Shows, Shows, Shows

What a mess. My dining room's lined with paintings. I can hear Randy hammering ... framing in the kitchen. We hang my "Painting the Town" show at the Old Brogue Irish Pub (1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066) tomorrow. I probably have about one-and-a-half to twice what I need for the space. I guess that will make what hangs the cream of the crop.

Tomorrow, some of my fellow Atelier artists will be hanging the "Summer Landscapes" show in the gallery at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with, well, "I'm losing count" other artists. I'm submitting "Benched" and "Backyard Fountain", shown here. Come to the opening reception this Friday, July 2, 7-9pm at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA.

I picked "Benched" -- a piece I did in a plein air workshop in Easton two summers ago -- because it shows a turning point in my work ... in saturation and the exuberance of light. It reflects what I see with my "mess" of paintings around me for my "Painting the Town" show.

"Backyard Fountain" is in because I'm moving. And slightly sentimental about it. It's recent. I was testing out my EasyL easel in anticipation of the workshops I'm teaching in July and August. Practical and funny reasons. (See my web site for information about workshops: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes.

As soon as my "Painting the Town" mess moves out ... tomorrow ... my Farmer's Market (this Saturday, 9am-1pm in Great Falls -- near the intersection of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike) mess moves in.

Hmmm.

"Benched", 11"h x 14"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2008.
"Backyard Fountain", 8"h x 10"w, oil on Raymar panel, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Up to My Eyeballs in Alligators ... and MPA artfest 2010

Today I received word that I've been juried in to participate in MPA artfest, an outdoor arts festival sponsored by the McLean Project for the Arts (McLean, VA) held on Sunday, October 3, 10:30am-4:30pm. This will be my third time participating in this terrific event. I'm looking forward to it.

I am literally up to my eyeballs in alligators ... If I manage to somehow get through all of the July&August obligations it will be cause for celebration, relief and maybe a weeklong nap. This is definitely not summer vacation.



My art stuff on the calendar:

• Thursday, July 1: hang my new show "Painting the Town" at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. (Three of my paintings aren't dry, many need to be framed, I'm varnishing others, need to put together tags, a press release, brochure, finalize my web site preview page, still need to order new business cards.)
• First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, Opening Reception "Summer Landscapes", a group show of works by Artists' Atelier members. Friday, July 2, 7-9pm, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066
• Saturday, July 3: under a tent at the Great Falls Farmer's Market, parking lot at the Village Centre near the intersection of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, 9am-1pm showing paintings and drawings that didn't go in my "Painting the Town" show.
• Friday, July 9, 6-8pm: Closing reception: Salmagundi Club's Annual Photography and Graphics Exhibition, NYC. Two of my drawings: "Sarah" and "The Nutcracker" are in that show.
• Saturday, July 17; Sunday, July 18; Monday, July 19: Teaching my "Painting (and Sketching) the Town" single-day workshops. See my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes for more info.
•  Friday, July 23: Closing reception: Salmagundi Club's Annual Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, NYC. "Rainy Day in NYC" was juried into that show -- my first time getting into this competitive exhibition.
• Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm reception for my "Painting the Town" show at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066.

I'm going to try to squeeze in one painting demo day at the Brogue prior to July 15 ... and post the day/time here for anyone who'd like to come and watch or potentially be painted into the scene.
I'll leave off the August events ... no point thinking about them now.

What I hope you'll do:
Sign up for classes/workshops.
Visit my show at the Brogue.
Come to the Farmer's Market this Saturday.
Come to a reception or two...

By the way, the artReston show -- where my painting "On High" won Best of Show -- closes in one week (July 6). Stop by to see it at the JoAnn Rose Gallery at the Lake Anne Reston Community Center, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston, VA.


Above: photos of my booth from the MPA artfest 2009. These were taken before the crowds showed up.

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

"Rope of Garlic" Painting: Done

Well, except for my signature.

I finished "Rope of Garlic" a little after midnight ... so, I guess today. I still have to sign it but I had other work to do at my studio, The Artists' Atelier, today.

I went to work on a commission and had so much fun. Every day that I get to start a painting is a happy one. There are many artists who start and finish a painting in the same day -- that's their regular routine. (They must always have a smile on their faces.) They decide on their subject matter and canvas size to allow for an alla prima (all at once) painting. Too complicated or too large won't work. I love this idea, conceptually. I enjoy working wet into wet. Quickly. Starting paintings. Keeping things fresh.

