Ilona Royce Smithkin

Ilona Royce Smithkin is a centenarian artist, author, model, and performer recognized for appearances in the films Advanced Style and Ilona, Upstairs, in the television series Ilona's Palette, Painting with Ilona, and Finishing Touches with Ilona, and the books Painting with Ilona, Joy Dust, and Ninety-Nine: Straight Up, No Chaser.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and training

Smithkin was born March 27, 1920, in Poland and raised in France, Germany and Belgium, emigrating to the United States in 1938. She studied at the Reimann School of Art and Design in Berlin, the Academie Royal des Beaux Arts in Antwerp, with Robert Brackman at the Art Students League of New York, and at the Cape School of Art in Provincetown.[4][5]

Art

Smithkin's primary mediums are oil painting rooted in Impressionism and sanguine portraiture. Her works are frequently signed "Ilona R-S." Subjects of Smithkin's portraits include the playwrights Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill, modern dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis, singers Bobby Short and Ethel Merman, actors Van Johnson, Keir Dullea, and Janis Paige, and the family of Senator Edward Kennedy.

Her portrait of writer-philosopher Ayn Rand continues to appear on Rand's book covers and Smithkin has been interviewed about her friendship with the author.[6][7][1][5][8][9][10][11]

Smithkin's work has been exhibited at venues including Musée d'histoire des sciences de la Ville de Genève, Gallerie Charlotte Norberg in Paris, the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Institute in Waterford, Connecticut, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, and the Columbia Museum of Art. Her work remains on permanent exhibition at the Karilon Gallery in Provincetown, where she maintains a studio.[4][5] Smithkin is the author Painting with Ilona, Joy Dust: Ilona at 96, and Ninety-Nine: Straight Up, No Chaser. Smithkin began teaching art in 1970. She was a front runner of the educational painting genre on public television, starring in Ilona's Palette, Painting with Ilona, which spawned a book by the same title, and Finishing Touches with Ilona.[5][9][12]

Fashion

Smithkin was the subject of Melissa Hammel's Ilona, Upstairs, which received the 2005 HBO Audience Award for best documentary, and as a lifestyle model featured in Ari Seth Cohen's Advanced Style book, documentary, blog, and coloring book, and the Stylelikeu book and blog. Smithkin has appeared as a model at New York Fashion Week and on The TODAY Show.

Her trademarks include flaming red, pixie-cut hair and matching homemade eyelashes.[3][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

An essay about Smithkin is featured in Bill Hayes' book, Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me.[24][7][25][26][27]

References
  1. Emanuella Grinberg (2012-04-28). "Aging stylishly, online and in the streets". CNN Digital. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  2. "The Look Book - Color-Loving Art Teacher Ilona Smithkin -- New York Magazine - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  3. Stewart, Rhonda (June 26, 2005). "Odd couplings add to the appeal of HFA's summer 'Treasures' series". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  4. report, Staff. "Provincetown beloved artist Ilona Royce-Smithkin turns 100". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. Moore, Ivy (April 17, 2003). "Painting with Ilona - In Sumter". Newspapers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  6. "Aging with Attitude: Artist Ilona Royce Smithkin". Senior Planet. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  7. "ILONA ROYCE-SMITHKIN: ARTIST, WRITER & MORE | PASSPORT". passportmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  8. "Art League Opening Exhibit Sunday Will Feature Famous Painter Ilona Royce Smithkin". www.newspapers.com. September 15, 1972. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. "Star of 'Painting with Ilona' to give course at River Pavillion". www.newspapers.com. March 16, 1986. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  10. Heller, Anne Conover (2010-10-19). Ayn Rand and the World She Made. Anchor Books. ISBN 978-1-4000-7893-6.
  11. McConnell, Scott (2010-11-02). 100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-47789-2.
  12. Irick, Liz (March 23, 1986). "Ilona's Palette: Famous artist shares her talent, view of world with people of Orangeburg". The Times via www.newspapers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  13. Gates, Anita (2014-09-25). "What Becomes a Woman Most? (Published 2014)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  14. Considine, Austin (2011-09-28). "If Holly Golightly Had a Grandson (Published 2011)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  15. Oliver, Simone S. (2014-10-13). "What to Wear This Week: Oct. 13 (Published 2014)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  16. "Beauty Bag: Corey Lynn Calter's must-have makeup picks". LA Times Blogs - All The Rage. 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  17. Brotman, Barbara. "Fashionable older women offer advice on staying stylish". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  18. "Advanced Style Today Show Interview". Advanced Style. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  19. Uk, Elle (2012-10-18). "Advanced Style takes on the Today show". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  20. Mau, Dhani. "Karen Walker's Arrow Motif Takes Center Stage in New Campaign". Fashionista. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  21. By Lauriel Cleveland, special to. ""Advanced Style" coloring book celebrates stylish seniors". CNN. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  22. Cohen, Ari Seth (2013-09-03). Advanced Style: The Coloring Book. powerHouse Cultural Entertainment, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-57687-663-3.
  23. Goodkind, Elisa; Mandelbaum, Lily (2011). Stylelikeu. powerHouse Books. ISBN 978-1-57687-572-8.
  24. Admin, Web (2020-05-04). "Ilona Royce-Smithkin Turns 100". WESTVIEW NEWS. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  25. Smithkin, Ilona Royce (2020-03-27). Ninety-Nine: Straight Up, No Chaser. John Lucas. ISBN 978-0-578-66065-3.
  26. Lucas, John; Smithkin, Ilona Royce (2016-09-30). Ilona at 96. Fourth Chakra House. ISBN 978-0-692-78367-2.
  27. Hayes, Bill (2017-02-14). Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-62040-495-9.
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