Another New York City Street Painting

I'm on a roll ... but it takes a break tomorrow. I started this scene today.  I get quizzed (by husband Randy) about why I paint a particular scene. That's probably a good thing. I liked the shapes. The protagonist -- the pidgeon in the center of the streeet -- was in the painting's sweet spot. And, I feel the wonderful rhythms and movements of New York in it.

My goal is to take my "free" days -- those not already committed with commissions and teaching to create a series of "like" paintings -- first streets, then maybe cafes, then interiors (restaurants and home, etc.). I always (!!!!!) want to pursue different directions because so much interests me. Focus.

"Birds of a Feather" work in progress, 18"h x 24"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

"Rainy Day in NYC" Painting, Day Two

Quick post -- here's what I worked on today. More to be done ... but hopefully not too much. I do remember making a similar statement about "Tranquility" -- and look where that got me!

Take a look back to my earlier post about this painting's start.

Actually in looking back, I love the burnt sienna, reddish undertones. I'll try to bring some of those out as I move forward.

See? Trouble already.

But I did have lots of fun today.

"Rainy Day in NYC" work in progress, oil on Raymar panel, 18"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Anne's 100th Birthday! "Tea with Anne"

Happy 100th Birthday to Anne Heilman! Anne was the subject of my award-winning painting "Tea with Anne." The painting won the Casey Memorial Award at the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's 2008 Annual Open Exhibition (held at the National Arts Club in NYC) plus also was a finalist in Raymar's Annual Art Competition.

There was a tea party in her honor today. 

I regularly get notes of encouragement from Anne regarding my art. She's looking forward to seeing it hanging in a museum ... and indicates it would be a good idea to hurry up. Leading up to her 100th birthday, she signed it Anne at 99 and 11/12s.

"Tea with Anne", oil on Raymar panel, 24"h x 18"w. Owned by Anne's family. Copyright Jill Banks 2007.

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

"Tranquility" Finished ... Phew!

After days of torture, I finally, finally finished "Tranquility" in time for today's submission deadline to a competition. I'm still relying on daylight to take my digital photos for submission ... and today ... again, the final day, we lost power in the am due to a wind & rain storm and had intermittent showers all day. A real nail-biter. I'd go out when it wasn't raining. Take photos. Edit them. Decide something was still amiss. Change something on the painting. Take photos again. Repeat. Repeat. So you know, I did the same thing yesterday. And the day before (instead of attending the open life session and open studio hours at the Atelier.) And, in the end, I know this version is not all that different than the version from three days ago. I'm happy with it in the end, but wouldn't you think there was a shorter route to getting there?

Creating art is a humbling experience. Sometimes, anyway.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, please.

"Tranquility", oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

A Day in the Life

Today touches on all aspects of my life as an artist. This morning I took over a painting to try it out in a spot in a collector's (and friend's) home. "Fruit and Wine", my painting of a Burano market, is now sold, although I plan on helping reframe the piece to better fit its designated spot. It will be fun to live with there. I also got a kick out of my friend realizing where it should go in her house after seeing it among other paintings on my wall at the studio.

Other parts of my typical day in the life of an artist ... may or may not happen. I planned on being in the studio for open studio hours but instead had brunch with husband Randy to celebrate my third surprise sale of 2010. In between posting my blog, I'm struggling to put the final touches on "Tranquility" before photographing it. That's my top priority. Assuming I finish it, I'll be heading to the open life session at the McLean Community Center (from 4 to 7:30pm). Right after that, I head to an Art Jam at fellow artist friend Tricia Ratliff's house ... for lots of talk of art.

The Art Jam is not every day ... but my social life is centered around art, friends (often art friends) and family. And, I'm going there figuring that I'll know a lot of people through multiple art circles and those I don't know, will easily become new friends. It's an interesting phenomenon based on a solid common ground.

So, today included a sale, the trials of finishing a painting, the hopes of starting a new one (open life) and sharing stories and ideas with a bunch of art friends. Pretty wonderful life.

By the way, this sale marks the third painting of my market series ... of the four paintings in my market cards pack (for those of you who have those) ... to have sold. There's only one left, "Rialto Market", a great painting offered for sale through Chasen Galleries in Richmond, VA.  See more of my market paintings on my web site's gallery pages (places and still life, I believe).

From top to bottom:  "Fruit and Wine" painting of a Burano market, 24"h x 36"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Sold.
"Rialto Market" painting of a Venice market, 24"h x 36"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Offered through Chasen Galleries.