I can do these alla prima paintings if I follow the same guidelines as these other artists: stay relatively small, keep the design/objects simple.

But, generally, there's something of interest to me that requires more careful, studied work. Not all over, but in parts. I find I need a few sessions to get that richness of color, strength of contrast, true brights that I love.

I'm teaching five single-day workshops this summer on "Painting (and Sketching) the Town". Obviously, whatever's done in these workshops is painted alla prima. I've attended similar workshops and created studies myself ... but I follow those days up with work in the studio to strengthen my impressions into paintings. Find out more and sign up ... on the classes page ... on my web site: www.jillbanks.com. Part of what I'll teach in the workshops is how to go from sketch to paintings.

Back to "Rope of Garlic." It's Italian garlic ... on display, for sale, at the Campo dei Fiori market in Rome that I visited in April of this year. "Rope of Garlic" will be part of my "Painting the Town" exhibit at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls, VA from July 1-July 31. Reception: Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm. See a preview of the show on my web site. Attendees to the reception get a complimentary pack of my NEW urbanscapes (townscapes) note cards. (They look great.)

"Rope of Garlic", oil on Raymar panel, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Getting Ready for the Show

Well, things aren't going exactly to plan. It's countdown time towards hanging my solo show "Painting the Town" on Thursday, a week from tomorrow.

Yesterday, I:

• attended Modern Postcard's Direct Marketing Crash Course seminar in the a.m. at the Key Bridge Marriott. It was fantastic. Great advice about direct mail, but also marketing in general. It was geared to larger/more commodity-based businesses ... but I still found plenty to apply to my art business. Plus, I received $250 off of my next printing job with them.
• went to Framemaster's, my framer in Fairfax, VA to order a replacement frame for "Rainy Day in NYC" -- the painting that was accepted into Salmagundi Club's Open Painting and Sculpture Exhibition. Randy and I will be hand-delivering that painting while up in NYC for the Salmagundi Club's Open Photography and Graphics Exhibition closing reception. 
• painted on "Rope of Garlic" for inclusion on my "Painting the Town" exhibit. (I'm sure that I already had a blog entry here that it was done.)
• varnished a number of paintings. (I use Gamblin's Gamvar Final Picture Varnish.) I love the way the painting's look fresh off the easel as soon as I apply the varnish. Presto!
• sent in my blurb and images for Great Falls Studios Studio Tour promotions. The Studio Tour isn't until mid-October, but there's tons of pre-Studio Tour stuff to do.
• packed up a bunch of clothes to give away/throw out in anticipation of our move mid-July.

Today, I:

• spent ALL day on the computer laying out my postcard for the "Painting the Town" exhibit. Matter of fact, I was still in my pajamas -- no breakfast, no lunch, a few cups of coffee -- at 4pm. That's after getting up early. I can't quite explain why it took me so long, but part of the problem was due to Word quirks and mishaps. I did manage to finally upload instructions and files plus place the order with Modern Postcard by 5:30 today. $250 saved ... and I can't wait to get them. (That $250 didn't stay in "my pocket" long, did it?) I've used Modern Postcard many times ... and they do such a great job.
• now I'm hungry. (Understatement.) Off to dinner in a few minutes.

 Tomorrow, I:

• get a root canal in the a.m. Can't say yippee about that one. Bet that slows me down. Maybe I can put together press releases. Draw?

Still to do before next week:

• better not to think about it.

"Dining Al Fresco", (Easton, MD) 24"h x 20"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009 and "Rialto Market", (Venice, Italy) 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009 will both be part of my "Painting the Town" exhibit, July 1-July 31 at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. Reception: Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm. See a preview/get more info on my web site: www.JillBanks.com.

Also, I'll have a booth at the Great Falls Farmer's Market on Saturday, July 3, 9am-1pm, corner of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, VA.

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

"Fresh Produce" Finished? And Exhibit Schedule

Still that same old question mark. But, let's say ... I strongly believe that this is done.

My "model" for "Fresh Produce" was the produce seller at the Campo dei Fiori market in Rome, Italy ... where I went on an art historical trip (with side trips to markets and all around town) this past April.


