North Bank Artists - a DBA of North Bank Artists Community Project a 501 (c)3 non-profit in Vancouver, WA
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  • Current & Upcoming Gallery Events
  • Recent & Past Exhibitions
    • 2016 Exhibitions
    • 2015 Exhibitions
    • 2014 Exhibitions
  • About North Bank
    • North Bank Artists Board of Directors
    • Artist Members
      • Mary Clearwater
      • Erin Dengerink
      • Chrissie Forbes
      • Kanaan Kanaan
      • Sharri LaPierre
      • Greg Lueck
      • kathi rick
      • Rebecca Seymour
      • Kaite Thompson Chase
    • North Bank Artists Community Project Documents
  • Benefits of Membership
    • Become a Member
  • Art Experiences & Art Education
    • Art Talks
    • Art of Legacy
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Mailing List Signup
  • Facility Use
  • Help North Bank Artists Thrive!

Chrissie Forbes

Kanaan Kanaan >>
Picture
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.
 
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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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North Bank Artists - a DBA of North Bank Artists Community Project a 501 (c)3 non-profit in Vancouver, WA