"On the Bright Side" Show Prep and Back to New York

I've been buried the last few days in getting ready to hang my "On the Bright Side" Show on Wednesday. What that means for me is ... sending out press releases (time-consuming), working on my preview page on my web site (get to it from my home page), and writing a bunch of "to do" lists. Left to do: some artwork gets photographed Monday (by Greg Staley), work gets pulled out of/into frames, rounded up from various locations, probably another trip to my framer's (Framemasters), making a poster, making wall tags, mailing postcards ... we'll see.

"On the Bright Side"
July 2-August 31

Painting Demonstration: Saturday, July 11, 1-4pm. (RSVP to jillbanks1@aol.com for this event)
Reception: Saturday, July 18, 3-6pm
Both events are free and open to the public.

(These are the two days I'm scheduled to be there ... but I'd be glad to give a tour of the exhibit at another time.)

Great Falls Library Meeting Room
9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066

You can also view the exhibit during regular library hours: Monday through Wednesday, 10am-8pm; Thursday & Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm; closed Sundays. Note: The library changed its hours after I printed postcards. These are the new hours.

Randy and I are heading back up to New York City tomorrow to see the exhibit and attend the awards reception at the Salmagundi Club where two of my drawings are on exhibit in the annual show at this esteemed Arts Club. I'm looking forward to it!!

Also, coming up: First Friday at the Artists' Atelier -- Friday, July 3, 7-9pm. 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Opening: "Beaches", a new exhibit in the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (GFFFTA) Gallery. I don't know what I'll have hanging on the walls in my studio...

Above: "Limoni", oil on linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. "Limoni" is one of over 20 drawings and paintings that are part of my "On the Bright Side" exhibit.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Food and Wine" Painting of Burano Market: More Tweaks

See more of my food and wine paintings.

I still have more to do on this before hanging it in my upcoming exhibit (see my web site or earlier posts for details for "On the Bright Side" solo exhibit, July/August) ... but it's come a long, long ways. I just had three hours to put in today ... since it's Father's Day and the fathers I know needed a proper celebration. I glazed some today for the reflections on the windows, allowing me to add multiple transparent effects. I add glazes in the colors I want for the topmost layer (mixed oils) with Gamblin's Neomegilp medium. I'm not a medium junky. Most of the painting I do is "straight" paint and I'll only use medium on the topmost layer if the underlayer is dry to the touch and there's something I want to accomplish using a glaze.

I've gotten plenty of positive comments about the blue and orange combination employed here. See earlier posts about this painting as a work in progress, about Burano, about this rarely found blue color.
Earliest "Food and Wine" post
Second "Food and Wine" post: jillbanks.blogspot.com/2009/05/burano-market-fruit-and-wine-painting.html
Third "Food and Wine" post

"Food and Wine" pretty much done, oil on linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Venezia Market" Painting -- So Close

This one's really close to done. I'll tweak some of my edges, do a little clean-up and sign it. I love the yellow apples in the middle front. The colors in the shadows hold all sorts of surprises. My goal is to finish this one and put the finishing touches on "Food and Wine" and then work on photographing work, framing, signing, getting postcards out, etc. for my solo show "On the Bright Side" by the end of the month.

This past week, I've been MIA from my blog -- working on portrait commissions including one of a couple that's 99.999% done and two other major projects that are in the drawing stages. At the supermarket today, I ran into my client for the 99.999% done portrait. Since I work in the Atelier where we get plenty of visitors ... lots of friends and acquaintances of the couple I've been painting have seen it ... and passed on how terrific it is. (It is.) The client hasn't seen it however. I take it as a sign that I've captured them ... since everyone recognizes them. Still, I better get the .001% left done so I can reveal it properly.

My "On the Bright Side" exhibit is being held at the Great Falls Library, July 2-August 31. I'm giving a painting demonstration on Saturday, July 11, 1-4pm (rsvp at jillbanks1@aol.com for that event) and will have a reception, Saturday, July 18, 3-6pm. See my web site (www.jillbanks.com) for more details and a preview of that exhibit. (I'm still adding to the preview -- so check back.) Mark your calendars! I hope to see you there.