Enjoy!


On Exhibit Now:
"On High", Best of Show winner at artReston held at the Lake Anne Reston Community Center in Lake Anne, Reston, VA, through July 6. (Also view "Nigerian Beauty" and "Sunflowers and Gladioli".)

"Black, White and Red All Over", paintings and drawings at the Market Cellars Wine Shop, attached to the Hyatt at Reston Town Center, Reston, VA. I just hung "Lemon Yellow" and "Young Woman" there ... with plans to change out the rest after my "Painting the Town" exhibit concludes July 31.

Plenty of art in the gallery spaces at my studio: 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Coming up in July: "Summer Landscapes". I'll have to think about that one.

En Route:
"The Nutcracker" and "Sarah" are fed-exing their way to the Salmagundi Club (47 Fifth Avenue) in NYC for the Annual Open Photography and Graphics Exhibition. The show runs Monday, June 28 through Friday, July 9.

Coming Up:
Salmagundi Club Non-Member Photography and Graphics Exhibition, June 28-July 9 ("The Nutcracker" and "Sarah" accepted, see above.)
Salmagundi Club Non-Member Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, July 12-July 23 ("Rainy Day in NYC" accepted)
"Painting the Town" solo exhibit at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, Great Falls, VA, July 1-31. Reception: Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm. See preview on my web site.
Great Falls Farmer's Market, Great Falls Village Centre, Saturday, July 3 ... visit me at the market and then see my new show at the Old Brogue ... right around the corner!

"Fresh Produce", 20"h x 16"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010. This will definitely be part of my "Painting the Town" show.

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

"Painting the Town" Workshops and "Garden Layers"

Thought you might like to see what I was up to a few days ago. In the morning, I decided I was going to paint what I'd been dying to paint. (Always a good idea.) For two weeks now, every time I've been outside the house or coming down the driveway, I'm stunned by just how beautiful these blue hydrangeas are ... and then how gorgeous they are with the astilbes blooming. And all that set off by the clematis vine.

The hydrangeas barely caught my attention last year. It's like they took the year off. They were leftovers from the previous owners and they were blue the first two years we lived here, then nothing, then blue again. The astilbes and clematis were added by my Dad ... who's the genius that planned our garden additions. The background plantings are part previous owners ... part us.

Since we're moving out in less than a month, I'm nostalgic about what's there. The garden will have new owners, new layers added. This is my chance to show it the way it is today. In all it's current glory.

So, I couldn't put off painting it and I didn't want to. I set up my EasyL (a great portable easel from Artwork Essentials -- I think mine's the EasyL-Versa) in the garage. (I need shade.) Sat down (which I hardly ever do) ... because that provided the best way to show all three of my stars (the hydrangeas, astilbes, clematis). Painted with a palette knife (which I almost never do). And, just played with my garden.

I keep experimenting. Every time I'm painting, I'm working to stretch in some way. It's my belief that all this stretching and experimenting will make me a better painter.

I want to finish this one and hope those blue beauties last.

"Garden Layers" work in progress (on my easel), oil on Raymar panel, 11"h x 14"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

Now, topic 2. A couple of posts ago, I described what I had planned for the sketchers in the group for my "Painting (or Sketching) the Town" single-day workshops.

For painters, get more info on my Classes page. I've added some additional details about instruction and exercises.  Expect: quick sketches in a.m., demos in both drawing and painting each day, longer studies in the afternoon, critique at the end of the day. Also, if "Painting the Town" isn't for you, I am offering a three-day still life workshop, August 3-5.

I will post to my blog and web site the location for each day. It may be Herndon, Reston, Vienna, Great Falls, etc. I'm looking for urban or town ... not a rural landscape. This is the first time I'll be teaching a plein air workshop. The reasons I haven't done this sooner: I don't like the heat, cold, or bugs. I need to stay out of the sun. I'm afraid of snakes. (I'm not expecting to meet any "in town.") I like fairly easy access to snacks/lunch and restrooms. Not necessarily in that order.

So now you know my plein air criteria. Hopefully, you're not pickier than I am and are willing to sign up for some of the workshop days knowing that I'll be trying to find us shade, and access to modern conveniences. I won't pick the buggiest areas and we'll be near concrete.

