"Date Night" Wins First Place in Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air

Spring in Pinks and Greens, oil, 24"h x 12"w, ©2019 Jill Banks

Date Night, Little City, oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©2019 Jill Banks

And the winner is... Date Night, Little City ... my plein air painting of the Dogwood Tavern ... taking First Place. A big thank you to judge, Glen Kessler, the Founder and Director of the Compass Atelier and the Falls Church Arts folks including its intrepid President, Barb Cram.  What a great event!

On Saturday, June 15, the artwork created over the past weeks or months for the Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air was on view (and for sale) at the Farmer's Market at City Hall, 300 Park Ave in Falls Church VA from 9am to 2pm. There was a quick draw from 8am to 11pm with those paintings immediately displayed and judged with awards for both competitions announced at noon. Lots of great work and congrats to all the winners!




Saturday, June 15
"Scenes in the City" Plein Air Schedule
City Hall/Farmer's Market
300 Park Ave, Falls Church VA
9am to 2pm - Competition Paintings on Display/For Sale
8am to 11am - Quick Draw/Registration at 8am
Noon - Awards Announcements
People's Choice voting in the morning for the competition paintings - pick your favorites.

This is the second time I've entered this event ... and maybe the best since the area becomes a little more familiar and I tend to dig deeper.

Three paintings were handed in today to be displayed while I seek out my quick draw spot in the morning.  Spring in Pinks and Greens was the first created this year -- painted over two afternoons as spring was peaking and moving beyond.

Coming up next was Date Night, Little City - painted in the parking lot behind the Dogwood Tavern another set of afternoons/early evenings. 

In each of the three "scenes" chosen, people were gathering. "Spring in Pinks and Greens" is at the Cherry Hill Historic Farmhouse with Girl Scout Troops playing in the yard.  "Date Night, Little City" was a mixture of dates and get-togethers during the beginning of warm and comfortable days.

Making Memories, oil, 12" x 12", ©2019 Jill Banks

My last of the three was a joy.  On the way to Falls Church Arts via a different route, I passed Lincoln Park, a neighborhood playground and green space filled with toddlers and kids with a bevy of vehicles called constantly into action.  It was pretty funny as a plein air painting location since there was some sort of unwritten rule that if I started to paint any of the unoccupied vehicles ... uh, they immediately became the car of choice.  Okay, I've been through this so many times before.  Patience.  I'd get another view of it similar enough if enough time passed.

Creating "Making Memories" of Lincoln Park
became more than recording objects.  This place, according to what I witnessed that day and what others told me  ... is really magical. Full of friendships, family time, joy.

These three paintings will be on view at the Falls Church Arts Gallery
700-B W Broad Street (Route 7)
Falls Church, VA
Hours: 11-6 Tuesday-Saturday and 11-4 Sunday.
Ask for the work from "Scenes in the City"
Not sure how long they will be there.

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

COMING UP

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 15 - Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air Competition Awards and Exhibit

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

 

September 12 - October 12 - Women Artists of the West Mountain Aire National Exhibition, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder CO

September 13-15 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

September 21-22 - 17th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival, Alexandria VA

See You at the Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival in the Reston Town Center - Friday to Sunday, May 17-19?

10am to 5pm each day - Booth #506 on Explorer Street - Come for a Visit'

One wall of my booth set for the show. It was a windy set-up day so we put up art on one wall at a time and took it down waiting for tomorrow morning to see the whole booth ready for visitors -- hopefully you!

"Starry Night," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2019 Jill Banks - alley painted plein air in Knoxville TN. Too cool.

A partial wall of the booth

"On the Town (Georgetown)," oil, 36"h x 12"w, ©2019 Jill Banks

Lots more!  And, I continue to be painting like crazy.  Good crazy. Got started on my first plein air piece for the Falls Church "Scenes of the City" Plein Air competition, watching a brownie/Girl Scout trip enjoy an outing in Cherry Hill. Can't wait to go back ... and better not since the flowers in the garden are apt to change in the meantime.

