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Ilona Royce Smithkin

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Ilona Royce Smithkin
BornMarch 27, 1920
Poland
DiedAugust 1, 2021
Provincetown, Massachusetts

Ilona Royce Smithkin (March 27, 1920 – August 1, 2021) was a Polish-born American artist, author, model, and performer.

Her work included appearances in films such as 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]

Smithkin turned 100 in March 2020[4] and died in August 2021 at the age of 101 in Provincetown.[5][6]

Early life and training

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Smithkin was born Ilona Rosenkranz on March 27, 1920, in Poland.[5]

She was raised in France, Germany and Belgium, and studied at the Reimann School of Art and Design in Berlin and the Academie Royal des Beaux Arts in Antwerp.[5] In 1938, her family emigrated to the United States.[5]

In the United States she studied with Robert Brackman at the Art Students League of New York,[5] and then at the Cape School of Art in Provincetown.[4][7]

Art

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Smithkin's primary mediums were oil painting rooted in Impressionism and sanguine portraiture.[8][9][10] 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.[11][12][8][9] Additional subjects of her portraiture were Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill.[5]

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 maintained a studio.[4][7]

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. She also authored Painting with Ilona, Joy Dust: Ilona at 96, and Ninety-Nine: Straight Up, No Chaser.[7][9][10]

Fashion

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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 appeared as a model at New York Fashion Week, on The TODAY Show, and for fashion lines including Coach, Karen Walker and Mara Hoffman.[5]

Her trademarks included flaming red, pixie-cut hair and matching homemade eyelashes. The New York Post declared her a "style legend."[3][13][14][15][16][5]

An essay about Smithkin was featured in Bill Hayes' book, Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me.[17][12][18][19][20][5]

Demi Moore, Dita Von Teese, and actor Erik Liberman have cited Smithkin among their influences. Moore and Von Teese endorsed Smithkin's last book.[21][22][5]

References

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  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. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c Staff report. "Provincetown beloved artist Ilona Royce-Smithkin turns 100". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Traub, Alex (6 August 2021). "Ilona Royce Smithkin, Improbable Muse in Fashion and Art, Dies at 101". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Rumer Willis heartbroken after tragic death of beloved friend
  7. ^ a b c Moore, Ivy (April 17, 2003). "Painting with Ilona - In Sumter". Newspapers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Art League Opening Exhibit Sunday Will Feature Famous Painter Ilona Royce Smithkin". www.newspapers.com. September 15, 1972. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Star of 'Painting with Ilona' to give course at River Pavillion". www.newspapers.com. March 16, 1986. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  10. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ "Aging with Attitude: Artist Ilona Royce Smithkin". Senior Planet. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  12. ^ a b "ILONA ROYCE-SMITHKIN: ARTIST, WRITER & MORE | PASSPORT". passportmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  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. ^ Admin, Web (2020-05-04). "Ilona Royce-Smithkin Turns 100". WESTVIEW NEWS. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  18. ^ Smithkin, Ilona Royce (2020-03-27). Ninety-Nine: Straight Up, No Chaser. John Lucas. ISBN 978-0-578-66065-3.
  19. ^ Lucas, John; Smithkin, Ilona Royce (2016-09-30). Ilona at 96. Fourth Chakra House. ISBN 978-0-692-78367-2.
  20. ^ Hayes, Bill (2017-02-14). Insomniac City: New York, Oliver Sacks, and Me. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-62040-495-9.
  21. ^ "Demi Moore shares new heartbreak with fans". HELLO!. 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  22. ^ "'Advanced Style' movie finds beauty in aging". Chicago Tribune. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
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