|
Forest
C. Greenslade, PhD
Organic
Forrestry
Nature-inspired paintings and sculpture
by Forrest C. Greenslade, PhD
New visions inhabit the
mind of Dr. Forrest Greenslade. His organic sculptures and paintings,
derived from a life-long love of nature and mythology, have a new look and
feel. Greenslade’s work is highly stylized yet clearly grounded in the
natural world. His relief paintings are sculptural, built up with inches
of thick acrylics and modeling paste to the point that they nearly jump
off the canvas. His sculptures are enhanced with innovative coatings and
patinas producing color, texture and an illusion of movement. His computer
enhanced watercolors are soft and luminous. “I want people to experience
motion and emotion in my art,” Greenslade asserts, “so my faces are
seldom symmetrical and my figures just can’t stand still.”
Greenslade’s use of materials is eclectic. “Because of my scientific
training, I tend to be experimental in my choice of media,” he explains.
“I use metal, concrete, clay, acrylics, wood, found-objects – whatever
tells the best story.”
Best
known for his whimsical animal
sculptures and paintings, his new work presents an excursion into
the mind of a much more serious artist. Greenslade’s highly stylized,
sculptural treescapes are created
in modeling paste and tarnished metals on canvas. They depict
remembrances on canvas of special woodland places. Forrest
Greenslade,
educated as a molecular
biologist,
spent his working life as a
scientist and organizational executive. Serious business has now been
replaced by
ventures into creative, playful expression. He creates art that
feels to many as rather naďve, even childlike. Playing, it seems, is what
Forrest does best. Whether his creativity leads to whimsical sculptures,
or
takes him on a journey to a
“Petrified Forrest”, his work shares common threads. It displays the
delight and playfulness
of creating art, his unique scientific experimentation of materials and
Greenslade’s life-long love of nature.
Leslie Palmer, Friends
of the Pittsboro Memorial Library
Forrest’s
paintings
are a little reminiscent of Van Gogh in their sculptural surfaces and
use
of
light.”
Philip Ashe, Director of
the Central Carolina Community College Sculpture Program
In
his dotage, Greenslade the scientist has discovered his creative self.
After a lifetime of serious business, it’s nice to let the little
boy out,” he smiles.
“It’s
more fun that any old guy deserves.”
Forrest's
artist's resume
Forrest's
previous experience
|