Now I'm off to get some rest before the full weekend ahead.

Please catch my solo show "Still Life Stories" of 20 original oils through June 1 at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA.  Thank you to those who attended the reception and party on May 11!

COMING UP

May 1-June 1, "Still Life Stories" Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA  Library is closed on Sundays.

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston Town Center, Reston VA - Booth #506 on Explorer Street

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

 

September 12 - October 12 - Women Artists of the West Mountain Aire National Exhibition, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder CO

September 13-15 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

September 21-22 - 17th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival, Alexandria VA

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

 

Two More New Pieces -- Not Yet Exhibited

 

"Back in Time," oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©2019 Jill Banks -- almost finished plein air in Bologna but this got final touches and a signature this week.

 

"Spring Blooms - Window Seat," oil, 24"h x 36"w, ©2019 Jill Banks -- this was a bear!

"Still Life Stories" Solo Show Reception, Saturday, May 11, 3-5pm

"Rabbits and Ranunculus," oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©2018 Jill Banks

You are SO invited!  It's unusual for me to put up a show focused on still lifes vs. street scenes, figurative work ... and it looks great.  Now "Still Life Stories" needs an audience ... YOU.

Saturday, May 11, 3-5pm at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA  22066. Hope to see you there!   From 3:30 to 4:30pm, I'll be painting -- glad to have you sit for an informal demo while enjoying your surroundings. Want to reserve a seat? Email me at jill@jillbanks.com or text to 703.403.7435.

For the past few days, I've been working on a really challenging still life that's been occupying the window seat at my studio in the Artists' Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls.  Long days spent at the easel trying to beat the inevitable flower meltdown happening before my eyes.  If I'm happy with this tomorrow, it might be a guest painting at Saturday's reception.

"White Mouse," oil, 12" x 12," ©2018 Jill Banks

Paintings other than still lifes can be found in my space at the Artists' Atelier and soon at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival at the Reston Town Center May 17-19.  Hope to see you at whatever event/happening fits your schedule.

COMING UP SOON

May 11 - Reception 3-5pm, "Still Life Stories" Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - painting something or someone from 3:30 to 4:30pm. RSVP to jill@jillbanks.com if you would like me to save you a seat.

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

 

 

Meeting Madelyn, Special Delivery and Heading to Tennessee

"Once Upon A Time II," oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, ©2019 Jill Banks

One day after our second granddaughter's arrival, I started painting "Once Upon a Time II" - destined from the beginning to brighten her nursery room.  In it are all sorts of treasures. Lilies to mark her near Easter arrival. An elephant covered with color yarn that's been waiting to get included in a painting.  An iron bench that has provided a perch for my Mom's doll collection. A pink flamingo to star in the show.  Well-read kid's books. A teacup for plenty of tea parties ahead. The set-up moved several times from the classroom (where it began as the first day of class demo), to my home studio and back to the Artists' Atelier.  Then this past Friday, the painting was hung in little Madelyn's room in between getting to know her a bit.  At almost two weeks old, she's not full of action ... but sure is beautiful and a joy to hold.

In all of my paintings, I hope that you continue to see something new and interesting that hadn't caught your eye before.  While painting, the piece slowly reveals itself - little by little. The whole is what made me paint it. There's something that garners the majority of attention.  Then, there's something else special that I hadn't been ready to see ... and that goes in. In developing "Once Upon a Time II" for Madelyn, I thought about how all those discoveries will come over time. How someday she'll recognize one of those book covers, take an interest in flamingos or elephants or mice.

Knoxville, Here I Come

Tomorrow is the orientation for Artists on Location: Knoxville Plein Air  -- where 30 painters have been selected to paint the "town" for a week, culminating in an awards reception and sale at the Knoxville Museum of Art on Saturday, April 27.  During the ride there, I was researching the suggested painting locations -- finally realizing that is a poor substitute for just getting there and looking around for myself. There are nooks and crannies to explore ... and I'm SO looking forward to doing just that. If I can, I'll post during the week. (Usually these events are fun but exhausting.)

