Tai Foster a.k.a. John Scribbles - Watercolor and Drawing Art Portfolio

Born in New Jersey in 1994, Tai spent most summers and winters with family in Hawai’i before making a permanent move to the islands in 2008. He attended Punahou High School, where he first fell in love with Polynesian culture—especially the bold, intricate beauty of Hawaiian and Samoan tattoo designs. Whether found in textiles, woven plants, or inked skin, these patterns sparked a lifelong fascination with Polynesian art and its deep cultural roots.

 

Throughout high school, college, and graduate school, he was never far from a new and creative idea. Tribal designs filled the margins of his notebooks, and instead of hanging posters in his dorm room, he created his own artwork to remind him of home. Wherever he went, drawing became a constant companion—an instinctive way to express inspiration and curiosity. 

 

Later, as he pursued a career as an attorney, creative expression took a backseat to the demands of his profession. Then, in 2021, everything changed. At 26 years old, Tai was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent emergency surgery—forcing him to face the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of relearning how to walk, talk, write, see, think, and function in ways he’d unconsciously functioned for years. In that period of recovery, he returned to his first love: art.

 

What began as a way to pass the time, soon became something far more meaningful. Art became his therapy—a way to process, heal, and reconnect with his sense of self. Each piece he creates carries the weight of his experiences and the warmth of his resilience. 

Through every line and pattern, he expresses not only his vulnerability, but his deep respect for the cultural traditions that first inspired him.

 

Today, art is a central part of Tai’s healing journey and identity. His work is a testament to strength, transformation, and the beauty of rediscovery.