Coming Soon Art Classes with Ilona

Ilona will be returning to Columbia SC soon. (and to other SC destinations) Ilona Royce Smithken former tv star of "Painting with Ilona" will be hosted by Sandra and Bud Phaup of Forest Acres in Columbia SC. Sandra is the founder of the Back Porch Painters Gallery and Potter's Studios.

Painting with Oils in an Impressionistic Style classes will run Mon -Fri Sep 29-Oct 3 and Oct 6 to Oct 10 Mon-Fri. Both weeks the classes will be from 10 AM to 1:30 PM with a quick lunch break.

Ilona currently resides in NYC and summers in Provincetown, MA. During the fall and winter Ilona travels throughout the Southeast teaching her famous style from Columbia SC to Louisville KY.

More info to follow...

Back Porch Painters Meets Today at 11 AM

Back Porch Painters will meet today Jan. 15 at 11 AM at the Gallery on Two Notch Rd. Columbia, SC. Sandra Phaup will make announcements for this seasons paint gatherings and for the gallery space. Come one, Come All, If you have ever studied with Ilona Royce Smithken, paint in impressionistic style or you are a friend of Sandra's; come on down. The Back Porch painters is a friendly group that has taken classes in Impressionism in Oils with Ilona Royce Smithken. We all paint on canvas and even though some of us also paint in acrylics, it is pretty much an oil painters group. Bring your own art supplies.


This portrait by Jean Bourque is called "Contemplation" and it is an example of the impressionistic style we have learned. Ilona is a NYC Artist in the winter, residing in Grenwich Village and a Provincetown, Cape Cod Artist in the summer. Cape Cod is just south of Boston, MA and just north of Providence RI. Provincetown, is at the very tip of Cape Cod and has the most beautiful views, especially on a clear day. Although the water tends to be be very cold even in summer, it is the summer home to many famous artists, writers and performers. It is a great place to go to get inspired.

Back Porch Painters Dec. Show Photo Log

Dancing off The Wall Oil Painting

by Jean Bourque

Back Porch Painters Paint with Ilona Smithken

I bet you can guess who was the model and who was able to play photographer, that week. It was such fun! Of course, painting is even more fun. Before and or after each day, I painted that week. It was very inspiring.

Yours Truly,

Jean Bourque

The painting Jean Ehler is holding in her hand of herself

was painted by Jean Bourque. I think it really looks like her.
As you may guess, the Back Porch Painters Paint with Ilona as much as possible.

She is awesome! Ilona Royce Smithken resides in NYC and comes to Columbia, SC

twice a year. She is the star of "Painting with Ilona", an SCETV show

that ran in the 70's and 80's and had a revival airing a few years ago.

Bye, Ilona...

We all look forward to seeing you again in

Spring 2008.

Yours truly, Jean Bourque

Photography by Jean Bourque

Photos from Painting with Ilona

Ilona Royce Smithken, Artist

Jean Bourque with Ilona
Painting of Jean Bourque by Judith Boepple
Painting of Jean Bourque by Sandra Phaup

Photographer: Jean Ehler of Hillview Art