Sonia Illner

Artist Bio

Sonia Illner is a watercolor artist based between Miami and Toronto. Her work reflects the beauty of the world around us—capturing small moments, everyday wonder, and the kind of joy that connects people across cultures and lived experiences.

After creating her whole life, Sonia has recently been able to focus (almost) entirely on her art. In this newest chapter, she works primarily in watercolor, with occasional touches of gouache. Inspired by nature, patterns, travel, and the experience of living abroad, she paints with bright, playful color palettes that evoke a childlike spirit and a gentle nostalgia—reminders of simpler times and the lightness we all need.

Journaling is central to Sonia’s process. She documents her days through rich, colorful sketches paired with written observations, capturing not just what happened, but how it felt. These visual and verbal notes become a well of inspiration that shapes the work she creates in the studio.

Alongside her studio practice, Sonia has begun inviting both professionals and first-time painters—anyone curious and passionate—to experience the joy of watercolor through intimate, in-person classes.