After finishing both a bachelor's and master's degree in art school years (????) ago I knew I would want to draw and paint until I was 140 years old. I also knew that I would draw and paint people, because you are the most interesting, changing, diversified subject on the planet.

You are all so full of wonderful surprises that after 25 years, I am still in love with what I do.

Photo by Unknown

Over the years, some of my portrait commissions have included: a pair of family dogs as an anniversary gift from a wife to her husband; a combination portrait/caricature from one friend to another; groupings of children for their parents; an honored benefactor for a local college; and deceased children or parents for grieving relatives.

Ida Kotyuk and Friends  

While I enjoy the rapport of working with live models, most portraits are surprise gifts. In addition, clients are not always comfortable serving as professional models. For these reasons, I work from several photographs (usually six) and somewhat like a plastic surgeon reconstruct an original oil painting.

In addition to contracting oil portraits, I write and lecture in corporate, museum, and art league environments on the history of art and artists.

Sometimes the Dandelion is a flower, support your local artist -- Ida Kotyuk

To request a custom portrait or for me to speak to your group in your area, write or e-mail to:

Ida Kotyuk Portrait Painter
P.O. Box 6627
Villa Park, Illinois     60181
 Ida@Portraits-Oils.com

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