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

Looking Back: Hurray to 2009!

While I'm figuring out just how I can make 2010 a roaring success (good start already), I'm taking some time in-between brushstrokes to appreciate just how terrific 2009 was for my art career... thanks to some incredibly terrific supporters -- enthusiasts, jurors, collectors, students, and my art buddies.

Quick recap of three of 2009 highlights:

• SOLD and Delivered: 36 original pieces of art including some major commissions. Gross sales increased over a very successful 2008... an astonishing achievement considering this very tough economy.
  
• Accepted into four highly prestigious juried National shows for the first time: Salon International 2009 (Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX), Allied Artists of America's Annual Exhibition (National Arts Club, NYC), Salmagundi Club's Annual Exhibition (Salmagundi Club, NYC) and the Grand National 2009 (American Artists Professional League, Salmagundi Club, NYC). Getting accepted was a huge step. (Next up: I want to win!)
• "On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library (Great Falls, VA) this summer was a huge success. I have received tremendous support from the community of Great Falls in my art endeavors... including my fellow Artists' Atelier studiomates, fellow artists (now numbering 88) in an incredibly active and successful arts organization - Great Falls Studios, students and volunteers in the recently founded Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (where I began teaching in 2008), and an ever-growing base of collectors and enthusiasts who have followed my career over the past few years. I had a blast at a public painting demo with plenty of attendees enjoying brushstroke-by-brushstroke commentary by student Dana Fredericksen. So many people turned out! You have no idea how great that made me feel! Plus, I had the pleasure of reading comments left in my guest book during the two-month exhibit. Knowing that you're doing something that brings real joy to people is an astounding ... well, joy!

Since I'm "looking back", I figured an apropos visual would be my "Over the Shoulder" painting. This one is one of only two that I painted in oil on paper ... a little unusual experiment. What's interesting about it is that unlike on canvas, you can't wipe out any paint marks (you can paint over them -- but can't "erase" back to the paper's surface). So, all my "intentions" as a painter show. It's immediate, fresh and moody.  Still, the reason that there's only two of them is that I don't like the "feel" or tug on the brush that the paper gave. I love working on canvas (actually, Belgian linen) too much to give it up.

"Over the Shoulder", oil on Canson paper, copyright Jill Banks 2007. (That's a bit of a guess. Created in Robert Liberace's class at the Art League.)

By the way, I have a really exciting, jam-packed, special "life as an artist" day lined up for tomorrow. I might write about it later on today. So, stay tuned...

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

"Tranquility" Painting Down to Final Touches

For the last two days, I've been putting in the final touches for my painting "Tranquility" that I plan on entering into an upcoming competition. Note, I haven't signed it yet ... but I think I'm apt to. Just taking a little, easel-removed objective look. Yesterday was the painting marathon. This morning I took the painting outside to check for any color troubles that aren't apparent in the studio. It's amazing what natural light will reveal. I corrected those. The only thing I currently think I may have left to do is to harden up an edge or two and add a couple of subtle variations. We'll see.

When I stepped up to my easel yesterday, I was totally prepared. I knew exactly what I had to do. One of my students in my Tuesday class asked me what I planned to do to finish the painting ... and I went through a checklist of what I knew it still needed. Even though I had analyzed the painting and thought this through, verbalizing the work to be done on Tuesday really kept me moving yesterday when I had the paintbrush in my hand.

So, today I worked on minor modifications. Plus, I ordered and have been reading an ebook, "Exposing Yourself" by Jason Smith about photographing my own work. (You can order the ebook at www.exposingyourself.net.) I have almost all of the knowledge and equipment I need since I've been photographing my work for this blog and for other applications for quite a while. But, there's a big gap between having "almost all" and "all" the knowledge I need. This ebook has already helped bridge part of that gap. Thanks, Jason. What's nice about it is how simply Jason explains the technology -- a must for me. The price is $19.95 -- then you download and print.

I am going to follow the suggestions and work toward creating the highest quality images I can. There will still be times when I hire professionals (Greg Staley, Carolyn Koslow), but for the most part, I would like to do this myself. Let's see how it goes.

"Tranquility" almost done, oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

A Strange Turn and Still Life Class Today

During my Still Life class today, I painted setup #2: a rather odd mixture from Michela Mansuino's cast painting class  (the eye) and some props for my own class.  Michela's influence results in a "darker" side I just simply do not have. Her influence is being compounded by my current reading of a David Leffel book. The result is this painting will probably undergo multiple surgeries to become mine. I do really like the lady apples, though.

