Born on October 1, 1941, Paul grew up in Park Hill, one of Denver’s fine historic neighborhoods of modest homes, charming bungalows, numerous well designed schools, beautiful churches, and streets lined one after another with stately trees. These trees, always so different but always so beautiful, were Paul Foster’s first real glimpse into the world of nature and design. Around the age ten his family bought a small cabin on Upper Bear Creek, and it forever shaped his outlook on the world and personal values and fed his passion for nature. About the same time that his parents bought the cabin, he bought his first camera. This camera and later more sophisticated cameras, became Paul’s constant companion. Over time, a collection of images took shape and a deep appreciation of the beauty and wonderful diversity of Colorado and nature was growing. In 1955 he picked an issue of House Beautiful magazine and discovered the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1959, when it came time to decide on a career the choice was easy. It would be architecture. Fast forward to 1964, with a newly minted degree in Architecture, Paul set off on a 45 year career in architecture, but a passion was burning, a passion to learn about watercolor painting. In 2004, as his career as an Architect was beginning to draw to a close, an announcement of a class in Watercolors  at the Denver Art Museum caught his eye. Paul knew that now was the time to explore this passion and to learn this medium. As a source of images for his paintings, Paul reached back into his vast collection of photographs assembled over a lifetime. New places are always being added but the core of his artistic interests remains constant. The land, nature, and the simple elements of the human journey and the dialogue between them and the story they jointly tell.

1. Tell us a little about your work and artistic practice?Not that long ago my work was in a number of galleries in Denver and in galleries in a couple of mountain communities including Salida and La Veta. Today all of the Denver galleries are closed or gone as is the Salida gallery. The little gallery in La Veta continues on but wildfires and the covid virus have greatly diminished the tourist activity. Fortunately, I am still working as a member of two Architectural Control Committees, one of which I chair. I have to work in my painting time in with my responsibilities and time commitments to those committees. It varies rather dramatically from month to month. Lately (August and September) I have been quite busy with both committees.
2. What have you been doing to keep occupied during the pandemic and how has your creative process been impacted?Because of the current drought, I have been completely redoing my garden. I have removed most of the original plant material and I am in the process of planting native and drought tolerant plants. In addition, since all of the galleries that used to show my work have closed or gone away, I have been submitting my work to as many exhibitions as I can find.
3. Where do you find inspiration?
   Primarily from nature and the historic fragments of civilization laid down by the processes of settlement, especially in the West.
4. Do you have a favorite piece of art that someone else created?One of my greatest treasures is an old print by Konrad Alexander Muller-Kurzwelly. This print titled Autumn Sun use to hang in the house of my aunt and  grandfather. As small children, my two sisters and I use to spend many weekends in this wonderful old house and this painting was among the many beautiful old objects that resided there. I can still recall spending considerable time looking at this painting and being fascinated with the lovely scene. There is not a doubt in my mind that this painting had a profound effect on me and my desire to become a painter.
5. Tell us about one of your pieces that you have been the most proud of?Certainly the painting, Patterned Light,  juried into the 47th Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition at CAE is among my favorites but the painting I am most proud of is a painting titled Light and Mystery. It was juried into this year’s American Watercolor Society’s Annual International Exhibition in New York City.
6. Who are your biggest influences?
   Certainly Andrew Wyeth, but also more recently Dean Mitchell.

Transformation
watercolor
13.5″x13.5″

Four Bells
watercolor
12″x12″

Light and Magic
watercolor
13.5″x13.5″

Nature Peeks In
watercolor
10.5″x 10.5″