KAREN SEIDMAN
THE GAZETTE

Bettina Forget always wanted to be an astronaut.
With a family full of artists, however, her real talent seemed to lie more in the arts than in the stars. So she finally decided to combine her two passions and is now an artist who specializes in moonscapes.
Her work, on display at the Galerie de la Ville in Dollard des Ormeaux, illustrates the beauty of the solar system's moons.
She captures their glorious colours and craters using experimental techniques, which include unsing dental floss to create texture and depth.
"It's like being an astronaut without travelling," said Forget, who works daily in her downtown studio and whose paintings sell for up to $3,600. "I always wanted to combine science with art."
A long time hobby astronomer, Forget said most people find the night sky to be dark and alien, but she finds it fascinating.

"The moons are covered in volcanoes and are really beautiful," she said.
Forget started out painting landscapes and portraits, but soon got more into the astronomical side of things.
Forget is not alone. She belongs to the International Association of Astronomy Artists. Her work is unusual, however, in that most of the other artists in the group do realistic work, but she does abstractions.
"I'm one of the few doing it as an art form," she said.
One thing is for sure: she find her subject matter more interesting than typical landscapes.
"This has been a lifelong passion and obsession," said Forget, who is starting a series on the sun, solar flares and icescapes.

Forget has 30 paintings on display until Sunday at the Galerie de la Ville, 12001 de Salaberry Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux. Call (514) 684-1012, Local 298 for information.

kseidman@thegazette.canwest.com

The Gazette, Montreal,
Thursday, March 11, 2004