Tomie lived with Franny (McLaughlin-Gill) and her daughter, Leslie, in New York City for several months when he was younger. He credited Franny, her twin sister Fuffy, and their husbands for his love of folk art. When he lived with Franny and Leslie, he saw everyday their painting on a wall, “Girl in Red Dress with Cat and Dog,” by Ammi Phillips. This painting is now a signature piece in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum. Tomie told the story, confirmed by Leslie (daughter), that Leslie (husband and father) had bought it, rolled up, without fully looking at it, from a street vendor on 57th Street. It seems that Ammi Phillips painted four different girls in similar red dresses and poses. In a twin-ness twist, Fuffy and her husband came across Ammi Phillips’ “Girl in a Red Dress with Dog,” bought it, and lived with it for many years before selling. Franny and Fuffy were always cited by Tomie as major influences for him. https://www.1stdibs.com/introspective-magazine/leslie-gill-and-frances-mclaughlin-gill-at-howard-greenberg-gallery/ (Bob) Pray for Peace, Justice, and Equality
