlife Federation, NJ State Museum, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Game Conservation International, and the Ward Foundation.

Chris (b 1946) is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren, lives in Brigantine NJ, was a triathlete most of his post army life, and thoroughly enjoys grilling fish.

Source: https://www.chrisforrestart.com/about

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