See my Events Page for more info about Artists on Location and a whole lot of other art happenings right around the corner.

Visit "The Gathering Place" Solo Exhibit Before it Comes Down on April 30

Randy and I have hung out more than usual at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls VA this month -- enjoying my exhibit in the Snuggery Dining Room/Katie's Coffee. I hope you have had a chance to do the same ... and if not, can  plan a visit in the next week and a half.

"Dinner Rush," oil, 24"h x 36"w, ©2019 Jill Banks -- currently on exhibit at the Old Brogue

Get more info and view the exhibit online here.

For those of you who celebrate it, I hope you had a wonderful Easter! We enjoyed the non-traveling part of the day with some of the people we love which was wonderful.  This is a time of new beginnings, fresh growth, hope.

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

Events

April 22-27 - Artists on Location: a Plein Air Painting Event - Juried artist, plein air competition and sale, Knoxville TN

April 1-30 - "The Gathering Spot" Solo Exhibit, Katie's Coffee/The Snuggery in the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls VA

May 3 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December)

May 4 & 5 - Great Falls Spring ArtFest at the Artists' Atelier in Great Falls. 10am to 5pm each day.

May 11 - Reception, Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - details to come

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

 

Arlington Festival of the Arts - April 13 & 14, 10am to 5pm Each Day in Arlington VA

Some of the 30+ originals I'll be bringing to the Clarendon District of Arlington VA this weekend.

Hope to see you in Arlington this weekend! It's my first art festival of 2019 - which means you may just be getting first "pick" for the show season.  The Festival offers free admission, great art, interesting dining options in between art viewing and it is rain or shine. Find me on N. Highland Street ... I think fairly near the intersection of N. Highland and Washington Blvd.

Emma Has a Baby Sister

Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! and Yay!  Now we have two granddaughters to cherish! I'm working on a fresh painting for the new arrival - Madelyn's room.  At the moment, only I know how neat that will be.

We have yet to meet her in person. That's happening next week. Yay! Yay! Yay! Yay! and Yay!

New Painting at the Brogue - Immediately Purchased

"Spring Gathering, Great Falls," oil, 24" x 36", ©2019 Jill Banks. Private collection

Well, that was fast! Over the past two weeks I've been painting during any nice spring day found on "Spring Gathering, Great Falls" - on the hill across from the Old Brogue. At 5pm, Randy and I replaced "Sunday Marche" with this new painting in "The Gathering Spot" solo exhibit of mine at the Brogue.  Then we headed over to the Atelier to collect paintings that are heading to the Arlington show. Then, at about 6, we went back to the Brogue for dinner. 

Before figuring out my dinner order, a friend/collector/supporter who was dining at the corner table there added "Spring Gathering" to her collection. I really believe in serendipity. This was it.

You can see it before it leaves for its new home this week.  Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls VA.

See list below for all the neat art events coming up...soon.

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

Events

April 13 & 14 - Arlington Festival of the Arts - Clarendon District in Arlington VA - 10am to 5pm each day

April 22-27 - Artists on Location: a Plein Air Painting Event - Juried artist, plein air competition and sale, Knoxville TN

April 1-30 - "The Gathering Spot" Solo Exhibit, Katie's Coffee/The Snuggery in the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls VA

May 3 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December) - I am also participating in the Spring Artfest that weekend - May 4 & 5 - at the Atelier in Great Falls. 10am to 5pm each day.

May 11 - Reception, Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - details to come

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

First Friday Art Walk and "The Gathering Spot" Solo Exhibit Is Up! Plus Great News

A glimpse of my exhibit "The Gathering Spot" inside one of those type of places.  We hung eight paintings at the Old Brogue during the two-hour (3-5pm) break for the busy Katie's Coffee/Snuggery dining room that keeps plenty busy from morning to night.

