Paul Forster (American, 1925-2012)."Two Headed Turtle" oil on board, n.d. Artist's signature and title handwritten on verso. A fascinating painting by Paul Forster depicting an aerial view of a two-headed turtle. A minimalist portrayal, the unusual reptile is painted in brown hues atop a textured background of mottled orange and yellow hues. Bicephalic reptiles are quite rare, only occurring in 1 of every 50,000 to 100,000 births. Size: 24" W x 30" H (61 cm x 76.2 cm)

At the age eight, Paul Forster became the youngest member of the Albright Art Gallery Association and started studying at the Museum School with watercolorist Robert Blair. During World War II, Forster served in the Army Air Corps, and in 1952, he graduated from Brigham Young University with a Fine Arts Degree. In the late 1950s, Forster had a studio in Nevada and painted murals for the Mormon Church. In the early 1960s, he taught art and became Chairman of the Art Department of the L.D.S. Schools of the South Pacific in Tonga. In 1969, he left Brigham Young University to pursue his art full time. For the greater part of the next decade, Forster traveled throughout the American Southwest in an Airstream trailer to paint the environment and its inhabitants. In time, he moved to Oregon followed by Kansas City, but eventually returned to Arizona.

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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#174632

Artist's signature and title are handwritten on verso. Minor chipping to peripheries that does not affect main imagery. Very light fraying and slight bending to tips of 2 corners. Otherwise, painting is in very good condition with clear imagery and vivid colors.