Oaxaca Beauty

Mexico and its culture and people have always captured me soul. This is a portrait of a women in my neighborhood who immigrated to our country and is raising her 4 children here. She cleans houses. I love the sweeping shapes of her profile and skin tones. She was surprised when I told her I would love to paint her. So she sat for me for this painting. I funny thing I remember from that sitting as she sat stiller than any professional art model I have hired in the pass...is that she was surprised how many paper towels I use. I guess as a cleaning lady that would be a concern.