A Grand Affair

Thank you to Rachel Koper of The Austin Chronicle for taking notice of my work in a recent review of  “A Grand Affair” group show currently on exhibit through January 31 at Wally Workman in Austin. I think the sentiment is appropriate as I wanted the air of delicacy to infuse these two paintings. Delicate and pale, a serenity which harkens to Chardin and Gwen John.

New to me but not the gallery is Fatima Ronquillo, who paints pale women and girls in a classical style. They are dainty, dreamy, and a bit like antique dolls. They have very feminine, lacy clothes that are soothing and cozy, relaxing to the eyes (perhaps like a dose of laudanum).

-Rachel Koper, “A Grand Affair” Arts Review, The Austin Chronicle, January 16, 2009

The phrase “tow head” has always fascinated me as my husband’s late grandmother used to say that he and his mother were ‘regular tow heads’ when they were young. The word ‘tow’ means flax or hemp and so it’s literally ‘flaxen haired.’