Ladd Forsline, a native of Minnesota, is an artist and inventor. He graduated from Bethel College (MN) in 1986 and received his MFA from Yale School of Art in 1988. He then moved to New York City and set up Forsline and Starr Ltd, the company behind such inventions as Colour Shaper and OilBar. These products, which were revolutionary at the time of launch, have now become standard tools and materials for artists and crafters around the world.
Ladd now lives in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where he developed and is manufacturing his latest new product range - PanPastel - a collaboration with his wife and business partner, Bernadette Ward. PanPastel is transforming the way artists use pastels.
Ladd says that his "intention is not to replace existing materials, but to enhance the process of making art by offering new materials and stimulating artistic expression." Something most artists agree he has successfully achieved!