Obituary of Leszek Forczek

 West Coast watercolor artist, lecturer/instructor, writer/poet, Leszek Forczek, was born in Germany, raised in Alberta Canada and a resident of Lake County, California for the past 16 years, since 2003. Forczek “crossed the rainbow bridge” on May 20, 2019 at his home on Kelsey Creek in Kelseyville, California. He had just finished cooking his favorite beet borscht soup with sauerkraut – still on ‘keep warm’ in the slow cooker: a final loving act to share with friends and family. He will be greatly missed. Leszek Forczek was a master artist in the style of painting he called “Illuminism” – based on a technique using large transparent, fluid layers of superimposed color in which the movement of color supersedes the element of form. One watercolor painting could take as long as four to five weeks to complete. His School of Illuminism was inspired by the profound and joyous union of the Natural World with the Inner Spiritual World: "As above, so below." Leszek's lively paintings are characterized by their unique sense of luminosity, space and movement, harmonizing the inner and outer aspects of Light, Color and Darkness. This balance of inner & outer is, in its essence, beauty, art and humanity. Forczek is still appreciated by many students and collectors who have found beauty, color and painting to be an important means to personal and spiritual development. He was the Founder of the Illuminism Workshop Series (IWS), which inspired hundreds of participants throughout America and Canada over a span of twenty years. Forczek’s artwork has appeared in numerous editions of cards, posters and fine art prints. This popular artist’s work has also been published in both national and international magazines – the figural painting “The Blue Pieta” was the featured Cover for the Spring 2014 edition of “Upper Room” reaching over 100 countries in 35 languages. “The Blue Pieta” was then notably published on the front page of Lake County’s “Record-Bee” newspaper. Forczek frequently donated his Illuminism paintings and images for fund-raisers such as the March of Dimes; and his artwork now sits in various private and public art collections, institutions and museums throughout North America. From 2009 to 2014, Forczek collaborated with his partner, Casse Waldman Forzek, on a DVD movie inspired by Mount Konocti of Lake County, California: “Topaz Mountain” – a unique chromatic animation of Illuministic watercolor landscape paintings. It is a moving testimony accompanied by compelling poetry and music. “Topaz Mountain” is a transformational statement, both mysterious and luminous, on the beauty and vulnerability of mountains, lakes and glaciers. It is a multi-layered odyssey into the spirit of the essential Landscape. Forczek’s Memorial Celebration was held July 3, 2019, a day which would have been his 73rd birthday. Officiating the service at the Lakeport SDA Community Church, was retired Pastor Randy Brehms (vocals & organ), with David Neft on piano; Clovice Lewis on cello; Carol-Cole Lewis and Roger Smith, vocalists. An Exhibition of Forczek’s artwork graced the lobby of the Church Sanctuary, as well as along the hallway to Fellowship Hall. Press coverage by Elizabeth Larsen of Lake County News, Terri Larsen of Lake County Magazine; filmed by videographers Allen Markowski, and Dan Fitzsimmons. Nearly two hundred people were in attendance. Many traveled to Lake County from places as far distant as Vancouver, Canada; Oregon; Redding; San Francisco; San Diego, and Chicago.  For More info, please visit    .http://forczekmemorial.com