The choices have been made and eight paintings have been hung at the Old Brogue Irish Pub at 760 Walker Road, Great Falls VA ... just steps away from my studio at the Artists' Atelier (756 Walker Road).  Husband Randy and I had dinner in the Brogue's Snuggery Dining Room (Katie's Coffee by day), and the paintings really glow at night.

"Picnic in Paris," oil, 18" x 24", ©2018-19 Jill Banks - shown far left in the photo of the show.  I had painted this plein air in the gardens next to the Louvre and finished it recently in time to take its place in the show.

Another view of "The Gathering Spot" show. You can't rely on my photography to get a real sense of the paintings - but it may help with scale. Right?

So, if you can...
Visit for First Friday Art Walk, April 5, 6-8pm and spend the rest of the night on the town at the Brogue.

Join us for First Friday Art Walk in the Village, two group studios, two galleries - start at the Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - Friday, April 5, 6-8pm.

If not, visit throughout the month of April, catching open hours at the Atelier on Wednesdays, noon to 4pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm.

"Tidal Basin Pinks," oil, 12" x 24" - painted plein air in DC last week will be at the Artists' Atelier for First Friday Art Walk.  Lots more to see there, too.

View the exhibit online here. 

 American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase Acceptance. Yay!

"Cat House," oil, 12" x 16", © 2018 Jill Banks - painted during Telluride Plein Air 2018

The AIS jurors have excellent taste. I just found out on Monday that "Cat House" is one of the approximately 200 pieces juried into the exhibit to be held June 1-August 31 at the Crooked Tree Art Center in Petoskey, Michigan. This marks two major acceptances for 2019 into highly prestigious, thus exceedingly-hard-to-get-into shows. (The other is with "On Top of the World" - American Women Artists National Exhibit at the Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.)

Classes Start Next Week -- Some Spots Left for You!

Find out more and link to register here. Tuesday classes start April 9. Thursday Plein Air class starts April 11. I hope you'll join us!

See list below for all the neat art events coming up...soon.

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

 

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.  

 

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

Events

April 5 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December). Come attend this one and head over to enjoy dinner and see my solo exhibit at the Old Brogue right after. A neat night out on the town!

April 13 & 14 - Arlington Festival of the Arts - Clarendon District in Arlington VA - 10am to 5pm each day

April 22-27 - Artists on Location: a Plein Air Painting Event - Juried artist, plein air competition and sale, Knoxville TN

April 1-30 - "The Gathering Spot" Solo Exhibit, Katie's Coffee/The Snuggery in the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls VA

May 3 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December) - I am also participating in the Spring Artfest that weekend - May 4 & 5 - at the Atelier in Great Falls. 10am to 5pm each day.

May 11 - Reception, Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - details to come

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

Pulling Together "The Gathering Spot" Solo Show

"Candy Stripe Café" oil, 24"h x 18"w, ©2019 Jill Banks - just completed.

 April 1-30, 2019

Although there are plenty of alternates waiting in the wings, you can now view online the nine pieces I'm planning to hang for the first of back-to-back solo shows.  "Candy Stripe Café" is one of those. 

Last summer, I painted plein air for two weeks in Paris ... and this view of the café was one spot that was calling my name.  It had to be nixed for painting then and there as my shade turned immediately to full blazing sun ... but I painted the same café there just from across the street.

The solo show "The Gathering Spot" will be exhibited at the Old Brogue Irish Pub's popular Snuggery dining room/Katie's Coffee (it's open almost all day with a short break in the late afternoon) at 760 Walker Road, Great Falls VA 22066.

View the exhibit online here.

"Ladies' Lunch," oil, 16"h x 20"w, ©2014-2019 Jill Banks

The challenge isn't pulling together nine paintings for the solo show, it's juggling all the different events, fine art festivals, studio openings that are happening simultaneously.  My approach has been to prepare for what's directly ahead and paint every moment that I can.

