About the Artist

Hatouf Hijazi Tabbaa

was born in Jordan, one of eight children. She has four sisters and three brothers. Her family originally came from a beautiful place called Safad in Palestine. Her father, Abdul-Majid Hijazi, a businessman and politician, expected her to study political science at the American University in Beirut. However, after a year at the University she wanted to change her degree to Fine Arts, but was afraid to tell her father. His response was a very pleasant surprise. He said, "Now I consider you my real daughter, you are thinking right and you are doing something for yourself. Do it, go ahead!" Hatouf studied Fine Arts at the American University in Beirut graduating in 1973.


Hatouf was too busy raising a family to pursue an art career until some lessons in silk painting caught her interest in 1984. Her teacher recognized her talent immediately and encouraged her to hold her first exhibition of silk paintings.




The exhibition was a great success. Hatouf sold most of the 60 paintings that she had on display. The Turkish miniatures were especially popular. Hatouf attributes this success to the fact that few artists can achieve such detailed work on silk. She showed her work to an international art rep and he took her work with him to promote in Saudi Arabia and the United States.
With her work gaining popularity in the higher circles of Jordanian society, Hatouf began to be approached for commission work. It was at this time that she started creating her pieces designed around passages from the Holy Qura'n. This was a novel idea and very popular. Passages from the Quar'n were already on display in most homes, but not in the bright, beautiful colors of these silk paintings.



Hatouf's husband, Abdul-Salam Tabbaa, has always been a great supporter of her artistic endeavors. When their children were young he would take them out of the house so she could devote all of her attention to the difficult details of her paintings.
Zein

Zein

 Hatouf's three children are grown now. Her eldest daughter, Zein, is working for an animating company and holds a degree in Graphic Design from the Applied Science University.

Her younger daughter, Seem, is currently studying psychology at the Applied Science University.

Seem
Her son, Nasouh, is finishing High School.

Hatouf held her second solo exhibition in Amman in late December of 1997.

Artist's Technique

Guide to Hatouf's pages

Hatouf's Gallery

Islamic Art Throughout History

Miniature painting