Alberta artist aims for world's largest caricature, covering one hectare

On a farm east of Innisfail, an artist is attempting to claim world record status, and a second chance at his career.

Dean Foster has taken on the challenge of creating the world’s largest caricature in the backyard of his nine-hectare property some 120 km north of Calgary. The current world record is held by Uruguayan Federico Delgado Heredia, whose 2011 caricature at the Estadio Centenario football stadium in Montevideo measured 91 by 60 metres.

Foster’s project will cover just over a full hectare, measuring 130 by 100 meters, painting CJAY 92 morning show hosts Jesse and JD for the chance of winning $25,000 prize from the Calgary station’s Spread The Word Contest, aiming to produce a viral ad to promote the radio show.

The real motivation for Foster isn’t about winning the money, or even getting a world record. He said the purpose of the project is to hopefully relaunch a career that’s stalled since he came to Canada.

Freelance illustration was Foster’s craft in his homeland of South Africa, but when he immigrated to Canada in late 2011, he struggled to find a foothold.

“When you just don’t have enough exposure and the client base you need, it’s just impossible to make a living,” Foster said.

“For the past seven years, I’ve been doing truck driving to try and bring in an income.”

Foster added that he did try and get back into the field, but was unsuccessful.

To create what he hopes will be his record-winning artwork, Foster had to scale up his original drawing to fill one hectare, mapping out a grid along his giant green canvas, followed by a rough sketch of where things should be.

“I basically scale it up square for square,” Foster said.

Equipped with a air compressor, paint, and a spray gun, Foster said he aims to complete the project by Friday in time for when the radio station picks a winner for their contest next Friday.

If Foster wins the cash prize, he said it will go toward securing his Canadian residency, a goal that has so far cost him about $30,000.

“It hasn’t been easy — it’s taken me seven years and I still don’t have it,” he said.

“It’s really not going to be luxury money.”

Foster’s project is registered with Guinness World Record, and is pending submission, he said.