"Long John Silver"   Lot no. 4249

He started sketching and drawing while still in grade school and continued through high school. After graduation, he became employed at the Providence Lithograph Company in RI. During WWII, he was assigned as an artist and spent 18 months of his three-year service, within the United States Army Air Corps, sketching and painting throughout the Pacific. After the war, Foster returned to work as a lithographer, but ultimately turned to free lance illustration, preferring to work for himself.

He continued to pursue "fine art" projects, nights and weekends. Then living in Voluntown, CT, he was asked to teach by aspiring local artists familiar with his work. Before long, he was the owner and CEO of the largest private art school in southern New England. He retired in 2006.

In 1974 the editor of American Artist suggested that he write an art instruction book. He embarked on writing Keys to Successful Landscape Painting. This book was followed by Keys to Successful Color and Keys to Painting Better Portraits. In 1993, he wrote a revision of his first book, which was retitled Foster Caddell's Keys to Successful Landscape Painting.

In addition to these accomplishments, Foster has gained great renown as a portrait artist. He portrayed many famous people from around northeast Connecticut, including Senator Thomas J. Dodd and his son Christopher J. Dodd, senior Senator from Connecticut.