Last Day to See "On the Bright Side" Exhibit

In case you've missed it, today's the last day to view my "On the Bright Side" solo exhibit at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. The show includes 23 paintings and drawings that give you a solid glimpse into my joyful-leaning outlook on life. Turn off the news. Go see the show.

Tomorrow's the last day to see "Still Life Poetry" an invitational group exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA, open tomorrow 1-3pm. I have four pieces there including "Sunflowers and Gladioli", "Peonies", "Sunday Morning" and "Peppermint Stick and Pencil". It's a great exhibt. Don't miss it either!

I'll be in my studio today (Saturday), the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls from noon-4pm -- probably painting apples. Maybe oranges. Maybe Michelle. Maybe a commission.

There are my marching orders for you this weekend. I hope they work.

I still don't have evidence that the subscribe via email section is working. Keep checking this site until you start to get posts via email from me. Thanks!

"Rainy Day Market" is my postcard image for the "On the Bright Side" show. Remarkably, it's still available for purchase. Oil on 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

Email Subscriptions and Coloring and Cocktails at MPA

Now you can get the latest blog posts via email. See the Subscribe via Email section on the left at the top of the page? Enter your email address, a chance to confirm you really want to sign up will come to that address, confirm ... and voila! ... you won't have to wonder about whether I"ve posted anything new any more. (Actually we're testing whether this works over the next few days ... so, hopefully, voila! Sign up, check back, email me with feedback: jillbanks1@aol.com.) You can still check the blog (please do!) at jillbanks.blogspot.com to see the latest and older posts, but here's another way to keep up with me in painting land.

I went to the "Coloring and Cocktails" event at McLean Project of the Arts (MPA) tonight. I'll be participating in MPA's Artfest, a juried outdoor arts festival in McLean Central Park, McLean, VA on Sunday, October 4 and tonight's event was to get enthusiasm brewing. About 80 people were signed up to sip cocktails and color/create ... and bring out their inner child. No pictures. Sorry.

I colored outside the lines.

Other participating artists there tonight were Elaine Elinsky (buddy and fellow studiomate), Val Mahon, and Julie Lansaw. People were definitely enjoying themselves.
Great idea! Check out more about the MPA Artfest at www.mpaart.org.

It's almost over...
This is the last week to view my "On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA (comes down August 31) and works in the "Still Life Poetry" show at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA (comes down August 30). See my web site for more details.

"Rooster and Geraniums" shown above is one of the 24 paintings and drawings currently on view at my "On the Bright Side" exhibit ... but not for long. 14"h x 11"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Paintings of Fruit Continued...

I spent the whole day painting fruit.



This afternoon ... I was buried in oranges, continuing on with "Arance, Oranges", a painting of a fruit market in Florence, Italy. Still more to go but when I finally needed a break from oranges I headed downstairs to work a bit on "An Apple Arrangement". In all, I've spent very little time on the latter, trying not to interfere with the official enrollees in Michela Mansuino's workshop (who work late) and keeping on track with my other projects. This particular painting shows just how abstractly I see ... and paint. I think in value (light and darks) and then color blocks, from large to increasingly smaller shapes. It's an interesting way to see the world.



"Arance, Orange" work in progress, 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"An Apple Arrangement" work in progress, 24"h x 30"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Before Randy took me to dinner tonight he wiped off yellow, then green, then orange, then some red I'd managed to end up wearing.

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

Open Grisaille Start and Two Finishes

Something different today. I decided to return to two little paintings that appealed to me ... that were started en plein air last year during a workshop I took in Easton, MD. My goal for that workshop (in addition to surviving the heat and bugs) was to look intently for the strong contrasts of light and shadow ... and learn to state it boldly. I started to do that during the workshop, but it's something I've continued to strive for this past year. These two, "Benched" and "Special Delivery", are very different than the paintings that I started with this morning. They demonstrate that I "got" the lesson.


After finishing up with those two, I headed downstairs where Michela Mansuino has set up a beautiful, Cezanne-inspired still life for a weeklong workshop she's giving at the Great Falls School of Art this week. While I'm not one of the workshop attendees, I am working after hours to tackle this complicated still life in my own fashion. (I'm helping to pay the apple bill.) I'm starting with an open grisaille, what you see here, just laying in the darks with a burnt sienna and French ultramarine blue combo. I "erase" the lights as need be with a paper towel -- one of my favorite painting tools. Tomorrow afternoon/evening I'll check my drawing and arrangement and then go in with color in the lights.