Randy and I are also going up to New York City this coming Friday for the Awards Reception (and closing reception) for the Salmagundi's Club Annual Graphics and Photography Exhibition where two of my works are hanging. See my post about that acceptance and the drawings that are on exhibit. The Salmagundi Club is a beautiful, esteemed Art Institution ... and I'm ecstatic to have my work exhibited there. Pretty great.

"Venezia Market" with close-up, oil on linen, 18"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

Field Trip to the National Gallery of Art

Today I joined Loretta Cassidy and Shanaz Asasi from my Great Falls School of Art Still Life class at the National Gallery of Art to spend a fun day viewing the Luis Meléndez exhibit (phenomenal still lifes of food -- right up my alley) and drawing some of the sculptures. The drawing shown above is done with General's Multi-Pastel Chalks in Scarlet Red on Gutenberg Laid paper. I drew it in a sketchbook that I had made myself for a 2006 art historical trip to Florence, Italy led by Robert Liberace. The second drawing is an earlier page in the sketchbook ... done in Florence of the Duomo. It's done in a brown ink wash and pen & ink.

"Drawing from Auguste Rodin's Sculpture: "Victoria Sackville-West, Lady Sackville" 1913-14", multi-pastel chalks, 8"h x 10"w (page dimension), copyright Jill Banks 2009.

"Duomo", ink wash and pen&ink, 10"h x 8"w (page dimension), copyright Jill Banks 2006.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Venezia Market" Painting in Progress

I spent Friday and Sunday working on this painting of a Venetian produce market. That's husband Randy silhouetted in the left corner. What do I love about this one? Everything! It has some of the qualities of "Rainy Day Market" -- the reflections in the stainless steel counter and ground, mystery and mood, plus the juxtaposition of cool and warm colors.

It will become part of my "On the Bright Side" solo exhibition that I'll be hanging on July 1. The exhibit runs July 2-August 31 at the Great Falls Library in Great Falls, VA. I'm returning to the venue where I made my first real debut with my "Feast For the Eyes" solo show in November 2005. I hope you can join me! Email me (jillbanks1@aol.com) your mailing address and I'll send you a postcard for the show. Who knows? It may be a collector's item some day!

On the Bright Side
Jill Banks oil paintings

Opening Reception
Saturday, July 18, 3-6pm

Painting Demonstration
Saturday, July 11, 1-4pm (Please rsvp for this event by email)

Great Falls Library Meeting Room
9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10am-9pm; Fridays, 10am-6pm; Saturdays, 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays.

"Venezia Market" work in progress, oil on linen, 18"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. See more scenes from Venice, Murano and Burano on my Thursday, June 11 post "Pizza and Pesce".

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Pizza and Pesce" Painting of the Day

Painting this scene of a Burano snack shop today made we wish I was there. I got a kick out of their pizza and fish signs. Even though this shop was right near where the ferry dropped us off, it was full of locals the day we visited.

"Pizza and Pesce", oil on linen, 8"h x 10"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

More Venice and Burano scenes available include:
"Ferrari Boat", oil on linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Contact me at jillbanks1@aol.com or 703.403.7435 for purchase.


and "Rialto Market", oil on linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Available through Chasen Galleries in Richmond, VA.


and "Bridge in Venice", oil on linen, 11"h x 14"w, copyright Jill Banks 2008. Contact me.



Plus, as promised, you'll see my new "Food and Wine" of a Burano Market soon.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

Painting Tomatoes

After teaching my still life class (last one of the session) and giving a private lesson yesterday, I broke out the paints and created this one. "Family Ties" depicts four vined tomatoes that were going to be made into gazpacho last week -- but they had to be held over to this week for another class painting session. This is a simple, small painting. See more of my still lifes of food and markets on this blog and on my web site -- gallery section, both Still Lifes and Places.

Since I haven't been blogging for a week, here's a little bit of catching up... I've been finishing up on a portrait commission and finalizing "Food and Wine". You'll probably see both of those here soon. First Friday was absolutely fantastic -- the best ever. The student show in the downstairs gallery looks terrific and it was fun to meet family members and friends of many of the students that are part of the Great Falls School of Art. The place was buzzing all night. Unfortunately, I was having way too much fun to remember to take photos.

