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December 2023 by Shane Young
Genuinely wonderful. What a way to spend a quiet hour and a half. The artist's work is a marvel, even before you consider that almost everything was done on location. The underwater sketches particularly showed the kind of dedication to authenticity and realism that should inspire all artists.I sat in front of two or three works for a long time - a couple of the larger-scale paintings bringing an unexpected welling up of emotion - and I was grateful for the solitude!The portable seats were such a thoughtful addition too, for those of us who like to spend time with a piece.The informative timelines, stories, quotes, writing excerpts and photography really enhanced the experience.As an Englishman living in CA, I throughly appreciated finding the work of a man from Cornwall in the bustle of Palo Alto, especially one with such impressive dedication to documenting the beauty of places on his travels in that thoroughly intimate and unpretentious way of his.I have since written a poem inspired by Tony's work at the Grand Canyon. Art inspiring art, hopefully exactly as Mr Foster would encourage. Thank you to all concerned.
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July 2023 by Wendy Kwok
The Foster Museum is a real gem that you can easily fit into a 1-2 hour time slot. That said, the collection isn't extensive, only dedicated to Tony Foster. However, Mr Foster's watercolors will take you to the most devastatingly beautiful places around the world from the verdant Borneo rainforest to the star studded Atacama desert, from the coral reef teeming with fish to the desolate wind swept Basecamp at the foot of the Everest, from the iconic Grand Canyon to a scenic canyon choked with moss cover trees near his native home. I felt bathed in beauty every time I visited.
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May 2023 by Aishwarya Swaminathan
This is such a beautiful museum displaying the works of Tony Foster. Incredible watercolor paintings of what nature looks like around that world that will capture the hears of ammeters and experts alike. They have a scavenger hunt for kids that equally entertaining for adults too! A station with lots of colors and paper to teach one how to start their drawing/painting journey. The staff are extremely kind and friendly.
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April 2023 by Hyelim C.
Quality time with my 5-year-old pre-schooler! I was worried about how I would spend the weekend with my 5-year-old son when my husband was away on a business trip, and recently he's been interested in painting and tried to express what he's experienced. So we went there.The child was very excited because there was enough space for the child to draw and he would got a prize if he found every works.We spent an hour and a half there quietly and actively. We talked about it when we got home, and saw Mont Blanc and promised to go to France when he becomes 7. It was such a great time with my son.Parallel parking available at the entrance.
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April 2023 by Mark Bosch
What a wonderful museum. My wife and I were mesmerized after studying the watercolors by Tim Foster. This destination is a gem.First of all, admission is free. Just make a reservation online ahead of your visit.You are greeted by name and given a tour of the lobby displays which introduce you to Tim Foster. He is a naturalist and world traveler who paints with water color "plein air" [outdoors].So what sets Foster apart from other artists? Well, hei back packs, hiking to very remote locations to capture just the right view of Earth's most beautiful locations, often camping in freezing temperatures and painting in extreme heat.His trips are remarkable and you can share his journeys in a unique way.His paintings contain samples of items he gathers on location along with notes he writes in pencil at the bottom of each piece.The notes and comments are available in the free audio tour you download onto your iphone. Be sure to take your ear buds so you can get the full impact of Tim Fosters paintings.You do not want to miss this museum, located in an industrial area of Palo Alto California. We visited on April 8th, 2023.
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March 2023 by Debbie N.
What a delightful museum! The watercolors are captivating, at huge scale, and represent scenes from around the world, even underwater. The handwritten notes at the bottom of each by the artist are an extra treat. This is a perfect place to visit as part of a relaxing and inspiring day. I came here for an event, then came back with my niece. It's also free. This is a hidden gem.
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February 2023 by Lo
A hidden gem in Palo Alto. The museum is free with reservation online. You can request an introduction / video and someone will talk to you about the exhibition. The artists’ watercolor paintings are breathtaking. He traveled the world and painted/ sketched/ collected samples of sediments, water, and rocks from the scenery. What’s even cooler is that each piece has a map marked where the scenic view is when the artist painted it. Definitely go with your family or even a date. My partner and I sat at one of the tables and sketched some fish. I can’t believe this is free, you can purchase a book there to support the place.
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December 2022 by Hanna Y.
The museum was very nice and quiet. The staff was so kind and helpful. The paintings were absolutely beautiful and we were never bored. The entrance is free and there are also audio guides. The building was very clean. I would absolutely recommend people to visit this place!
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December 2022 by Juanito Chaiken
An excellent docent tour was arranged in advance for a group. The modern museum features large watercolors by s single artist.
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July 2022 by Jose Solis
The artwork is beautiful and we also liked the kids corner for drawing
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May 2022 by Aimee D.
Great place. Beautiful building. I brought my three and five year old. The museum had crafts along the way to give the kids a break. The scavenger hunt was also a great time for them. I would love to come back and do the audio tour without the babies :)
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April 2022 by Goodman S.
Gorgeous, little known gem of a museum. Not only do you get to see Tony Foster's beautiful watercolors, but there are great notes on the places he traveled to and how he worked. I loved that many of the paintings included his notes and had artifacts framed with them; it lends much more of a sense of place.Our PTA hosted an event here, and I've been here for a meeting as well, and the staff is really friendly and pleasant to work with. The space is well designed and open. It deserves to be better known and more visited.
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March 2022 by Linda C.
A hidden gem. The quality of the exhibits is quite impressive, and the beauty of the watercolors is astounding. Tony Fisher succeeds in taking viewers on a visual feast of some of the most beautiful places in the world. We planned to spend 2 hrs but it was not enough time. The self guided audio of each painting by Tony Foster provides background and perspective; he is a wonderful storyteller.
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February 2022 by Phoebee G.
Me and my daughter had a great experience visiting The Foster museum. All the paintings were outstanding. They are all beautiful and mesmerizing. The museum was so peaceful and calming. We are definitely coming back. Highly recommended!
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January 2022 by David G.
The Foster is a peaceful getaway in an unlikely location. If you take the time to find it, you'll enjoy a rejuvenating walk through several galleries of the artist's lovely watercolors. The paintings are commanding and soothing at the same time, and I was charmed by the small physical tokens (shells, rocks, feathers) attached to the paintings.