So, today's three are:
"Special Delivery", 8"h x 10"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"Benched", 9"h x 12"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"An Apple Arrangement" open grisaille WIP, 24"h x 30"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

This is the last week to view my "On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA (comes down August 31) and works in the "Still Life Poetry" show at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA (comes down August 30). See my web site for more details.

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

"Arance, Oranges" Painting Continued

This shows Day 4 on my "Arance, Oranges" painting of a Florence, Italy fruit market. I'm working on adding a three-dimensional feel to the fruits. I've already gotten the comment (many times) that viewers think they can just reach in there and pick up the fruit. When I'm done, I'll think I can do that. My goal is to achieve that with as little detail as possible -- making you do some of the work in grasping the scene.

One of my favorite parts of these market scenes are the signs. Signs of people, the human touch, the artistry of the market folks. See more of my market scenes on this blog (look back through older posts) and on my web site.

Registrations are going on now for Fall 2009 classes at the Great Falls School of Art (part of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts). My Monday night drawing class and Tuesday morning painting classes are now full. I'm still considering adding a third class on Tuesday afternoons, 2:15-5:15 pm if there's enough interest. That class would start Tuesday, September 15 and run for nine weeks. Email me at jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703.403.7435 if you're interested.

This is the last week to view my "On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA (comes down August 31) and works in the "Still Life Poetry" show at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA (comes down August 30). See my web site for more details.

"Arance, Oranges" work in progress, oil, 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

"Pluot" Painting and Return to "Many Colors" Painting

Today, I don't know what got into me. Usually I start working on a painting and can't stop. I might plan to work a little on several, but it never seems to happen. Maybe the problem is in the planning. Today I planned to tone/prime one canvas for a portrait commission and then just continue working on "Arance, Oranges". Well, I primed the canvas, then started working on "Arance, Oranges", then painted "Pluot" (a cross between an apricot and a plum, I imagine), then worked on "Many Colors" a painting I had started during a demo in the library in 2007 as part of the "A Year of Painting Together" exhibit. (Sorry about the poor photo of "Many Colors" -- wet paint and photos taken at night are a bad combo.) So my plan should always be the opposite of whatever I'd like to accomplish.

I do actually know the impetus for all this frenzied activity. I subscribe to Duane Keiser's Painting a Day blog and he just sent notice that he completed his first 100 of his 1000 small paintings series. Thus, "Pluot" was born. I'm not at 100, but I actually have quite a few. Then, someone expressed interest in "Nigerian Beauty", a portrait that's hanging in my "On the Bright Side" exhibit at the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA) through August 31. "Nigerian Beauty" is a portrait I painted of Uchenna. "Many Colors" is another painting of her ... that happened to be sitting, unfinished, on the mantel near my home studio. Of course, I had to work on that.

There are now only two spots left in my drawing class on Monday nights. See my web site for more info on classes, supply lists, etc.

"Many Colors", 20"h x 16"w, oil on Raymar panel, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"Nigerian Beauty" (my first portrait of Uchenna), 24"h x 18"w, oil on Raymar panel, copyright Jill Banks 2007
"Pluot", 4"h x 4"w, oil, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

In addition to painting like crazy, I've been blogging like crazy. Look at the last few posts so you don't miss anything. Look at a lot of them if you haven't visited for a while. You can always hit older posts and see more.

Most important news right now: "On the Bright Side" show ends August 31. "Still Life Poetry" ends August 30 at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street. Registration is going on now for Fall Classes offered through the Great Falls School of Art -- see my newly updated web site for more info. I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA tomorrow for Saturday open hours, noon-4pm.

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

New Pages on My Web Site -- Supply Lists & Class Listings

I'm playing webmaster again ... and just added a page on classes -- complete with supply lists for my drawing and painting classes. Take a look.

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

Bulletin and Registration for Fall 2009 Classes Up

Download the bulletin and registration form for the Great Falls School of Art on the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site (www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org). I just got news that it was up.

I'll be teaching two classes this Fall ... "Drawing From Life" on Monday nights, 6:30-9:30pm, nine sessions starting September 14 and "Oil Painting from Life" on Tuesdays, 9:30am-1:30pm, nine sessions starting September 8. I currently have a few spaces left in my "Drawing from Life" class and the Tuesday class is full. I will take names for a wait list for the class and if there is enough interest, I may do something about it (you never know). Email me at jillbanks1@aol.com or call (703) 403-7435 if you are interested.

Here's info about my classes. I'll post more about some other select classes later -- probably today. Check back.

