Artist depicts Bel-Red with light and color | Arts & Culture

At least one of Brian Forrest’s paintings, depicting the Bel-Red section of Bellevue, is mighty reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh’s Tahiti.

Forrest’s use of color and bold strokes will be on exhibit today through Sept. 23 at the Marketplace at Factoria. The Bellevue artist will be at the opening of “The Bel-Red Paintings. An Expressionist’s View,” in the concourse outside Panera from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

In a series of 14 vibrantly colored paintings, Bellevue artist Forrest shows scenes from Bel-Red, the 900-acre area east of downtown Bellevue expected to transform into a collection of robust, mixed-use neighborhoods over the next 20 years.

In 2009 the City Council approved zoning intended to help change the area with retail businesses, apartment complexes, new streets and parks and open space. An arts district is envisioned for the area as well, so the Bellevue Arts Program issued a call for art related to Bel-Red and is sponsoring the exhibit.

“I wanted to express Bel-Red emotionally on the canvas, and share that with people,” Forrest said. “I wanted to help people gain a greater appreciation for the beauty and diversity in Bel-Red’s landscape.”