In case of inclement weather, classes will move inside. Please register by Wednesday, June 30. Note new dates for Session D&E.
A: Saturday, July 17, 10:00am – 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95
B: Sunday, July 18, 10:00am – 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95
C: Monday July 19, 10:00am -- 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95
D:  Sunday, August 15, 10:00am --  4:30pm, lunch 12:00-12:30, $95 plus model’s fees
E: Monday, August 16, 10:00am --  4:30pm, lunch 12:00-12:30, $95 plus model’s fees

Fee for 4 days: $350 + model’s fees (paid directly to instructor). Fee for all 5 days (three sessions): $425 + model’s fees. Please specify which sessions you plan to attend. Minimum class size for sessions 3&4 is six.


Registration form

I hope you sign up!

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

"Five Umbrellas" Finished?

I worked on this one ... "Five Umbrellas" of a NYC Chelsea street scene, yesterday and today. I'm working toward getting all pieces ready to hang July 1 in my "Painting the Town" solo show at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls, VA.

It takes me awhile to know if I'm really done. I approached this painting with the constant question ... if I do "x" will it improve the painting or not? That's not exactly the recipe for speed.

I concentrated on what appealed to me about the scene and eliminated details to build a stronger piece. Did it really matter if one brick was a different color than another? To me it was about the rhythm of the light and shadows ... figures and umbrellas. I put detail in ... only to take it out. It's probably a lot easier to avoid putting it in in the first place.

I even thought more than usual about brushstroke direction to pull your eye around the painting.

Thinking and painting.

You can view earlier versions of this painting on my post: More Work on Rainy NYC Scene, and this painting's start: "Five Umbrellas" New NYC Street Scene Today.

I said I'd write about what's in store for the painters for my "Painting (or Sketching) the Town" one-day workshops. I will. Just not today. I'm pooped. In the meantime, check out the Classes page on my web site: www.jillbanks.com.

"Five Umbrellas", oil on Senso linen, 18"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010. See more of my restaurant and street scenes in the Places Gallery on my site.

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

Drawing Around Town

This is really an invitation. I want you to sign up for my single-day workshops "Painting (or Sketching) the Town". More about those in a minute.

Yesterday, I had a small stretch of time to create. Randy had errands to run in Reston (VA) before we walked through our new residence-to-be (coming July 15) to take a closer look. I had him drop me off at Lake Anne (where three of my paintings are hanging including my Best in Show winner "On High") to sketch. I figured that fresh off of that win (at the reception the day before), I'd be inspired by the spot. I was. There's a peacefulness that falls on those benches, looking out over the lake and fountain. There's a peacefulness in drawing. It didn't matter that this time was squeezed in between decisions, errands, activities. Actually, maybe it did. Maybe I felt that much luckier to have found this time.

I've found a lot of those moments in a wonderfully busy life. Instead of running throughout a trip (or throughout my day), I've carved out some time to relish the experience, look carefully at my surroundings, and draw.

Like drawing the carousel in Central Park last month.

Or sitting down amid the crowds and drawing the "View from the Pantheon Steps" in Rome this April.

Or a view of the "Lake Anne Pharmacy" drawn a couple of months ago ... probably from the same bench in Lake Anne, but facing another way.

Back to my single-day workshops "Painting (or Sketching) the Town". They are offered through the Great Falls School of Art and you can sign up for any number or days that fit your schedule. You can draw or paint. I'll probably pick a different "town" or spot to draw or paint each day, with possibilities including Herndon, Reston, Great Falls, Vienna, DC or Alexandria. I'll post the site on my web site and blog ... and you're welcome to give me suggestions for a favorite place. In case of rain (or extreme heat), I'll find a spot indoors (like a museum or restaurant or large space) and we'll draw instead of paint.

If you're new to drawing, that's okay. I'll give pointers on how to draw and handle your materials, and give some basics. (Don't come into this thinking that you're going to learn how to draw in a day. That's not realistic.) This workshop will help you get started ... seeing opportunities ... and enjoying the experience.

More experienced artists in drawing will learn more about keeping a sketchbook, materials, choosing subjects.

Painters, I'm going to address what this workshop holds for you in tomorrow's post. Or you can read about it on my Classes page on my web site.

