PENNY FORREST

ARTIST STATEMENT

As an artist living in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most beautiful spots in the world, I find myself constantly inspired by my surroundings to paint. My interests are wide ranging and my subject matter diverse. Currently my works celebrate the beauty and joy of everyday life from imagined, cozy interiors to “near landscapes” — close-up, colorful interpretations of flowers, plants, rocks, trees, and other details I encounter on daily walks. Occasionally, I explore figurative subjects but always with the same focus on warmth, color, and the delight of seeing the world through a lens of gratitude.

My paintings are not literal depictions but impressions and emotions brought to life on the canvas. The heart of my practice is a sense of thankfulness for the act of creating itself. My hope is that my work invites viewers to pause, notice the beauty in life’s details, and “follow the joy,” experiencing the same delight in seeing and feeling that fuels my process.