Today was spent working on "Ladies Lunch" - a painting that depicts the dining room where "The Gathering Spot" will be exhibited. I painted it originally many years ago, on the spot, when my Mom and friends were celebrating a birthday there.  It was significantly changed yesterday and today, accentuating light, color and place.

First Friday Art Walk in the Village - Friday, April 5, 6-8pm

Come visit my studio and others in the Great Falls Village Centre on Friday -- where there will be plenty of fresh art to see there ... at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls ... and head over to the Brogue to see my newly hung show just steps away.  Make a night of it. I'd love to see you!

Events Coming Up:

April 5 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December). Come attend this one and head over to enjoy dinner and see my solo exhibit at the Old Brogue right after. A neat night out on the town!

April 13 & 14 - Arlington Festival of the Arts - Clarendon District in Arlington VA - 10am to 5pm each day

April 22-27 - Artists on Location: a Plein Air Painting Event - Juried artist, plein air competition and sale, Knoxville TN

April 1-30 - "The Gathering Spot" Solo Exhibit, Katie's Coffee/The Snuggery in the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls VA

May 3 - First Friday Art Walk, the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm (Art Walks run from April to December) - and  the Spring Artfest that weekend - May 4 & 5 - at the Atelier in Great Falls.

May 11 - Reception, Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - details to come

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

Classes Start Soon - Get more info and register at my classes page. 

Do you live in the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area?  Registration for Winter 2019 classes is now open.  I hope you'll join me.  See the Classes page here.  Top 9 Painting and Drawing Teacher in the DC area - I made the list!

Still Life Plus is now full - waitlist only. Plein Air Landscape (Thursdays, starting April 11) and Evening Paint (Tuesday nights, starting April 9) 

Thanks for reading! I tried to keep this short to encourage more posts to come.  We'll see if it worked!

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
 703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

 

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

 

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur.  

 

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

 

Where There Once Was A Goat

"On Top of the World," oil, 60"h x 20"w, ©2018 Jill Banks

... Now there's a painting of granddaughter Emma and husband Randy. I guess there's some explaining to do.

I've Been AWOL
First, I apologize for my ridiculously extended absence from my blog here. I've been much more active with regular email newsletters from my website: www.JillBanks.com.   I've made some guest author "appearances" - most recently a really neat article about my 46-year tenure as Christmas card cover designer for my parents' annual mailing  -- published on Fine Art Today last week.  Then there's been events, holidays, Facebook and Instagram posts (follow me please).  So, I'm out there ... just not necessarily here.

For the last week, I've been working on a piece to make myself happy.  Painting -- pretty much anything -- makes me happy but this was a special project and a piece that can hang out with me ... in our home.

Fresh Off the Easel
The subjects for "On Top of the World" are granddaughter Emma and husband Randy out on a late Fall walk in a favorite spot.  Bet you can figure out why it was high on my priority list for paintings to be.

There are lots of other pieces waiting for attention. To be finished or started.  That can start happening tomorrow.

I knew that this had to become a painting ... and also knew precisely where it would reside.  There is a perfect spot atop our fireplace that is just right for this.  I can see "On Top of the World" leaning there as I'm typing this and it is visible from almost every spot on the main floor.  Before Emma and Randy were painted, this same spot held "Got Your Goat?" -- another favorite piece that has gone off to a great home.  Since it left here, though, I've been trying to figure out what can fill that spot in my heart and home. This is it.

Poor photo ... but this is where "On Top of the World" will be hanging out

Spend Some Time Browsing My Website to Catch Up ... Please

There's plenty there, including "On Top of the World" just added to the People and Portraits gallery on my website.

www.JillBanks.com

Thanks for reading,

Jill

Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com

 

Email: jill@jillbanks.com

Website: www.jillbanks.com

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Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017 Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.  

 

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur.  

 

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)