Great Falls School of Art
FALL 2009 ART CLASSES
Offering Adult, Teen and Children's Classes

School Address: 1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA 22066
To register, complete the registration form (download from the GFFFTA web site) and mail with full payment to : Great Falls Foundation for the Art, Inc., c/0 Terri Parent, 325 Sinegar Place, Great Falls, VA 22066. Questions? Contact school registrat Terri Parent, 703-433-5358 or terrikate@aol.com

Drawing From Life – Jill Banks
Learn to master values and drawing working from life in various media including charcoal, ink wash and pen and ink, and watercolor washes. Multiple demos per session. Subjects include models and still lifes. A supply list will be provided. For information on the instructor, see Jill’s blog at http://jillbanks.blogspot.com or www.jillbanks.com.

Mondays, Sept. 14-Nov. 9, 6:30pm-9:30pm $300 plus models and materials fee to be determined and paid directly to the instructor



Oil Painting from Life – Jill Banks
Working with varied subject matter (still life, interior, portrait), this course is for students of all levels. Beginners will learn the fundamentals including laying lights/darks (grisaille), color, materials and form. More advanced students will apply skills to new subject matter, refine color and produce finished paintings, learn to see as artists, simplify forms into abstract shapes and how to construct compositions. A model will be hired for some sessions. Information on the instructor can be found at www.jillbanks.com and on her blog at http://jillbanks.blogspot. Supply list will be posted.

Tuesdays, Sept. 8-Nov. 3, 9:30am-1:30pm
$400 plus $60 model/materials fee (materials fee paid directly to instructor)
CLASS FULL -- BUT JOIN THE WAIT LIST -- ANOTHER CLASS MAY BE ADDED.

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

Sun Gazette Article This Week

Brian Trompeter from the Sun Gazette wrote a nice article, "McLean Artist Combines Color with Timelessness" in this week's paper. I told husband Randy that I might have to wear a muzzle the next time I get interviewed. I definitely say some funny things and I swear I'm more intelligent than I sound. You can view the article online. There's even a video clip of me introducing you to some of the paintings in my "On the Bright Side" solo show.

By the way, friend and fellow artist Francie Vecchi and clients Victor and Wendy Sellier were quoted in the article. I like what they said. Thanks!

Brian Trompeter also interviewed friend and fellow artist Adrienne Kralick about her August show at Rehoboth Beach and upcoming art festival at Bethany Beach. Read that article here.

I'm working away today at the Atelier on more oranges. Lots of paint.

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

"Arance, Oranges" New Painting in Progress

This is Day Two on this painting of oranges and lemons from a market in Florence, Italy -- the latest work in my Market series. This is one of those paintings that looked phenomenal just in the underpainting stage -- when I first lay in the darks with Burnt Sienna and French Ultramarine Blue to "deign" the painting. You can see some of that underpainting on the parts of the painting I haven't touched yet.

I'm definitely having fun. Large forms, generous scale, loose brushstrokes, intense color, happy painting -- the perfect formula for me. It's hard not to love it.

My son Sam turned 21 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAM!

His birthday present from Randy and me was "Michelle II". See yesterday's post.

I'm not sure "Arance, Oranges" will be the final title on this, but it will do for now.
"Arance, Oranges" work in progress, 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

By the way, Randy and I had dinner tonight at the Old Brogue in Great Falls where my painting "Lemon Yellow" hangs as part of the Great Falls Studios group show through the end of August. Check it out and these other exhibits before they close at the end of this month.

"On the Bright Side" solo show of 23 paintings and drawings at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA through August 31. See my web site for more information about that show.

and "Still Life Poetry", a group invitational (fantastic) exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA -- where I have four still lifes -- on exhibit through August 30.

And, come see me at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Open Saturdays, noon-4pm and the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm. Plus, by appointment -- call 703.403.7435.

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

"Michelle II"

I'll type the text later for this one. I think she needs to be pinker ... but now I need to fix a birthday dinner for soon-to-be 21, son Sam.

This is "Michelle II" -- the one I started in my July 11 demo at the Great Falls Library.

Again, more later.

My Portrait and Figure Painting Workshop

This past weekend, I held my first painting workshop "Portrait & Figure Painting in Oils" at the Great Falls School of Art. Although I'm a bit worn out -- the result of about a month of a half of lots to do -- I also thoroughly enjoyed the experience thanks to a great class of students and terrific model.

What I discovered for next time (I'm sure there will be a next time) is that the time allotted for my demo needs to be quite a bit longer. I gave myself two hours to paint, teach, talk. I needed at least three hours, and it might be nice to have three and a half.

I loved the little class size. It was perfect for plenty of one-on-one help and comfortable space in the classroom.

