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.

My speaking schedule is:
 2PM - Sunday, March 2, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, April 6, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Chicago Tribune Subscriber Advantage Plus
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, May 4, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, June 1, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, July 6, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, August 3, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Chicago Tribune Subscriber Advantage Plus
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, September 7, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, October 5, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, November 2, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

2PM - Sunday, December 7, 2008, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Learn more about the current exhibit as well as the McCormick House designed by Mies van der Rohe.

Artists never make mistakes, they make changes -- 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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