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Ilona MONTEL Art Collections

Shop for artwork from Ilona MONTEL based on themed collections. Each image may be purchased as a canvas print, framed print, metal print, and more! Every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Artwork by Ilona MONTEL

Each image may be purchased as a canvas print, framed print, metal print, and more! Every purchase comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

About Ilona MONTEL

Ilona MONTEL Born in the Netherlands, Ilona was exposed to the work of the Dutch Masters at an early age and quickly developed an appreciation for fine art. Throughout her early years she was privileged to make regular visits to the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum, all located in Amsterdam. These visits to important museums increased her interest in the arts and particularly in painting. Initially, she began working with pastels while studying at the Center of Anthropology in Hilversum, the Netherlands. Later, she decided to focus on theater and appeared in several major classic plays; principal among them was Shakespear's immortal Hamlet. Also at that time she took up classic voice training and had the occasion to appear in operatic plays. However, her interest in academic studies put her love for the arts on hold. With a Master’s degree in social work, another in community organization, and a Doctoral degree in psychology, Ilona enjoyed a deeply satisfying and rewarding professional career that lasted for many years.

Ilona immigrated to the US with her husband and three young children in 1960, and the family settled in the San Francisco Bay area. Much later, after she had retired and moved to Santa Cruz, CA, her interest in painting was rekindled. She participated in a number of painting groups in Capitola, CA, and at the Santa Cruz Art League, and studied with Barbara Bailey Porter and several other gifted painters. Her first private showing was in Los Gatos, CA in 2000. Her work in representational painting quickly found a following and she sold many of her paintings to collectors in the US, Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Ilona excelled in creating seascapes and nature-based pieces. Art experts recognized that her ability to portray the varying effects of light, and create panoramic depth was greatly influenced by her study of the techniques of the Dutch Masters.

Ilona concentrated successfully for many years on her realistic work, but she always harbored an inner longing to experiment with the creation of purely abstract imagery. However, she felt that she lacked the skill and emotional insight required to create abstract paintings effectively. But every time she viewed the works of Joan Miro and Wassily Kandinsky, it literally took her breath away and inspired her in an almost spiritual way. Her desire to work in the abstract form is directly related to her early exposure to their work. Whenever possible, and wherever she traveled, one could find her visiting the abstract art sections in the major art museums. Ilona longed to tap into that part of her that would allow her to expand her creativity into an exploration of abstract forms. Later, she had the opportunity to participate in an experimental painting workshop in Aptos, CA. It was there that she discovered an ability to let her imagination take over and channel her feelings and emotions onto the canvas. It was truly a watershed experience for her.

Ilona now concentrates solely on the abstract painting style that brings her unending pleasure and joy. Each of her thoughtful and carefully constructed paintings carries a subtle message with its origins in the emotional and/or spiritual human experience. She expresses the hope that the viewer of her artwork will establish an esthetic and emotional connection with her creations. Ilona Montel has developed a unique style of painting that combines balanced design elements, complexity and depth, and the mature artistic sense that is expressed in her skillful blending of color and shapes. Her art work carries symbolic meaning.