An artistic homecoming

I have always admired the paintings of Spanish-born Betsy Brias Westendorp. They are as elegant and beautiful as the lady that she is –– poised and dignified with an inner glow that holds one’s attention the longer one views the artwork.

Betsy’s work captured my interest when I was just a high school student in Madrid during Franco’s time (am I giving away my age?). The ethereal, life-sized portraits that she specialized in were of well-known social and royal personalities who proudly hung them in their living rooms, dens or salons. To own a Betsy was de riguer for the elite group that included las duquezas, marquezas y princesas of Spain.

Her recent exhibit “Portrait of an Artist” at Whitespace in Makati was an artistic as well as social event. The show was composed of beautiful skyscapes or atmosferografias as she calls them, and they were painted in her Manila studio. Personalities who hardly go out were there to show how much they care for this lovely lady and make sure that they would be able to add more of her work to their art collection.

* * *

The recent holiday season was the perfect reason to bond with visiting balikbayans from various parts of the globe. It was an occasion to reunite with childhood friends and barkadas, including Venice-based Sandie Palou and recently retired husband from the Guggenheim Musem, Paul Schwatzbaum, together with Ambassador to Indonesia Cherry Aguinaldo and New York-based Reggie Young.