Please register by Wednesday, June 30. Note new dates for Session D&E.

A: Saturday, July 17, 10:00am – 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95

B: Sunday, July 18, 10:00am – 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95

C: Monday July 19, 10:00am -- 5:00pm, lunch 12:00-1:00pm, $95

D:  Sunday, August 15, 10:00am --  4:30pm, lunch 12:00-12:30, $95 plus model’s fees

E: Monday, August 16, 10:00am --  4:30pm, lunch 12:00-12:30, $95 plus model’s fees

Fee for 4 days: $350 + model’s fees (paid directly to instructor). Fee for all 5 days (three sessions): $425 + model’s fees. Please specify which sessions you plan to attend. Minimum class size for sessions 3&4 is six.

More info on my Classes/Workshops
Registration Form


Please email me with any questions. You're in for a great experience.

By the way, my drawings are for sale, too. I may include some of these in my upcoming solo show "Painting the Town" in July at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls, VA. See more drawings on the gallery pages of my web site or take a look at the preview page for my solo show.

Top to bottom: "Lake Anne Fountain", (Lake Anne, Reston, VA) sketch&wash pencils, graphite wash and ink; "Central Park Carousel", (Central Park, NYC) ink wash and ink, pencil; "View from Pantheon Steps", (Sitting on the steps, Rome, Italy), sketch&wash pencils, graphite wash and ink; "Lake Anne Pharmacy", (Lake Anne, Reston, VA), sketch&wash pencils, graphite wash and ink. All four copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

"On High" Wins Best of Show

I attended the reception for the artReston 17th Annual Juried Exhibition ... where three of my pieces are hanging from June 7 to July 6 ... and guess what? Okay, I suppose the title of the post gives it away. My painting "On High" won Best of Show!

Daniel Wise, an award-winning pastel painter, was the juror and he commented on each award winners' work. What he liked about "On High" ... and this is not a direct quote but paraphrased to the best of my memory ... interesting composition (off center), my brushstrokes (I must use some BIG brushes), the painting's not overworked, texture of fabrics (satin looks like satin), color (richness of the skin tones), and in addition to liking it just for its qualities as a painting ... he appreciated the subject matter. It wasn't just a beautiful portrait. It was a portrait of a woman who was slightly older, and sensual, beautiful, confident of who she is. He imagined that she was more beautiful today than she was when she was 18. I'm sure that is true. That's what I saw and imagined when I was painting her.

So, I admit. When someone is admiring one of your paintings... And that someone is the juror... You listen better than normal.

Happy bias aside, I thought Daniel Wise did a great job jurying. He was thoughtful about the process and his selections. First Place went to painter Kirsten Schneider for her powerful portrait "Johnny Rotten" ... and one of Daniel's comments was how much he was affected by seeing it in person. (He selected pieces for the show via electronic submissions -- from photos -- and chose award winners after the show was hung -- in person.) Scale matters. It's tough to tell what an artwork really looks like from a photo.

Second Place went to artist Katie Cassidy for her painting, "September Morning." I thought of Katie's painting as an abstract, but saw it differently (better) through Daniel's comments. He saw it as a landscape (it is) and loved its depth and mystery. Wow. When I saw it (as an abstract), I focused on it being a painting about color (warm glowing yellows). Katie pushed the painting to just the right spot.

More award winners:
Third Place: Allen Hart, "Cedar Waxwing", photography
Honorable Mention: Louise Gantas, "Butterfly Splendor" an amazing piece done in ink and goauche that has all of these "wonderful surprises" in it.
Honorable Mention: Lori Goll, "Peacock Blue" a pastel that Daniel Wise admired for the artist's gentle touch, almost lacelike quality given to the surface.

One last note on this long post (sorry ... but I don't win Best of Shows all that often) is that it was great to meet some very nice fellow artists at the reception.

"On High", oil on linen, 36"h x 30"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007.

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

17th Annual artReston Juried Exhibition Tomorrow

Three of my pieces were accepted into the artReston Juried Exhibition held at the JoAnn Rose Gallery, Lake Anne Reston Community Center, 1509-A Washington Plaza. The exhibit runs June 7th-July 6th with a reception tomorrow: Sunday, June 13th, 2-4pm. Daniel Wise was the juror of selection and awards. He will be talking about his selections tomorrow during the reception. I always find that kind of critique fascinating and informative. Great to see your art through another person's eye and frame of mind.

