Bio / Artist Statement

Jaime Foster is an interdisciplinary artist, living in the Chicagoland area. She is interested in the relationship we have with nature and our environment, both positively, negatively and how this affects us on an emotional level. Her paintings feed off the fascination I have with Ecopsychology, Conservation and Biodiversity.  Her work has been shown in galleries throughout the US and internationally. Her photographs and paintings are displayed in private collections, as well as public.

I am interested in the relationship we have with nature and our environment, both positively, negatively and how this affects us on an emotional level. My paintings feed off the fascination I have with Ecopsychology, Conservation and Biodiversity. The spiritual connection humans have with the natural world is as old as humanity. It’s an integral part of human nature whether we’re consciously aware of it or not. The natural world provides the vital necessities of life: water, food, and air. But it also provokes awe, wonder and exhilaration that touch our souls in ways we can’t completely describe. My work taps into our collective subconscious of the deep emotional connection with environment and nature. From a distance, my paintings will simultaneously resemble vast glacial landscapes and intricate microscopic patterns, acting as complimentary and contradictory to each other in an encircling game. The natural elements which flow from an emotional outpouring create fractal natural patterns that draw the viewer into a world each viewer translates through their own perception of the natural world. Different aspects of each of my works can be viewed as a mountainside, cell structure, flowing rapids and perplexing botany patterns – all combined and swirled together – to create timeless works of art that could be appreciated at any time in human history. ‍

www.jaimefoster.com

When did your interest in art begin vs. when you began thinking of it as a career/life choice?
I knew I wanted to be an artist ever since I can remember. I would sit at the kitchen table for hours and draw and construct things out of all sorts of material. When I was around 7 or 8 years old, I was gifted my first art easel. I wrote my brother a letter and told him that I could no longer care for our family dog because I need to focus on my art, so he needs to step up, lol.

After I graduated high school, I began becoming increasingly interested in photography. My friends and I had our own sort of camera clubs and we would visit abandon houses and farms. I was drawn to urban decay and the process of nature taking its course. I started working as a freelance photographer for several local newspapers and a couple years later started my own photography business.  

The business was extremely successful, but after a few years of shooting weddings and portraits I became burnt out. I wanted to be far more creative than what most clients were looking for. In 2007, my husband and I put the photography business on hold, sold our house, and moved to Seattle. Living in the Pacific Northwest was incredibly inspiring. Art was everywhere and being surrounded by so much beauty was the charge I needed to dive into creating again.

It was a difficult time for many, the economy had crashed and work was scarce. The good part was, I had a lot of time for art. We rented a little house with a tiny art studio on the property and I would shut myself in there and paint for hours on end. I fell in love with the process and it was then that I developed my style.

Within a few months and only a handful of completed work, I was asked to exhibit my work in a two-person show (with my husband who’s also a painter). About six months later I exhibited my first solo show. Between the immediate opportunities, reaction to my work, and love for the process of creating, I knew I had to make this a life choice.

What draws you to your particular subject matter?

I’ve always been a nature lover…I find so much inspiration in the natural design of nature. The shapes of flowers, the intricate patterns in trees, reflections on water, the movement of birds in flight, just to name a few examples. I often have to be immersed in the outdoors. Whether it's forest bathing, going for a hike or exploring a new preserve, it feeds my soul and is the driving source of artistic vision.

What interest of yours (outside of art) ends up influencing your practice the most?
My interests that inspire my work the most include ecology, climate change, animals, and travel. I have my own pet-care business which has turned into this wonderful way to create, travel, and consistently surround myself around animals. I have clients throughout the country that fly me out to watch their home and care for their dogs. I feel lucky, it’s quite special. I pack up my art supplies, go explore, hike, and immerse myself in my new surroundings, It’s extremely inspiring.

What is one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self?
I would've told my younger self to "make art the center of your world. Get to know other artists, get involved in the art community. Create as much as you can, as often as you can, and explore all different mediums.”

What would you say is your biggest goal this year?
I am always striving to learn and grow in my art practice. Lately, I've been learning the use of tools and incorporating new mediums into my work, so I'm making an effort to seek more of this. As far as specific goals, I would love a wider audience. Showing my work in more museums and a few prestigious galleries would be nice. I think my ultimate goal would be to do art full-time without having to worry about finances.