Eric Forstmann at Eckert

Eric Forstmann’s new show “Perambulate” will open at Eckert Fine Art in Washington Depot, Connecticut on August 10 with a reception from 2 to 6 p.m. The title, derived from the habit of leisurely exploring and observing one’s environment, encapsulates the essence of Forstmann’s work.

“I have had the good fortune to have spent 40 years doing just that. Along the route, I have been able to translate my findings into more than one thousand paintings. And the search continues…” Forstmann stated.

Forstmann, who studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston under Barnett Rubenstein and Henry Schwartz, has been celebrated in solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as The Butler Institute of American Art, The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, The Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science, the Mattatuck Museum and Brenau Galleries. He has also participated in significant exhibitions, including at the Norman Rockwell Museum and the Naples Museum of Art. Forstmann’s art has been featured in prominent publications such as Architectural Digest, ARTnews, and New England Home. “Perambulate” will showcase Forstmann’s dedication to his craft and his profound connection to his surroundings with a balanced mix of landscapes and still lifes.

The artist spoke of his gratitude for his occupation, stating, “I really am very fortunate to love what I do.” It is because of this love and good fortune that he said, “There’s something about the work process and the respect for space, respect for place that I really feel in plein air even though it’s probably not as accurate as a lot of people who use photos.” He went on to describe some of those photo realist images. “You’re like, ‘Wow, that’s amazing. You’ve gotten every leaf!’ And it is incredible, but I get more out of being there and kind of getting stung by bees and having to run from the weather and all that stuff,” he said with a laugh.

Forstmann refers to himself as “a confirmed ‘thingest,’” a term he invented. “I’m not really a hoarder but I’m really fascinated with the things that we’ve come up with as objects of desire in our world and in my world.”