Karl S. Foster

CAMP HILL - Karl S. Foster, 92, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, April 24, 2025 at Messiah Lifeways in Mechanicsburg. He was the husband of the late Ann Foster.

Born in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Herbert and Molly (Byrne) Foster and grew up in Ardmore, a suburb of Philadelphia. He attended the Philadelphia College of Art, now the University of the Arts, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Shortly after graduation he moved to the Harrisburg area and worked in the commercial art field there ever since doing free lance illustrations for numerous local businesses. He also did many portraits of prominent people including former Gov. Tom Ridge.

Like many other commercial artists, he devoted much of his spare time to his “fine art” work and over the years acquired a favorable reputation as a realistic painter of the human figure. He taught a figure sketching class at the Art Association of Harrisburg, a portrait/figure class at the York Art Association and a figure painting class, a portrait class and a sculpture class at the Mechanicsburg Art Center. He also taught figure illustration for many years at the former York Academy of Arts and at the PA School of Art and Design in Lancaster.

His artwork concentrated on realistic depictions of the human form by which he tried to instill in viewers some of his fascination with the variety, character and beauty of their fellow human beings. He worked in many media including charcoal, pencil, ink, pastel, acrylic, oil and sculpture.

He won numerous awards and exhibited in many local and regional shows at the Art Association of Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg Art Center, William Penn Museum, Central Penn Business School, Lebanon Valley College, York College, Penn State University at Harrisburg, Harrisburg Area Community College, York Art Association, Berks Art Alliance and Bald Eagle Art League. He also exhibited in national shows in New York City such as the Pastel Society of America Annual, National Sculpture Society Annual and the Knickerbocker Artists Annual. He was also one of the founders of, “The 7 Lively Artists”, in Harrisburg.

In addition to his parents and wife, Karl was also preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy J. Foster and his two brothers, Herbert and Benjamin Foster.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, May 1, 2025 at Calvary Cemetery of West Conshohocken with Certified Celebrant, Amy Favorito officiating. Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, York is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Art Center School and Galleries, 18 Artcraft Dr., Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.