I'm posting it ... just so you know I'm painting.

Class was really enjoyable today. I feel good about what I pass on. As much as I continue to learn (thankfully), I've accumulated a great deal of knowledge pushing my brush around ... and am so glad to share it.

While the Winter term has started, if you are interested in attending future classes, please email me at jillbanks1@aol.com and ask me to add you to the potential student list. I'm currently teaching through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (in Great Falls, VA) and considering resuming teaching at the Loudoun Academy for the Arts (Leesburg, VA).

"Apple of His Eye", oil on Senso linen, 12"h x 9'w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Photo is not accurate ... but since I'm still planning image surgery ... I figured it didn't matter much.

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

New Figure Study Today and "Rooster Ruminations" Sold

A good day. This afternoon during open hours at the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 15 other artists in Great Falls, VA), I sold "Rooster Ruminations". Actually, I think "Rooster Ruminations" sold itself to a regular Atelier visitor who had seen it, and then not seen it, off and on on my studio gallery walls. (I move art around constantly.) According to my new client, she kept talking about it to her husband since seeing it during Studio Tour last Fall ... and he finally told her that she must want to own it. She agreed. Hence, the sale.

"Rooster Ruminations" is a tough painting to forget.

Late afternoon, I headed over to the McLean Community Center  for the Open Life session. I will make this a regular part of my routine. If I'm in town, I'll be there. It's such a tremendous treat.

"Viridian Throne" is the result. I may touch this up, too ... as I did with the portrait last week, but I'm pretty pleased with it as it is.  Each week we have a new model for one long pose. This painting is named after the color of paint used for the model's seat. I "grayed" it using an orange and white.

The photo is off in color and exposure because I took it just a few minutes ago under Tungsten light. I'll try again soon in natural light and replace it.

"Rooster Ruminations", oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Sold.
"Viridian Throne", oil on Senso linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Progress Report Etc.

You know, I painted today ... and had a GREAT painting day ... and I can't show you what was so great about it.  Well, that's no fun.

I've been working on a really, really big portrait commission and loving it. It's one of those projects that you work your tail off on, and still end up only making a dent each day. I know what it's going to look like finished (unbelievable!!!), yet I have ten gadzillion brushstrokes left until the rest of you (and my clients) see it, too.

For this portrait commission I'm relying on a huge array of photos and images stuck in my head. I've found having multiple, non-specific sources interesting, because it keeps me thinking from start to finish ... just as I do when I work from life.

See my web site for information on commissioning a portrait: www.jillbanks.com. My pricing will be increasing shortly (probably January 31). If you've been thinking about commissioning a piece, now just might be the best time to do so.

One of my breakthroughs was a compositional solution I came up with. (Yet to be implemented.) I don't like to leave long, unbroken expanses of lines or curves. One piece of the painting needs to lure the eye to another part and any unbroken lines tend to divide the canvas. I know how to break the curve.

This will make a whole lot more sense when the portrait's finished and you can see it revealed. My target date is by March 1. As usual, stay tuned.

Since I couldn't show you what I painted today, here's "Orange and Orchid" work in progress day 2 (worked on last Wednesday).

"Orange and Orchid" painting in progress Day 2, oil on Senso linen, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010. This is a pretty rough photo -- taken at night, wet paint, yellow light. Not perfect conditions, by a long shot.

For those following my Dad's progress: He's in Hilton Head resting comfortably and happily. My son Sam and his girlfriend Michelle have left to head to Richmond and then back to VA Tech. Dad has tests coming up the next two weeks and then I think will come back home to Virginia for some other procedures. I don't get that many comments on my blog but I have about my hero blog. (Emails, too.) There are a LOT of people who love him. No surprise there.

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

Using a Bit of Imagination

I spent most of the day working more on "Orange and Orchid" ... and I'm still not finished. Considering the relatively small size, this one's time-consuming.

Then, I decided to return to the portrait I painted last Saturday, and work without a source (no model, no photo) to make it a more intriguing painting. I already liked it, just wanted to accomplish some effects I couldn't achieve in an alla prima portrait within that short a timeframe. I renamed it, too. The old title no longer fits.

Hope you like it.

A painting sold today, too. "Orange Peeled", the painting that won Best of Show November 2008 at the Art League's Small Works Exhibit found a new home. That's the tenth painting that sold as a result of my Home Studio Open House held this past December.