Some of the other artists (that I know) exhibiting are three other Great Falls Studios members:  Robin Kent (photographer), Betty Ganley (watercolorist -- the Best of Show winner last year), and Ronni Jolles (layered paper and pastels).


artReston is sponsored by the League of Reston Artists. Hope to see you tomorrow.

My three pieces on view are (shown in this post, from top to bottom):
1. "On High", oil on linen, 36"h x 30"w.
2. "Nigerian Beauty", oil on Raymar panel, 24"h x 18"w.

3. "Sunflowers and Gladioli", oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w.

By the way, if you read yesterday's blog ... after posting I did "change back" my produce seller's face to the earlier version. And, by popular vote, the name for that piece is changing back to "Fresh Produce".  It will probably make another appearance here sometime in the near future as I work to finalize pieces for my upcoming "Painting the Town" solo show. See my web site for more info.

Sign up for summer workshop and classes ... see my web site/classes page for more info. Come paint and draw with me!
Any questions? Email me.

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

Back to "The Produce Seller"

Quick post ... because I'm starving. Type ... then eat.

I've been working on this one the past two days, trying to finish it up. It's not easy.

I'll put it aside and see what I think tomorrow a.m. Actually, I swear it doesn't look that much different than two days ago's version. What's up with that? Hmmm.

"The Produce Seller" (it used to be named "Fresh Produce" ... which do you like better?, oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

"Farmer's Market" Painting Finished

Today I was experiencing just how creative the creative process is. I wasn't happy with a previous stab at finishing this painting I started a few weeks (or month) ago at the Great Falls Farmer's Market ... so I performed all sorts of changes today to get to what you see here. People came and went. (On the canvas.) Plans developed. More vibrant color and thick paint took over. And, voila! Now I'm happy.

I'm not sure who all the characters are in the painting ... but one ... second person from the left in jeans carrying a bag ... is Laura Nichols. Laura's the fearless leader of Great Falls Studios, a consortium of now ninety artist members who live or work in Great Falls, VA. Great Falls Studios has to be the most effective arts organization (or any community organization) on the planet. Working together, they sponsor exhibits, a highly successful Studio Tour (annually in October), social gatherings, arrange photo shoots for members' arts, developed a terrific web site, keep members informed of exhibit opportunities, sponsor members-only studio tours, arrange two art events each year, gain amazing publicity for the group, and on and on. It's through Great Falls Studios that I first started exhibiting ... learning "the ropes" from other artists in the group. I served on the board for three years as an Exhibit/Show chairman ... another chance to learn new skills while enjoying the comraderie of a great group of artists.

Back to the "Farmer's Market" painting ... it will be one of the paintings exhibited next month (July 2010) in my solo show "Painting the Town" at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls, VA. A reception is scheduled for Sunday, July 25, 2 to 5pm. See a preview (sort of... still thinking and painting) of that show on my web site.

This coming Saturday, June 12, join me for a free drawing session with a model, 2:30-4:30 at the Great Falls School of Art (where I teach). I think I'm the artist in charge. What's better than a free drawing session? Address: 1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA 22066. And, we have open hours at the Artists' Atelier, same address, upstairs from the school in Suite G ... on Saturday, from noon-4pm. Hopefully, I'm not in charge of that.

I am conducting a series of single-day workshops called "Painting (and Sketching) the Town." Each day we will pick a different location ... maybe Reston, Great Falls, Herndon, Vienna, etc. to paint or sketch. I'll post each day's location on my web site. I hope you sign up and come paint (or draw) with me! The workshops are being held: Saturday, July 17 (10am-5pm), Sunday, July 18 (10am-5pm), Monday, July 19 (10am-5pm), Sunday, August 15 (10am-4:30pm) and Monday, August 16 (10am-4:30pm). Each single day's workshop is $95. You can sign up for one or as many as you like. Look at my web site for more info.

I'm also teaching a Still Life in Oils Workshop, Tuesday through Thursday, August 3-5, 10:00am-5:00pm each day. Again, look at my web site for more particulars.