We literally had a blast. My favorite part was yesterday's lunch gathered in the kiddie room. We sat on chairs about 8 inches off the ground and that broke any "ice" that might have remained in the group. It's hard to not have fun in a ridiculous setting.

One of the most successful parts of the workshop was the quick poses students painted at the beginning of each day to loosen up and start seeing darks and lights. I had found these quick gestural sketches (done in oil) hugely helpful as a student myself during workshops I attended years ago at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia.

Today, I'll be working on my two Michelle paintings. Hopefully, I'll post again later today and if not, tomorrow. My son Sam said I'd been slacking off in the blogging department. More like working my tail off and then sleeping. Just not blogging.

I have two to three spaces left in a drawing class I'm teaching through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts this Fall on Monday nights starting September 14. Time is 7-10pm (might be adjusted to 6:30-9:30pm if it's okay with the students already signed up); cost is $300 for nine sessions plus model/materials fees TBD. My Tuesday am
"Oil Painting from Life" class is full but students may join a waiting list. While I don't want to just teach -- as much as I like it -- I would like to know how much additional interest there is in that class. (Good things happen with information.) If you're interested in signing up, please contact me by email: jillbanks1@aol.com or phone: 703.403.7435.

Totally unrelated, but something I've been thinking about... I don't believe in wishes. I do believe in dreams. I'm following mine.

Above: a scene from this past weekend's workshop.

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

"Michelle I" Getting Better

Last night I worked more on this portrait of Michelle Anonick, my son Sam's girlfriend. Husband Randy asked me how Sam's latest critique went, and I had to hesitate and then laugh. My response was approximately this: "Let me start by saying that Sam thinks this is the best portrait I've ever done. But, he also thought I made her left eye look a tad bigger than her right. Which, we then agreed really was the case. So, he left me to work a while longer and I told him to take a look at it when I finished. Then I get the question, 'What did you do to her eye? Now it looks smaller than the other one.'" My conclusion, the kid's nuts. Nice, but nuts.

I will work on her hair, ear, background, clothing, and arms ... but not her face. In the words of Goldilocks, "This one's just right."

I have been really busy lately with some great goings on with more to come this week. I started a great new painting on Sunday that I'll show you in a post coming up, plus enjoyed the opening at ArtSpace Herndon of the "Still Life Poetry" exhibit I'm participating in. I'll also post photos of that fantastic show. It's beautiful! You have to see it. See ArtSpace Herndon's web site for open hours.

Tomorrow's the last day of my still life class for the summer session ... so I'll be spending all day teaching. Wednesday I'm being interviewed by Brian Trompeter from the Sun Gazette. Thursday, I'm giving a tour of the Artists' Atelier (the studio space I share with 15 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G) in the morning and my "On the Bright Side" exhibit at the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA) in the afternoon. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday I'll be teaching a Portrait and Figure Painting in Oils workshop through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts. There's still a space or two in that workshop. If you're interested in signing up, email me at jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703.403.7435.

"Michelle I" work in progress day 4, oil on linen, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Florentine Dolphin" Drawing of the Day

I don't know if this one will be framed by our First Friday opening tonight ... but I hope so. This is the second drawing I've done of this subject -- a dolphin fountain in a museum in Florence, Italy. The inspiration for this morning's drawing came from having returned to the painting "Standing By" of husband Randy in Florence yesterday and enthusiasm over teaching a drawing class in the Fall through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (Great Falls, VA).

This drawing was started with General's Sketch and Wash pencils: drawn then washed. I added a burnt umber watercolor wash and then charcoal. Actually, this was also inspired by some beautiful acrylic and charcoal landscape paintings that fellow studiomate Elaine Elinsky is creating right now. Come see hers and mine tonight at First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, 7-9pm, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066.

"Florentine Dolphin, Sketch & Wash pencil, watercolor and charcoal on Fabriano Artistico paper; 7.5"h x 9.5"w inside mat dimension framed in 11"h x 14"w frame; copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Standing By" Painting of Randy -- Just Finished!

I returned today to a little painting I started maybe two years ago. That's husband Randy standing in the courtyard of what I think was the Bargello in Florence, Italy. I might have titled it "Handsome", but instead am calling it "Standing By" ... because that's what he does ... for me and everyone else in his life.

"Standing By", oil on Raymar panel, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

This painting will be hung for First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, tomorrow night, August 8, 7-9pm at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066. I hope to see you there!

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

"Michelle I" Still Progressing...

