Joan Huestis Foster

FOSTER - JOAN HUESTIS August 3rd, 1929 to March 3rd, 2008 Flamboyant west coast artist and writer. Joan grew up in the 1930's in Montreal surrounded by the art world of her mother and rubbing shoulders with Canada's famous Group of Seven, then at the pinnacle of their careers. Prompted by her mother, the distinguished group realized the little girl loved to paint. She was fascinated by faces, a fascination that lasted her whole life. At the age of 5 one of her paintings was hung in the children's section of the National Gallery in Ottawa. You could say she started at the top. Throughout her long and colourful career, she painted the west coast's most iconic figures including Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Clarence Joe, Tommy Douglas, Jack Webster, Ma Murray, Arthur Erickson, Harry Jerome and many others. Equally evocative were her west coast scenes with titles like Fat BC fish boats on a brisk day and Seagulls gather for a board meeting at dawn. Her paintings could also be incisive and satirical. Some literally feared the wrath of her brush. Joan was much loved by her 3 children Dr. Stuart Foster (Diane), Peggy Mulligan (Terry David), Douglas Foster (Lorena) and 8 grandchildren, Danusha, Brett, Sean, Fynn, Kate, Mindy, Keiran and Danica and 2 great-grandchildren, Taleigha and Kyle. The family would also like to Thank Wendy Yeoman for her amazing kindness and compassion for Joan during the last 2 years. Her personality and character are best exemplified by a memoir by her granddaughter Kate, called My Grandmother, The Dragon. To read this wonderful tribute please visit www.mem.com for a full transcript of the The Dragon. Enter last name "Foster" and first name "Joan". At Joan's request there will not be a funeral, instead we plan to have an: "Informal Celebration of Joan's Life and Art" at the Silk Purse Gallery: 1570 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver. Monday, March 31st (3:00pm - 7:00pm) For more information or directions please email: Doug@DHFoster.com or fmfm@shaw.ca