"Rachel", oil on linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

"Orange and Orchid" Painting: Fresh Paint

The last two days have been class days ... Monday was the first day of my portrait and figure class and today the first for still life. (I teach through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts. Find out more about classes on my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes.) Since a few people were missing from today's class, I had a chance to paint this still life ... definitely a work in progress. It keeps me from watching every brushstroke and is an ongoing demonstration. Plus, as usual, I continued to work on it after class.

My shoulder's about to fall off. Getting back into full-schedule painting after a brief or long reprieve will do that for you. Nothing like having your arm up in the air for 7, 8, 9 hours straight.

My feet aren't faring much better. Nothing like standing for the same period of time.

Time to clean up, pack up and head home.

"Orange and Orchid" is of the second still life I set up in class. The one no one wanted to tackle. Orchids are tough to paint. No wonder.

"Orange and Orchid" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010. See more of my still life paintings of flowers and fruit (and more) on my web site: www.jillbanks.com in the gallery pages.

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

A Real Hero

Un-art blog ahead. Warning.

My dad's visiting a hospital in Hilton Head ... having gone in two nights ago with chest pains, a heart attack but fortunately with no heart damage, undergoing an angioplasty with some more medical adventures to come. My dad is smack-dab in the middle of the universe for me. When I was in 5th grade, I entered a contest run by the Homewood/Flossmoor paper (Illinois, outside of Chicago) about what made my dad the world's best. I came in second place. The judges were mistaken. (He's the top place winner!)

For me, the key to why he is (and was) the world's greatest dad is that he always has time for me. The answer is always yes. Ten thousand hoops might stand in the way, but hey, it's mind over matter. I mattered. (Tons of other people in his life have known the same ... they matter to him.)

He's 79 and has lived his entire life with the understanding that someone may be looking up to him ... and he better live up to it. It is a responsibility. What a beautiful concept. I hate to mix tales about a real hero and a fake one ... but do you think Mark McGwire thought about how his admirers might be affected by the truth? There's no bubble to burst with my dad. He's the real thing. To say I lucked out is a ridiculous understatement.

So, okay Dad. You're not just in my center of the universe. You're in a whole, whole, whole bunch of folks'. Take care of yourself. Take in the big picture of just how important your next 25 years is to us ... versus tomorrow night's entertainment for your grandkid and his great girlfriend. Get very well. We love you!!!!

Tuesday's 1/12/10 P.S. Dad called on his way home from the hospital today. He's feeling much better and glad to leave the hospital bed behind. Yea! Now he really needs to behave.

Alla Prima Portrait Today

Today, I took advantage of the Saturday long pose open life session at the McLean Community Center (McLean, VA). What a treat! Monday, I start teaching my winter session at Great Falls School of Art (see classes) ... and I'll be demonstrating ... so I always welcome the practice of just painting before needing to paint and talk simultaneously.

Each session is three-and-a-half hours with a different model and pose. I will try to catch as many of these as possible. This is the first time I've used the session to paint (versus drawing). I'm so much faster painting! In about 40 minutes a lot of the portrait was established.

This is an alla prima painting ... painted all at once, wet into wet in a single session.

I'm loosening up ... getting all my painting muscles in shape for 2010. So far, so good!

"Alla Prima Portrait," oil on Senso linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Rainy Day NYC Street Painting Just Started

Finally! I started my first new painting of 2010. I have to admit that it seemed more important than I think it really is ... what my first painting of the New Year would be. I have a LOT of paintings I'm dying to create. I'll just have to start them one at a time. One right after another.

This painting is barely started ... I just wanted to take a photo of it before the light fades. It is inspired by two of my favorite paintings of 2009: "Rainy Day Market" and "Venezia Market", both sold and hanging in new clients' homes. What's most appealing to me about those two paintings are the reflections and sense of depth. When in New York City in November for the Allied Artists of America show (my market piece "Arance, Oranges" was in the exhibit at the National Arts Club), I loved what I was seeing and experiencing on this rainy day. I will be adding my characteristic bright colors, oranges and reds, but wanted to start this one with a really limited palette.

More to come!

"Rainy Day in NYC" work in progress, oil on Raymar panel, 18"h x 24" wide, copyright Jill Banks 2010.
Shown below: "Rainy Day Market", oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009 and "Venezia Market", 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

Happy New Year and Gallery-Hopping in Naples

I took the past week "off" ... sort of ... spending time in Naples, Florida looking at galleries and enjoying less frigid, but not warm weather.  I'm glad I wasn't looking forward to just soaking in sunshine, because Mother Nature wasn't cooperating.