"Farmer's Market", oil on Raymar panel, 8"h x 10"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Lots of Web Site Updates

Instead of working on the painting of my dining room last night, I decided to sit down and make some planned changes to my web site. There's still more to do, as always, but I made huge progress. Yea!

What's new?
You can find out for yourself by just visiting the home page: www.jillbanks.com.
But, here's what's new

• A preview of my upcoming July solo show "Painting the Town" (I've included too many paintings there ... some will be "edited" out before the show hangs ... but you'll get the idea.)
• Updated main gallery page
• Market Series Gallery page -- all new
• New Still Life Gallery page
• Pricing and additional info added to new individual pages in the still life and market series galleries plus new paintings have been added
• Updated info on Summer workshops -- I've changed two of the dates for the "Painting the Town" workshop (I'm moving and have two visits to NYC for Salmagundi Club shows)

Still left to do: updating my portrait gallery and maybe the drawing pages. But, hey ... another day.

I'm off to take paintings to the artReston Annual Juried Exhibition sponsored by the League of Reston Artists. There will be a reception for that show Sunday, June 13, 2-4pm at the JoAnn Rose Gallery in Lake Anne, Reston, VA.

Randy and I did buy our new house ... so we'll actually have someplace to live next month. An exciting but busy time in the Banks household.

"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle", oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010 is one of the new additions to my still life gallery pages ... and depicts a scene from my "current" kitchen. Seemed appropriate for this post.

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

"Rope of Garlic" Painting: Good Day Today

Whenever I run into "trying" days painting, I figure out a way to shake the bad painting demons loose. Returning to my "Rope of Garlic" painting was the cure I was looking for. It is just ridiculously fun to paint. No angst. Just happy. It's in the 99 to 100% done category, I believe. In any case I'll let it rest for a few days.

This painting is of a scene at the Campo dei Fiori market in Rome, Italy. I became fascinated with the equipment and inner workings of the market there. Loved the scales. Check out an earlier post for this painting as a work in progress.

With so few days left in this house, I hope to get around to finishing some of my interiors and perhaps getting through a few more new ones. We'll see. Could be just wishful thinking. Maybe I'll be up to going back to my dining room painting tonight.

I've re-expanded my palette of colors since taking the Sherrie McGraw workshop. Color restraint was okay for awhile ... but I really relish some favorites and love the possibilities that some of those tubes of Winsor & Newton (and Gamblin) paints hold. Life wasn't the same without them. Back on the palette are Permanent Rose and Perylene Red, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Cerulean Blue and Pthalo Green ... to name a subset of the add-back-ins.

A full palette of colors was first adopted in Danni Dawson's class ... then expanded at Studio Incamminati (the school founded by Nelson Shanks, Danni's teacher). The following years have seen little modification. I think that's a positive. It's allowed me to get to "know" my colors.

My regular palette, in order is:
Burnt Sienna
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Permanent Rose
Perylene Red
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Scarlet (sometimes)
Cadmium Orange or Cadmium Yellow Deep
Raw Sienna
Indian Yellow
Cadmium Yellow (Medium)
Cadmium Yellow Pale (or Light)
Cadmium Lemon (or Winsor Lemon) sometimes
Cadmium Green Pale
Permanent Green Light
Sap Green (sometimes)
Viridian
Pthalo Green (Gamblin)
Cobalt Turquoise Light
Cerulean Blue
French Ultramarine Blue
Pthalo Blue (sometimes)
Titanium White

"Rope of Garlic", oil on Raymar panel, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

More Work on Rainy NYC Scene

I'm struggling a bit ... but wanted to get a quick post (really quick) before heading off to a special party this evening.

In between house hunting and negotiating I've been working on this painting "Five Umbrellas" as well as the Great Falls Farmer's Market scene, il Gatto, etc. Just can't seem to finish anything at the moment.

I am preparing for my solo show at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls coming July 1. "Painting the Town" is the theme with street and market scenes from close to home (Great Falls, Virginia) as well as Easton, MD, New York City, and Florence, Venice and Rome, Italy. Hopefully "Five Umbrellas" will be one of the 12 or so paintings in the show.

Lots to do!

A reception is planned for Sunday, July 25, 2 to 5pm. Save the date!

"Five Umbrellas" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 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