After a six-year absence from Trinidad and Tobago's local art scene, visual artist Rebecca Foster is making a bold return with her deeply personal one-day exhibition titled "Mixtape: Vol 1" at 101 Art Gallery on November 15. The 45-year-old Diego Martin resident will showcase more than 30 pieces, featuring a vibrant mix of new and older works that she describes as her most vulnerable artistic expression to date.

The exhibition represents what Foster calls a "spur of the moment decision," bringing together pieces from her sketchbook series, Hard Rock Cafe portraits, and previously unseen works that range from small to large formats in watercolor and acrylic on paper and canvas. "This show delves more into random musings and pieces that I've painted more for myself," Foster explained. "So I feel like this show is probably more of a reflection of me, which is terrifying. But hey, you gotta put yourself out there sometimes."

The diverse collection includes landscapes, architectural works, traditional Carnival characters, celebrity portraits, and more, all unified by Foster's signature use of vivid colors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Foster had a unique arrangement with Hard Rock Cafe Worldwide, painting portraits of musicians for their social media platforms. Since she retained the original works, she decided to share them with the people of Trinidad and Tobago for the first time.

Much of Foster's recent artistic inspiration has come from her travels between Trinidad and Saudi Arabia, where her husband works in both countries. Those long flights and quiet moments between destinations have filled her sketchbooks with new material. Even the buildings featured in her pieces serve as personal landmarks in her life, while her deep appreciation for the culture and lore behind traditional Carnival characters continues to influence her work.

Foster's passion for Carnival took on new significance during the pandemic lockdown. Like many artists, she initially struggled to focus on her usual work during the early months of restrictions. However, she found a meaningful outlet that connected her creativity with helping others cope during the difficult period. "It started off, when the lockdown happened, people were stressed, people were home, people had nothing to do," Foster recalled. "So I started drawing these characters and posting them to my website as free coloring pages. If people wanted to pass the time or to relieve some stress, they could just download the pages for free, and then it just morphed into a book."

That initiative eventually became "Coloring Carnival: Traditional Mas," published in December 2020. The project exemplified Foster's commitment to making art accessible and therapeutic for her community during challenging times.

Foster's journey to becoming a full-time creative professional was never straightforward, though her artistic passion was evident from childhood. She remembers drawing constantly, to the point where teachers complained about her doodling in her copybooks. She still preserves an abstract painting she created at age five, and her grandmother served as her earliest champion, encouraging her creativity even as her parents pushed her toward business studies.

Despite the pressure to pursue business, Foster persisted with her artistic interests, taking art for both her CSEC and CAPE exams at St. Joseph's Convent in Port of Spain, alongside her business subjects. "I had amazing teachers in secondary school. I learned a lot of the basics from them," she reflected. "Yes, it's good to know the basics and to have a foundation, but art is also subjective. Somebody would say, 'Oh, I can't do this. I can't draw a person.' But while you might not be able to draw a face, you might be able to express yourself in a different way – through color or line or something like that."

After school, Foster worked at Horizons Framing and Decor, where she was surrounded by local artists and their work. That exposure inspired her to take her art more seriously, and she later moved into graphic design and advertising. Eventually, she joined Question Mark Entertainment, a creative hub where she expanded her network, developed new skills, and ultimately shifted the course of her career.

Foster married in 2006 and now has two children – a 20-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son. Three years after her marriage, the family moved to Bahrain for about a year, an experience that proved pivotal for her artistic career. During that time, she joined an art group and produced 15-20 pieces. "I wanted to try to sell them and so had my first solo exhibition there. It did pretty well. I sold half the show," she remembered. "So I thought, 'Okay, maybe it is time to do this full time when I go back to Trinidad.' So 2010 was when I had made that decision to dive into being a full-time visual artist. It was a bit of a struggle to balance the work and home life, but I did it."

Since then, Foster's creativity has flowed across multiple disciplines. She began taking acting classes with Question Mark Entertainment in 2012, which led to several film roles, including a part in the award-winning 2017 film "The Cutlass." Her next appearance will be in an upcoming movie called "Danm," in which she again plays the mother of one of the main characters.

Her connection with Question Mark Entertainment and her willingness to explore new creative avenues also led her into production design. A transformative moment came when she was part of a group of local filmmakers and actors who visited the set of the Will Smith movie "Concussion." "I got to stand up in a sound stage and watch people create a whole living room and kitchen area out of nothing. I was just fascinated by it," she recalled. "So, when they approached me to do Zombie Island, I was like, 'Yes! Please sign me up,' and from there, things have just evolved."

In 2014, Foster became art director for The Zombie Island Experience at the Decibel Arts and Entertainment Festival, an interactive event for secondary school students that blended education and entertainment. She was responsible for hiring everyone involved and organizing everything related to the event, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in production design. Those new skills led to other opportunities in the local film industry, including production and set design and special effects makeup on short and feature films. Most recently, she served as production designer for the Trinidad unit of the 2023 film "Doubles."

Foster remains grateful for the opportunity to make a living doing what she loves and considers herself fortunate to have built a career across so many creative fields while becoming part of various artistic communities. After "Mixtape: Vol 1," she will be returning to Saudi Arabia, but she already has plans to come back in early 2026 to prepare for a local film shoot scheduled for June.

When not working, Foster values her quiet time, noting that since painting is her job, it's not her way to unwind. Instead, she turns to video games to relax, and even that has become a learning opportunity. Currently, she is taking a video game design course, learning the software and design principles because she enjoys coming up with video game ideas and concepts. She believes the skills she's gaining in 3D modeling and digital design will enhance her work in set and production design.

Foster also stays active in unexpected ways. A few years ago, she took up pole dancing as exercise and eventually earned certification to teach. "I just find it's a great way to exercise, it's a great way to learn about how amazing our bodies are and how much we're capable of. And for me, it's a nice way to relieve stress," she explained.

Over the years, Foster has learned to embrace flexibility and let go of rigid expectations, allowing her life to be guided by openness to new experiences. "I realize there's only so much you could plan. I've always pretty much gone with the flow and rolled with the punches," she reflected. "Life is what you make it and, to me, it's about perspective and whether you see the glass as half full or half empty. If you have a goal or you want something to happen, chances are it might not happen in the timeframe you want. Setting goals is important, but sometimes you need to be flexible. And by being flexible, you might achieve more."

That philosophy of flexibility makes "Mixtape: Vol 1" a particularly fitting title for her return to the gallery scene. The exhibition will be open for viewing from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 101 Art Gallery on November 15, offering art enthusiasts their first opportunity in six years to experience Foster's evolving artistic vision in a local gallery setting.