Tretchi LOVE

As a belated birthday surprise, Chris took me to a Tretchikoff exhibition today!!

Tretchi-WHO, you may ask?

Recognise any of these?

Tretchikoff (who also lived in South-Africa for most of his life) is known as the "King of Kitch" and I absolutely adore his work.  Art critics may frown upon this but the "King of Kitch" might just be one of my favorite artists. I guess this mean that I have kitch taste????? I don't care!!!! Tretchikoff's  paintings make me really happy! Double happiness when my best-friend-in-the-whole-wide-world take me to go see my favorite-artist -in-the-whole-wide-world's work which are currently on exhibition here!!!!
(If you happen to live in CPT, please do yourself a favor and go!!! Oh, and take your grandmother with - it will bring back fond memories and she will love it)

But I also have my own special little Tretchi-story to tell.
Before my life as a teacher, I use to work in a wonderful little decor shop in the heart of Cape Town. Tretchikoff passed away three years prior and his grandaugher decided to do an exhibition in memory of her grandfather. I knew about Tretchikoff and always liked his work so I was super excited when his grandaughter chose our decor shop as a venue. For a month we worked tiredlessly as the crowds flocked to our shop to see the wonderful works on display and buy his well-known prints. Secretly I would've loved buying one of my own but a signed copy was a bit more than what I could afford. Still, working so closely with his grandaughter who knew all the interesting bits and background information on each painting, was so interesting and I loved every moment!
Then, on the  last day of the exhibition, as we were saying our goodbye's, Tretchikoff's grandaughter asked me which of the prints was my favorite. "Miss Wong" I answered.  The next day a courier came to deliver a package at the shop.....

....a signed "Miss Wong" print and lovely thank you note.

Lucky girl?!! Thats me!