Arizona artist Ilia launches her new online gallery this month, displaying a vast range of styles with remarkable skill and artistry. 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 12×18, 18×24, 24×30 and 30×40, 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.
Ilia Gallery in Arizona: Tel: 602-561-0723
Or contact, Bruce Edwin at Hollywood Sentinel Public Relations Office at Tel / Fax: 310-226-7176 or at TheHollywoodSentinel.com
