Philip Ellis Foster

"In a sumi drawing, a few spontaneously skilful touches imply, through the rhythmical gestures of the artist's hand and arm, the living movements of nature with which he is in contemplative union." (Harold Stewart, A Net of Fireflies, 1960, ed. 1978. p. 133).

This all began on a whim, taking a workshop on something I knew nothing about because I wanted to do something I knew nothing about. It was called "calligraphy" and taught by an experienced Buddhist artist. It was wonderful and I wanted more. I finally found a Japanese calligrapher under whom I began weekly study. After a while I became bored with just learning by copying, and started to make imaginary Japanese characters. Shortly thereafter I decided to experiment with larger brushes and this led to finding a studio in which to work and to incorporating my background in dance and movement into my brushwork. I have recently begun to experiment with working on materials other than paper and with techniques in addition to brushes.

I do not set out with a conscious intention of what I will be doing other than that I will be making something with the materials I have chosen. My work is almost entirely if not entirely spontaneous. I do not have something in mind which I ...

Philip Ellis Foster studied ceramics at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University in 1957, and sculpture at the University of Michigan in 1960. He was introduced to brushwork by Barbara Bash at Sky Lake Lodge in Rosendale, New York, about 2005, has studied Japanese calligraphy with Tsuyoshi Takemori at the Kampo Center in New York City since 2008, and explored studio art under Maurizio Pellegrin at the National Academy School of Fine Art, New York City in 2013 and 2014.

Foster’s traditional calligraphy was shown at the Japanese/American Cultural Exhibition of the New York Shodo Society in 2010 and 2011, included in the World Calligraphy Biennale in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea in 2013, published in Insight Journal magazine, and is included in several private collections. Foster’s imaginary characters were shown at the Japanese/American Cultural Exhibition of the New York Shodo Society in 2012 and 2013, and published online at www.thenewpostliterate.blogspot.com on April 21, 2013. His abstract works were included in the group exhibitions “Asian Dreams and Inspiration” in 2013 and “Creative Mischief” in 2014 at the National Academy School of Fine Art and shown in a solo Wall Project exhibit in 2013, also at the National Academy School of Fine Art.