“Art is to love, loving nature surrounding me and people I share my world with.”
Mona Youssef©
This is my story I would like to share with Art lovers and Collectors. Having embraced art since childhood, it became a life passion. It all started when my first oil painting was sold at age of 12. This profound craving for creating art is behind the long career which enabled me to widen out through the innovative years.
Consequently, my realism oil paintings invited the attention of art critics, journalists and received numerous Awards. Some of my art collectors are from Royal families and one of them is The former Prime minister of Canada Pierre E. Trudeau. His honor along with her Majesty the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, were captured in one of my paintings the “Canadian Constitution Acts” 1982. I was honored to obtain a thank you letter from Mr. Trudeau 1999 expressing how proud he was to hang it in his home. This painting entered the history of Canada and enriched my biography. In addition, the Medias wrote about this painting that became an international landmark.
Being raised up by a loving family, has influenced my warm paintings. I was called the daughter of the Nile but I see myself as the daughter of nature. Nature has been working as the necessary oxygen in my life since childhood. I created the first pencil drawing at the age of seven. Since then, painting has become the window, from which I perceive life, nature, truths and peoples. Recalling the first drawing in water colors, I had painted in school, caused me tears of frustration. Why? Because I couldn’t get the fine details that had been on my mind. Those moments stood behind the creation of my realism oil paintings. Ever since, I have held it as a life’s passion which turned into a serious career. I used to spend my allowances to buy art supplies. Persistent, I stayed up long nights or woke up early mornings to paint. Hence, the magnetic of painting has been my ultimate joy and tranquility.
Seeing seriousness in my artwork, my dear Mother surprised me with a whole set of art supplies. I become overjoyed and immediately, started my first oil painting on canvas. My Family loved it enough that my dear Mother took it to get framed. Unexpectedly, Mother came home without the painting and happily announced that it was sold to the owner who offered her a good price. My Mother was happy for me but I had mixed feelings! While I was impressed that someone loved my painting enough to buy it, I missed it very much which resulted of not wanting to sell artwork for a while. However, I started to give some painting away as gifts to those were dear to me. Later, I sold few on a commission basis followed by selling a number of paintings to art collectors.
Second half of the 70’s, I worked as Interior and exterior designer, for it was my primary education in five years University and I loved it.
In 1982, I worked as a Graphic Artist in Toronto, Canada. I felt thrilled when I was chosen to produce an oil painting of the “Canadian Constitution Acts”. This painting was presented to the then Prime Minister Mr. Pierre E. Trudeau. The painting is still hung in his house in Montreal. My name appeared in the Toronto Star Newspaper as the highlight as well.
Art field was not doing well during the 80's rescission. Therefore, I had to explore a new experience and obtained a Diploma in Business Administration and Office procedures. Thereafter, I worked for Canada Post Cooperation, Head Office, Ottawa. During that period, I was still painting in evenings and making additions to my art collections. I had to sell some of those paintings at times and some were done on commission requests. In 1996, I sold two paintings in an Art exhibition in the O’Keefe center, Toronto to raise funds for the Canadian Opera. Since then, I have been exhibiting locally, Nationally and Internationally and received numerous Awards. Interestingly, an international Award has been named after my name “The Mona Youssef-Leonardo Da Vinci Award."
Some of my paintings, Limited Edition and greeting cards have reached many countries. As well, my profile has appeared in numerous local, National and International publications, Art magazines and catalogs. Consequently, viewers have recognized the special depth found in my energetic paintings. Such depth is a result of the extensive previous experiences having worked as interior/exterior designer, graphic designer, commercial artist, layout artist. I even created architectural presentations and designs included drafting preparations/elevations from blue prints. I have also worked as an art juror for numerous International exhibitions.
Enhancing my background, I took courses in “Commercial Arts” Diploma, “Desktop Publishing” and “Digital Media” and worked as a layout artist for Sears Canada Inc. Toronto, Canada and a Freelancer-Graphic designer as well drafts person for some time.
Having verity of experience and education has contributed to the uniqueness and the depth of my realism style. On the same line, various experiences art related has enhanced my biography. Happily, I have received many similar comments from admirers and buyers. One of these comments mentioned that my art was “Pure and reflects spirit of love, has vibes, spiritual, looks like The Golden Age-all luminous and joyful, vivid as if there was no pollution, you are a true Renaissance woman”. Please check the Testimonial page if you wish to read more.
I would quote this expression; “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child,” Pablo Picasso (October 1881- April 1973). I am not Raphael, neither am I Picasso, but would love to paint freely, as that innocent child who sees only the purity of nature as is with all its richness and vividness. What is more beautiful than nature itself!
Painting has become my career when I learned to let go. This result I’ve passed on to my art students for I’ve taught private art lessons, as part-time, for some years. It pleased me seeing my students successful in their schools and art colleges. As I find refreshment in versatility and so I loved teaching because there was giving, helping and sharing whereas in painting, I silently speak to myself on how to improve my giving, helping and sharing in different ways. However, painting will always remain my first passion and personal space where my own world exists.
In addition, I have been working as a gallerist, curator and promoter.
I perceive Art is a manifestation of love, loving the nature around us and the people we share our world with. No denial that art reflects a wealthy heritage of cultural, history and identity as affirmation of man for it is a self-expression of how one perceives matters. That could be attributed to the fact that art works as a powerful tool and a silent International language that conveys messages to the world. Hence, reflecting culture, history, and civilization. This language speaks up, announces, expresses, makes known, unifies, brings together, supports, encourages, shares, cares for, and shows compassion and kind feelings toward all. When we genuinely love what we do, we do it professionally and wholeheartedly. Only then, art penetrates our souls and gets liberated from our inner to the outer world. In other words; Art is to LOVE.
I would welcome your inquiries, please contact me with your concerns and thank you for the visit