ABOUT | artist-painter

Biography

MOTTO:

Do what you love. Love what you do.

My name is Ioana Teodorescu.

I love to draw.

I love to teach.

I am a Romanian-born architect-turned-artist and architectural historian with degrees from the distinguished Universities of McGill, Cambridge and Bucharest. I have an unwavering passion for cultural and technological heritage, a deep love for the perfect art of mathematics, and a fondness for houses: for me, they’re intrinsically linked to those who inhabit them – houses are places of hopes, memories, inspiration.

In a Renaissance-(wo)man style, my career spans quite a few disciplines. For the past twenty-five years, drawing has been an essential part of my life.

I worked on residential projects, as an architect, interior designer or researcher. I have taught architectural history, perspective drawing, design and research methods in North America and Europe, as well as assisting curators at national museums in Ottawa, my current hometown. I have also thoroughly enjoyed tutoring children of various ages in Mathematics, English and Romanian. A passionate gardener and a past volunteer with the Friends of the Farm, I’ve helped with the rose and peony sections of the Ornamental Gardens at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa.

Developed on the geometrical rules of perspective and composition, my drawings reflect all these passions.

Those of built environments see architectural and personal heritage as a vehicle to create significant bonds across family generations and world's cultures.

Those of flowers and landscapes capture the delicate essence of the natural world around us.

I work in pencil, watercolour and ink, with a variety of products from Staedtler, Caran D’Ache and Winsor&Newton. Call me sentimental, I have a special affinity to Canson papers, which I was introduced to as a student. I also paint on high-quality Arches watercolour paper and a variety of Strathmore papers.

For more information about my work and sources of inspiration – visit my BLOG

Are you looking to get a present for someone who has everything? My House Portraits have proven to be the Perfect Gift!

I truly enjoy drawing house portraits for those of you who want to preserve the memory of a special house for yourself or future generations in your family. I can also help you with archival research of historic houses and create reconstructions of past looks.

I work from photographs. If available, please email me jpeg formats of different views of the house to be portrayed so that I may observe its various details of size, color and materials - along with mentions as to which such details you find important. Landscape specifics may be changed or removed to enhance the portrait and create a personal art piece.

Your satisfaction is very important to me! My process includes first producing a rough sketch to discuss with you, at which point we can make desired changes - I shall require 50% of agreed total price at this stage. In the following week, the final product will be finished and mailed/handed to you upon payment of the remaining balance. The price varies depending on the size and medium, around $250-350 for 8” x 10” size.

I am also a passionate teacher with more than 20 years experience. Be sure to check my COURSES page for the private and group classes I am offering.

If you have questions or would like to receive a quote, please contact me at:

Email: myart@ioanadrawings.com

Instagram: @joannateod