The Farmer's Market was also good. My Market Series paintings have been really well received. "Food and Wine" made its first appearance there ... with good reviews. "Rainy Day Market" is a constant favorite. Someone's going to buy it ... soon, I bet. Other top favorites are drawings, particularly ink washes and "The Donut Line-Up". Two young boys visited with their father and I asked them which painting was their favorite and one of them said "that one ... and that one ... and that one" until he picked the entire tent's worth. Definitely a budding art patron.

This Saturday, I'm heading up to New York City with Randy to drop off drawings at the Salmagundi Club for their Annual Juried Photography and Graphics Exhibition. See my earlier post on that acceptance. Richard Schmid's work is in an exhibit there -- that I'm looking forward to seeing. Plus, I can't wait to see the Salmagundi Club itself.

"Family Ties" (painting of tomatoes), oil on Senso linen, 10"h x 8"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. "Rainy Day Market", oil on Senso linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

Farmer's Market, "On the Bright Side" Solo Show, MPA Artfest

What I'm up to, basically, for the next few days and months...

First Friday, June 5, 7-9pm, The Artists' Atelier (the working studios and gallery space I share with 15 other artists), 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Lots of new artwork is hung with a concentration on portrait and figure paintings and drawings. In the Great Falls School of Art space, Suite D, you'll get a chance to see some of my students' paintings from this session's Still Life class. The Artists' Atelier is open the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm and every Saturday, noon-4pm. (Note: I won't be there Saturday, June 6. See next item.)



My tent from the Farmer's Market in May. Come see me at this Saturday's market, June 6, 9am-1pm.


Great Falls Farmer's Market this Saturday, June 6, 9am-1pm, Great Falls Village Centre in parking lot near the Wachovia Bank (across from the Safeway on Walker Road). This will be my second (and probably last) appearance there for this year. Under the Great Falls Studios (a group of 85 artists of which I am a member) tent, I'll be showing my market paintings, still lifes and restaurant series. Hopefully, a slightly wet "Food and Wine" painting of a market in Burano will be hanging. Let's see how painting goes today.


July 2-August 31 "On the Bright Side" Solo Show at the Great Falls Library Meeting Room, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. Opening Reception, Saturday, July 18, 3-6pm. Painting Demonstration, Saturday, July 11, 1-4pm. This exhibit battles our trying times one canvas at a time. The world's full of silver linings. I found some. I'll set up a sneak preview on my web site (www.jillbanks.com) later in the month. Check back.


August 14-16 "Portrait & Figure Painting Workshop in Oils": I'll be teaching a weekend workshop through the Great Falls School of Art (a program of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts). Spaces are limited, register now by downloading a summer bulletin at www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org
. Click on School of Art. I'm also teaching a Tuesday morning, six week "Still Life in Oils" class that starts July 7. See my May 19 post for a course description.

Sunday, October 4 MPAartfest in McLean Central Park. I just found out I was accepted into this terrific outdoor arts festival put on by the McLean Project for the Arts.


Saturday and Sunday, October 17&18 Great Falls Studio Tour. I'll be one of 44 artists (members of Great Falls Studios) participating in the Studio Tour that takes place all around town. Visit me at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA.

"Corner Couple," oil on panel, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007.









Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

First Friday and the "Go Figure" Exhibit

We hung the "Go Figure" show at the Artists' Atelier (working studios and gallery spaces I share with 15 other artists in Great Falls, VA) ... in time for some tweaking before Friday's "First Friday" 7-9 opening. We could have put up a show about three times this size -- it seems we share a passion for portrait and figure paintings. After much deliberating, rearranging, measuring and pounding, all of us in the hanging crew kept patting each other on the back for a job well done. Come join us this Friday, June 5, 7-9pm for art, refreshments and some fun -- and tell me what you think. 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA (behind Dante Ristorante near the corner of Walker Road and Colvin Run Rd.).


In addition to changing the exhibit in the gallery, many of us have plenty of new pieces to see throughout the Atelier. My area looks like my obsession with food is calming a bit. More people; less frosting.

There will be an exhibit in the school gallery, Suite D, of work created by students of the Great Falls School of Art. The work is impressive... showing what can be accomplished with small classes, good instruction and dedicated students. Registration is going on now for Summer classes. Download the summer bulletin at the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site or pick one up on Friday night.

See you then!

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435