Naomi Foster

Born Naomi Rona Foster on 3 May 1973 in Pretoria, a self-taught artist with a love for detail and beauty. Although I have always wanted to do art, the harsh realities of my life with three boys, a learning disability and a debilitating accident; had me working as a florist and seamstress to support my family. However, a year before Covid-19 in 2019 I started focusing more diligently on visual art as the preferred form of expression of my creativity. After joining the Centurion Art Association (CAA), I started to regularly attend art workshops and engaging with other artists. This enabled me to progress on my art journey, transitioning from an amateur to a professional artist. I have sold several of my art works already and exhibit regularly at Spektra Art Gallery. I also entered the Sasol New Signatures in 2025 where I made regional participation but not National and was featured in the online Fine Art Gallery Namibia in 2025.

I love expressing my creative images through relief art – a mixture of sculpture and painting – because it allows me intimate involvement in the creative process. Apart from using acrylic as a paint medium, I also use charcoal and oil pastels. I enjoy painting landscapes and portraits which allows me to portray emotions that the viewer can connect with.

I have successfully completed several portrait commissions. In 2022 and 2025, I respectively received a merit award with a landscape painting themed “The Forgotten Farmland” and a mix media painting in the CAA’s annual Artist of the Year competition. I am currently working at Spektra Art Gallery on a part-time basis.

The following South African artist Gertie Roeloffze and Dirk van der Merwe, had a marked influence in my development as an emerging artist, although I try to keep my own individuality visible in my paintings, although I have a keen desire to travel locally and internationally to visit art museums and get more inspiration.

Jabula

Jabula was wandering through the wild heart of Kruger National Park when, by pure chance, he stumbled upon a tiny springbuck baby in the grass. The little creature seemed lost, and his heart just clicked with the urge to protect it. He cradled the buck in his arms, feeling its warm breath against his chest, and for a split second the world felt like it was just him and this fragile animal sharing a secret adventure. My friend, who was visiting the park with me, snapped a photo of that instant—my eyes shut in awe, his smile bursting with joy, and the buck resting trustfully in his embrace. This image captures the raw connection between a child and nature, the unexpected kindness that can happen in the wilderness, and the memory of a fleeting, magical encounter that reminds us how beautiful and fragile life can be in the bush.

The forgotten farmland

This painting tells the story of a farmhouse left behind, but the land remains a part of its people. For generations, farmers poured their blood, sweat, and tears into this earth, cultivating a legacy of resilience and pride. Yet, circumstances forced them to leave, leaving behind a home and a way of life that's hard to let go. The overgrown path and weathered walls whisper tales of memories, struggles, and traditions. This piece honors the farmers who lived and breathed the land, and the unbreakable bond between them and the earth.

The cave

In my underwater cave painting, the luminous opening pierces the darkness of the deep, casting a beacon of hope that guides the vibrant red fish through the intricate coral world. The interplay of shadowed stone and radiant light symbolizes the journey from uncertainty to illumination, inviting viewers to find resilience and inspiration in the hidden beauty of nature’s mysteries. Through this scene, I express that even in the depths of challenge, a glimmer of light can ignite courage and renewal, urging us to seek our own paths toward hope and discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of slowly building-up the rocks to transform the painting into a dimensional relief work, adding to the depth of the underwater seaworld.

Namibian landscape

In this Namibian landscape, the blazing sunset ignites the red dunes, casting a hopeful glow that turns the horizon into a promise of new beginnings. The vivid sky blends fiery oranges with deep blues, symbolising the tension between challenge and inspiration, while delicate green patches and resilient wildflowers on the foreground dunes speak to life’s perseverance in harsh terrain. The painting captures the spirit of Namibia’s vast, luminous vistas, inviting viewers to feel the warmth of possibility and the enduring light that guides the soul through the earth’s rugged beauty.

Peter's farm in Natal.

In this painting of my brother Peter’s farm in Natal, Muden, I sought to capture the serene and rugged natural atmosphere of the veld. The muted earth tones and soft greens evoke the simplicity and resilience of the land, reflecting the way the sparse trees stand against the expansive sky.

The work expresses Peter’s deep love for his farm and his commitment to preserving it. Each brushstroke conveys the connection between the farmer and the soil, highlighting his dedication to protecting the land’s natural beauty and sustaining its heritage for future generations.

The potter

"In this oil pastel, Jesus, the divine Potter, tenderly shapes a newborn in a clay bowl, symbolizing humanity as pliable clay in His loving hands. Soft strokes evoke the Creator's gentle yet powerful touch, moulding souls with compassion and purpose. The blue background signifies divine light guiding transformation, inviting reflection on our journey of spiritual becoming."

Mr Pieter Feirreira

This was a group commission by the Grade 7's of the class of 2024 of Louis Leipold in gratitude of the headmasters’ leadership and commitment to the school. A present for his Birthday.

Jessica

Jessica, my dear friend’s daughter, pours her heart into every keyboard note, sharing love, gratitude, and respect through her music, inspiring selfless giving and blessing our church with her generous spirit and beautiful gift. A gift for her in 2025.

Gemsbok

Gemsbok captures the noble spirit of the African Oryx with bold lines highlighting its striking face and horns, set in a sweeping South African veld. Every brushstroke sings of its strength and raw beauty, celebrating the Gemsbok’s resilience and regal dignity. Naomi Foster’s heartfelt dedication to African wildlife.

Inner strength

I created this relief sculpture in 2024 of the two brother lions, moved by the raw power and tender bond they embody. The textured fur, rendered in layered bronze-gold tones, captures the majestic strength of the elder lion with his regal mane, while his younger brother rests beside him, sharing an unspoken promise of loyalty and protection. The raised surface of the relief gives the brothers a living presence, their eyes gazing forward with fierce yet compassionate intensity, inviting viewers to feel the deep fraternal connection that transcends the wild.

In crafting this relief piece, I sought to celebrate the timeless brotherhood found in nature—where the elder guides and shields, and the younger learns and trusts. The metallic sheen on their claws and whiskers symbolizes resilience, while the earthy rock base grounds their spirit in the natural world. This work is a heartfelt tribute to familial devotion, courage, and the silent understanding between siblings who stand together against any challenge, inspiring all who see it to cherish their own bonds of brotherhood.