First of all, the galleries I visited were terrific ... with welcoming, informative, friendly staff and some beautiful art. I saw a beautiful post-humous, retrospective show at New Rivers Gallery of Frank Mason's work. Frank Mason (1921-2009) taught at the Art Students League in New York ... and as you might expect with a show spanning a long career, there was a tremendous variety in subject matters and changes in styles apparent as he evolved. There were some beautiful, large-scale still lifes but what I was most attracted to were his drawings. My favorites were "Head of a Woman: three-quarter view" and "Anticoli Corrado, Italy" -- an ink wash. I would love to take those home with me. There are 29 (total) of those, and as the woman in the gallery kindly stated, "they will not last." In other words, the time is now. There won't be any more. I want them. I want them. I want them. I'd make the best rich woman in the world. All of my purchases would be art. Seriously. Art is haunting. A permanent stamp on your brain cells. (Owning it is the best medicine.)

In each gallery I kept being attracted to relatively small works. This was the first time that I really paid attention to deceased artists' work in a gallery setting. (I'm sort of ashamed to say that... but I'm a mono-focused individual ... it skews my vision.) One artist's work that I saw in two galleries, the Darvish Collection and DeBruyne Fine Art, Edouard Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969), just left me spellbound. I LOVE it. Cortes painted Paris streets. The ones I hope to walk. The paintings I saw truly are enchanting. I do need to be rich to buy them, which I'm unfortunately not (hopefully that's temporary or at least not forever).

I watched collectors as they entered each gallery. I've said before that I love collectors (I love collectors), but I just really do. We need you!!! Plus, it's such a soul-satisfying  experience to know that someone loves your work enough to purchase it. During my gallery visits, I had the opportunity to be a proverbial fly on the wall -- hear the comments of collectors on what appealed to them and why. One collector was there with friends and one friend was encouraging her to buy a particular piece because she loved it and wanted someplace to visit it. I understand. (But, I'd rather buy it and live with it myself.)

The week was full of inspiration and information gathering. I've been re-fueling a bit lately because I'm reaching for some more "greatness" this year. I try to understand this art world from all angles: from the eyes of a collector, an artist, a gallerist, a lover of art. In the midst of my inspiration gathering, I was also looking for galleries I would want to exhibit my work. I found some and will be approaching them in 2010.

Some galleries to visit when in Naples (Florida):
DeBruyne Fine Art - the largest gallery in Naples with a split between contemporary artists and those who've left us a while ago. (I think their web site needs to be less flashy -- but this is a wonderful gallery. Visit!)
New River Fine Art - since the Frank Mason show was occupying most of the gallery, I don't know what you'd see after the show comes down. Such a great experience, though, with a helpful, knowledgeable gallerist.
Gardner-Colby Fine Art - a bit eclectic (some abstract, impressionist, realism), fine taste. Love Kim English, Timothy Horn. Andrea talked to Randy and me. She's wonderful, helpful, enthusiastic.
Galerie du Soleil - sculptures, art glass, paintings.
Weatherburn Gallery - not in downtown Naples, concentrating in photorealism.
Trudy Labell Fine Art - out of the main drag, a bit edgier, but Trudy has an eye for the "best in class." Fantastic art, beautifully displayed. Joel Babb's beach scenes are stunners.
The Darvish Collection - again, great help. A bit stuffier display. (I could fix that.)

I also saw beautiful art (by more dead guys) across the street from the Darvish Collection in an antique store. Gorgeous.

These are the highlights. (For me.)

Want to eat well? Try Truluck's happy hour in the bar (fantastic hors d'ouevres), McCabe's Irish Pub, Bice's happy hour or prix fixe early bird. (I was only in Naples for two-and-a-half days.)

Happy New Year to You! I hope it's wonderful, art-filled, soulful.

Keep tuned. I will be painting. Creating. Posting new art. Very, very soon.

Haven't signed up for classes yet? See my web site. Now!

For a visual, I decided to give you one of my interiors. This is "Pre-Dinner Drinks" - a painting of the parlor of the Inn at Little Washington where my husband Randy and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. You can get a glimpse of the two of us in the mirror. The original is sold.

"Pre-Dinner Drinks", oil on Raymar panel, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2005. This painting was a finalist in Raymar's Annual Art Competition.

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