ILIA
Biography / Curriculum Vitae
A multi-talented artist that creates in every part of her life, Ilia
began painting while maintaining a poetic pen pal relationship with a
man named Ralph Grimes, who one day she sent a drawing to. After he
hung up the sketch and he told her of how many admirers praised the
work, her confidence and purpose as an artist was cemented.
Inspired by the creativity of her mother and grandfather through
gardening, she learned at a mere three years of age and beyond that
'life is a canvas' upon which we create. She continued her
poetry, yet was urged by Grimes to try her hand at painting. Her path
was set. Known for her ability to communicate exactly what the
viewer wants in her commissioned pieces, she sold her first wonderful
work in 1987, titled 'Cosi Fan Tuti.' Her first check for
this validated her increasingly growing ability as an artist.
Raised in Connecticut, Ilia decided to leave the East for a place she
decided much warmer. She now has a love for Arizona thanks to the very
spiritual feeling that she states permeates the area she now calls
home. Schooled by independent teachers, predominately Mr. Grimes
who held an MFA, she was rooted further in her work by teachings in
Classical, Jazz, Big Band and more.
Following the lyrical pulse of life, when Ilia paints or writes, she
listens to music. Influenced by Mozart, Vivaldi, Loeillet, Telemann,
Purcell, Beethoven, Hayden, Bach, flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, and old
time jazz, among more, these sounds help breathe life into her poetic,
painterly work. Also heavily influenced by writer, poet, photographer,
musician, and filmmaker L. Ron Hubbard, whose rational philosophy has
guided her life, as well as inventor and artist Leonardo Di Vinci - she
dubs her Southern and Western style work "Reverie" as it is dreamlike
with different colors and flows- reminiscent of her varying high minded
influences from art and musical composition to philosophy.
Ilia states, that she creates art in order to 'inspire others to
create.' Indeed, her visions for her life, event beyond the
canvass, are bright and noble. "I've been playing with acrylics now for
a couple decades and still enjoy finding new ways to use the paint,"
she states. Typical sizes she works in are 12x18, 18x24, 24x30 and
30x40, lending well to the life of the images she captures. She
adds, "I help other artists to make a living with their art because I
found out that once I inspire others to create it elevates us all up
higher- myself included. And- at times that person isn't going to
continue unless there is a way or even several ways in which for one to
make a living with their art, so I like to help teach them to do that."
In addition to art, Ilia is now writing a book to help motivate
people of a certain age to never give up on their dreams- to just go
for it! But for now, it is Ilia's art that is worthy of much
great attention. When asked what clients commissioning her work can
expect, she concludes, "People can expect quality work that speaks to
them. A person with my art can expect to look at it time and
again finding new things to admire about it. And a person can
expect other people, when seeing it, to gravitate to it, look at it,
admire and to continue to be drawn to the painting, looking and seeing
more about it." Unclear? Hardly. Ilia is a rare, grounded woman
with a vision, and possessing of a trained skill and confidence
in that vision, which speaks diligently- from the spirit to each work
she creates- and from each work in turn to each client. It is
with that understanding that we invite you to enjoy the exploration of
this very vibrant and deserving artist.
www.art-of-ilia.com
Ilia Gallery: Tel: 602-561-0723 (Arizona)
Management: Bruce Edwin; tel / fax: 310-226-7176 (Santa Monica, California)