Here's an update on a painting I did as practice before my public demo as part of my "On the Bright Side" exhibit at the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA; on exhibit through August 31) ... of my son Sam's girlfriend, Michelle Anonick. I still want to work on some of my edges and her ears, hair, expression a bit, but I'll let it dry for four days before doing any more work on it. That way, the progress made to date won't be lost. (If I don't think it's improving, I can "erase" the new day's work.)

Sam's happy with it (again). Yea!

"Michelle I" work in progress, oil on linen, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Peach" Painting and New Drawing Class Offered

Today's (better hurry typing) class was great. I teach a Still Life class through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org) on Tuesday mornings -- and I love it. Peaches were part of the act in two of my still life setups and I didn't see students "get" the shadow/light patterns on the also-patterned peaches. So, I painted an example, albeit a little too late for class, but I hope it will help for next week. That happens to be the last day of class.

I'm still looking for two-three more students for my portrait painting workshop offered through the same organization August 14-16. Contact me for more info at jillbanks1@aol.com or 703.403.7435. This will be an extraordinary class!

Today we also came up with a brand new class offering. I will be teaching drawing on Monday nights, 7-10pm in the Fall (starting September 14), running for nine weeks. The location is 1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA. The cost will be $300 plus model and material fees (to be determined). Students are enlisting our models -- friends, spouses, people they'd love to draw. Students not ready for drawing people will have still life setups to choose from. I'm excited about offering this class. I've been influenced (a lot) by one of my teachers, Rob Liberace, in exploring drawing across many media -- and it's become part of my soul as an artist. Drawing materials can be with you anywhere ... so you can create while the rest of the family sits on the beach. I'll do multiple demos, especially when we're moving to a new medium. Classes are small -- maximum 9-10 due to space constraints -- so contact me if you'd like to be one of this special group. I think classes will fill up quickly!

I also worked today on one of my two Michelles, portraits of son Sam's girlfriend. Since Sam loves Michelle, he's one heck of a critic. But then again, I do enjoy a challenge.

"Peach"; oil; size: not sure, but little; copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Two New Exhibits: "Still Life Poetry" and "Food"

I'm losing track of days here ... probably for good reason. On Friday, I helped Walt Lawrence and Cindy Grisdela (and Linda Rosen) hang a new Great Falls Studios exhibit "Food" at Katie's Coffee, part of the Old Brogue Irish Pub. My contribution was "Lemon Yellow" (see my July 28 post). The exhibit contains 23 pieces, all less than 154 square inches and fitting the broad theme of "Food." Lemons work. The show hangs for the month of August.


On Saturday, I worked more on "Reflections". I'll return to that piece later on today while I scheme about the new still life setups for class tomorrow. Hmmm.

Yesterday, I took four pieces to ArtSpace Herndon for the "Still Life Poetry" invitational exhibit. I can't wait to see that show hung. I think it will be phenomenal -- nice space, great art, great group of artists. What you'll see there of mine:





"Peonies"
20"h x 16"w
oil on linen
$1500





















"Sunday Morning"
12"h x 12"w
oil
$1050
This painting was juried into Salon International 2009, a project of the International Museum of Contemporary Masters, held at Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. Also appeared in the April 2009 issue of "American Art Collector".








And, the littlest:
"Peppermint Stick and Pencil"
6"h x 4"w
oil
$195
This one's fun and a good painting to boot.










Details on that exhibit:
What: "Still Life Poetry" Exhibit
An extraordinary group show by award winning still life artists:
* Trisha Adams * Jill Banks * Vicki Blum *
* Petra Gerber * Robert Johnson *
* Virginia Johnson * Tricia Ratliff *
* Patty Rice * Kurt Schwartz *
* Henry Wingate * Jordan Xu *

When: August 4-30. Gala Opening and Artists' Talk: Saturday, August 8, 7-9pm. Regular Gallery Hours: Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm; Wednesday 10am - 2pm; Thursday 10am - 2pm; Friday 10am - 8pm; Saturday 10am - 2pm; Sunday 1pm - 3pm (Or by appointment). Closed Mondays

Where: ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA

After dropping off my paintings, Randy and I headed to Rehoboth Beach to see the opening of two of my studiomates, Adrienne Kralick and Mollie Vardell's "Coastal Colors" show held at the Aerie Art Gallery. Great show, beautiful gallery, and a really fun evening.

This coming Friday is First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, 7-9pm, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. You're Invited! I hope to see you there.

Also, my "On the Bright Side" solo show of 22 paintings and drawings continues at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls until the end of August. Don't miss it!!! If you are interested in purchasing a painting, contact me by email: jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703.403.7435. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Friends of the Great Falls Library.


Now, I'm off to paint!

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