Bio
I was born in California and grew up in Santa Barbara until our family moved to Oregon when I was sixteen. After teaching in Eugene for 30 years, I retired to Austin, Texas. That was an adventure full of music, art, and good friends. In 2014, I moved back to the Northwest to be near my two grandbabies who live in Portland. I chose to live in Vancouver. I have converted a bedroom into a painting studio and built a workshop area in my basement for the robots. While in Austin, I became a serious artist and formed a group of friends who are also artists. Smitten with Texas skies, wildflowers, landscapes, birds and longhorns, I had plenty of inspiration to fill my canvases and hone my skills. I was honored to be invited to have a solo show at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It was quite successful. I had several other private shows and sold my work in a gallery at the Oasis on Lake Travis. My colorful longhorn and wildflower paintings were a hit in Texas. If nothing else, Texans are very proud of their state and show it! About four years ago, I began painting ocean waves. Since my childhood in Southern California and lots of playing in the water at Newport Beach, I have had a fascination for waves. I subscribed to Surfer magazine for years just to study photos of waves. The rest of the content meant nothing to me. I was only natural that I paint them. I prefer to paint huge crashing waves! They move me the most. In 2012, I launched into “Found Object Robot Art.” An artist friend snagged me in and I was hooked (both in collecting used metal objects and finding ways to assemble them into robots what make me laugh). I learned plenty about drills, drill bits, drill bit sharpeners, riveters, lock washers, and more. I have yet to move into welding. Every ‘critter’ evolves with a name and a story. Assembly can be very challenging, full of finger cuts, finding the right tool or contraption to make each figure come to life and stay together, and keeping parts organized. I have joined the North Bank Artists Gallery because I love to commune with other artists. We inspire and encourage each other. I can see already that this will be a good match for me. The people are talented and great. The space is terrific. Artist Statement I hope I can be an inspiration to people to take up art later in their lives. Until I retired, my life was completely filled with raising two children and working full time. Now we were moving to Texas and needed art for our many walls. When I entered the studio of Sarkis Antikajian in Cheshire, Oregon, to buy s few paintings, I knew this was something I could do if I completely jumped in and committed myself. I could feel it! Sarkis kindly mentored me. He was taught by Sergei Bongart many years earlier. Sarkis moved me quickly from acrylics to oils which I prefer. I believe that because I started shortly after turning fifty, I was lucky. Many women at that point in life care less and less about pleasing others. This freed me to have no fear of failure and to try anything! Which I have. To make up for starting later in life, I painted constantly! Another teacher coached me by saying that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been painting, it’s how much you’ve painted. Turns out I’m prolific. I love color! You’ll notice that my paintings are not subdued. I am attracted to dramatic subjects like crashing waves, storm clouds, crazy big longhorns, and now nebulae. I want my art to pop with power. I am grateful that the world is filled with so much to notice and marvel at. I try to capture that awe and the joy of seeing it. When it comes to my Found Object Robot Art, I know a piece will please me if it makes me laugh. Using candle sconces as ray guns or shoe horns as shoulders and arms is entertaining. I try to give each creation a personality of its own. artbychrissieforbes@gmail.com www.chrissieforbes.com |
If you would like to purchase any of the artwork shown on this page, please contact northbankartistsgallery@gmail.com.
Information on each photo of artwork
Clouds of West Texas 2011 36 x 48 x 1.5 Oil on canvas Double Waves in a Storm 2011 30 x 40 x 1.5 Oil on canvas Huge and Powerful 2011 30 x 48 x 1.5 Oil on canvas Star Maker (Nebula NGC6357) 2015 30 x 48 x 1.5 Oil on canvas Wall of Wave 2013 18 x 36 Oil on canvas Wild Skies of South Padre 2011 36 x 48 x 1.5 Oil on canvas Education 1970Corvallis High School 1974 BS University of Oregon 1975M Ed University of Oregon Over three additional years of post-graduate work 1986 – 1989Taught teachers at U of O |
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