Bigger Subject

Searching for a Bigger Subject
Everest and the Grand Canyon

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Painting the Grand Canyon
Photograph copyright © 2004 Annis Englen

Exhibition of Paintings from Everest and the Grand Canyon

The exhibition is the result of three journeys to paint Everest, and three to the Grand Canyon. It was shown in six cities: Truro, London, Sante Fe, Dallas, New York and Phoenix.

A list of Tony Foster's past and prospective solo exhibitions is to be found on Tony's CV.

Slide Lectures

For details of the exhibition venues, rationale and slide lectures please see the Exhibition page. The remainder of this page gives a brief overview of Tony Foster's expeditions. For more detail, please use the links shown below, which also are shown in row four of the main menu.

The Grand Canyon
September 2004

In September 2004, as part of his new series "In Search of a Bigger Subject", Tony was painting in and around The Grand Canyon.

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Painting the Grand Canyon
Photograph copyright © 2004 Annis Englen

These are the largest watercolours that Tony has attempted. The first is as it was on site partially done and the rest pencilled in with extensive colour notes ready for completion when he gets home to his studio.

6' x 3' watercolour showing the amount of work done on site
Copyright © 2004 Tony Foster

Here, several weeks later, is the picture "From Point Sublime looking ESE" completed in Tony's studio. The Phoenix Art Museum have since purchased this painting for their permanent collection. Measuring 36" x 72" (91cm x 183cm), it must be one of the largest watercolours ever achieved on site.

BS11 From Point Sublime Looking South South East
6 days Searching / 13 days on Site · 2004 · 36" x 72"
Aspen Leaf studies 4½" x 72"
pencil and watercolour on paper
pulverised rock samples in glass tube
map
Artwork copyright © 2005 Tony Foster

First Everest Expedition
March 2005

Tony Foster working on a small painting above Namche Bazaar, aided by Ang Phuri Sherpa and assistant.

Above Namche Bazaar - Tony aided by Ang Phuri Sherpa and assistant
Photograph copyright © 2005 Mike Nathan

Here is the finished painting 'From Above Namche Bazaar looking NE to Lhotse and Everest 2005'. Though completed you can still see, top left and right, where the clips held the paper to the drawing board.

BS12 From Above Namche Bazaar · 11748' / 3560m
Looking North East to Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest · 2005
12" x 16" / 2½" x 8" pencil and watercolour on paper
map / prayer flag / mani stone / pebble
Artwork copyright © 2005 Tony Foster

Tony at work above Gokyo. Note the construction of Tony's drawing board, two thin layers of plywood, one perforated to reduce weight. Tony is rightly fanatical about weight reduction - he cuts the handle off his mug and drills holes in the handle of his toothbrush! Note also that the support for his drawing board is improvised so that nothing extra needs to be carried for that, though the folding stool is essential.

Tony at work above Gokyo
Photograph copyright © 2005 Mike Nathan

Here is the entire group (who dubbed themselves Team Rag Bag in response to the uniformed Team Honda who were attempting to summit this season) at the end of the trek.

Team Rag Bag at the end of the trek
Photograph copyright © 2005 Mike Nathan

Second Everest Expedition
April/May 2006

Painting at altitude

Having decided that he had not completed sufficient paintings on his first expedition, Tony returned to the Everest Region in April/May 2006 and completed seven smaller pieces

BS18 From Syangboche · 12613' / 3835m
Looking 55° East North East to Everest
Lhotse and Lhotse Shar · 2006
12" x 16" / 2½" x 8" pencil and watercolour on paper
prayer flag / coral Bhudda / rock / map
Artwork copyright © 2006 Tony Foster

Tony is shown below, holding a painting at 17,800' on Kala Pattar (600' above Basecamp) - the highest painting he has ever done.

Tony with his small study of Everest
Photograph © Kurt Ohms 2006

The same small study of Everest when completed

BS21 From Kala Pattar · 17800' / 5400m
Looking East to Everest · 2006
12" x 16" / 3" x 7" pencil and watercolour on paper
snow in sealed bottle / metal Bhudda / mani stone / map
Artwork copyright © 2006 Tony Foster

Tony also worked on a second large Everest (6ft x 3ft) painting...

Tony with his second 6ft x 3ft painting ...
Photograph © Kurt Ohms 2006

Tony and Ang Phuri Sherpa roll up the large painting at the end of a day's work above Khumjung.

Tony and Ang Phuri Sherpa roll up a big painting
Photograph copyright © 2005 Mike Nathan

Here is the painting substantially completed back in Tony's Studio. It shows Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dhablan from above Khumjung.

(Click on images for enlargement)

BS22 Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam
Looking North East from near Syangboche · 2005 / 2006
36" x 72" / 1" x 72" pencil and watercolour on paper
map / snow in sealed bottle / terracotta Bhudda / stone
Artwork copyright © 2005 Tony Foster

FILM "The Man Who Painted Everest"

A film, "The Man Who Painted Everest", records Tony's April/May 2006 expedition. It was filmed by HiTV in Hi Definition and broadcast in the UK on Sky ARTSWORLD four times during the August 2006 Bank Holiday weekend. It is still repeated from time-to-time - look out for it!

Filming "The Man Who Painted Everest"
at 13,400 feet (4084 M)
Photograph © Kurt Ohms 2006

Register your interest

If you would like Tony to email you to let you know when the DVD is ready for distribution please ...register your interest

Third Everest Expedition
April/May 2007

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Tony returned to the Himalaya for the third time to complete the Everest section of his new exhibition. He went to Tibet and completed a 3ft x 4.5ft painting of the North Face from Rongbuk, and a small painting from North Face Base Camp.

BS 24 Everest North Face from above Rongbuk
Monastary Looking South · 16500' / 5000m · 2007
36" x 47" / 3" 46" pencil and watercolour on paper
wrapped and sealed kata / map / snow in sealed bottle
Artwork copyright © 2007 Tony Foster

BS 27 The East (Kangshung) Face of Everest from
Above the Kama Valley · 15400' / 4670m · 2007
36" x 38" pencil and watercolour on paper
wrapped and sealed kata / map / pebble
Artwork copyright © 2007 Tony Foster

He then travelled to Kharta and trekked over the Cho La Pass (because of deep snow his group was the first over the pass this season) to a vantage point above the fabled Kama Valley. There he worked on a painting of the East Face, seen briefly during a break in the blizzard conditions that beset the camp during their stay. Returning over the Cho La Pass he worked on a 3ft x 4ft painting of Makalu and Kangchungtse.

He believes he has thus become the first person to paint all three faces of Everest, and has created the largest painting of Everest done on site (6ft x 3ft), and the painting done at the highest altitude (17,800ft). If anyone has any evidence to prove or disprove this claim, he would love to hear from you.