Elizabeth Forrest
Artist member since 2023
ProWaterloo, Ontario
A graduate in printmaking from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Elizabeth Forrest later travelled to Kyoto, Japan (the 90’s) to learn traditional Japanese woodblock print aka “mokuhanga”, a medium which she has continued to practice and develop in her work to the present. Also drawn to mixed media, she has combined mokuhanga with silk screen and recently, with pochoir/stencilling. Her artistic pursuits include behind the scenes work in "shodo" or Japanese calligraphy, and life drawing with attention to digital drawing on the Ipad.
Elizabeth has an extensive exhibition record including an number of solo and group shows with printmaking facility, Open Studio, Toronto. She joined membership gallery Gerrard Art Space in 2015 and held four solo shows there while participating in various group exhibitions abroad and locally. Over her career she’s been awarded three Canada council grants for work, travel and curatorial projects. Her work can be found in significant corporate collections such as National Bank, RBC and BMO.
Moving to Waterloo in 2018 allowed her to rent affordable studio space, enjoy a more rural lifestyle and dig into the local artscene. In 2022 her design was selected for a public art installation at two parks in Waterloo, Ontario (Hemlock Park and Sunview Park) The extensive park development designed by landscape architect Nick Minigan of Guelph, is still under construction.
Elizabeth’s work is characterized by observation of social behaviours (recently), natural and cultural phenomena as seen in works related to travels to Newfoundland, and earlier in the 00's, non representational works (Grid series). In other words she works serially through a variety of image approaches. A constant in her work has been the use of Japanese papers or "washi", which she loves for its adaptability to a variety of media, in particular mokuhanga. Hence most of her work consists of works on paper. These are framed by "floating" them in an airy box frame which renders them as objects and respects the life in paper itself. Unfortunately this is hard to see in digital images and can best be appreciated when viewed in person.
Over the years, Elizabeth has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions at Toronto’s Open Studio print facility, more recently in the Kitchener Waterloo area, as well as many internationally based shows notably in Japan, and the USA. For more details please see her website, www.elizabethforrest.ca and elizabethforrest.imprimo.ca
Work
Wild Shores
The grasses wave and ripple in the wind: the rocks lie very still
- Elizabeth Forrest
- 35" x 8.5"
- $900 buy — $45 try
Collage, 2D artworks,
Separations
Screen Motif Collection
Screen motif collection
Re-Visions
Re-Visions
Re Visions
Margin
Q+A
Only thing you need when you leave the house
A list.
Beverage of choice
My morning espresso -essential.
Favourite book
Currently, The Old Ways, by Robert Macfarlane.
Why is art important to you?
Making a work of art is like exploring, it's an adventure. I am constantly honing the tools to discover my own thoughts.
When did you start making art, and why?
I've been producing art since my childhood; professionally since the 80s.
When I'm not making art, I'm (a) ...
Working in my garden allotment, exercising(cardio, weights,yoga), long walks, attending openings, having coffee with a friend
Upcoming Exhibitions
2023-11-17
2024-04-01
2024-04-15
Select Past Exhibitions
2023
2019
2017
2016
2014
2008
2013
2022
2019
2021
2022
Accolades
2022
2017
2022
2014
2008
1988
2010
1997
Press
2023
2015
2013
2024
Residencies
2012
2010
1992
Education
1988
1975
1970
1969
Social
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