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| "Francie Johnson: Face #74," oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011 |
Francie Johnson, a student of mine, came to sit for me today ... but first she inspired the heck out of me with her wonderful art books. She just recently introduced me to a wonderful artist from Maine,
Connie Hayes, and this time I was seeing her work in print. Francie owns a collector edition of Connie's "Borrowed Views" book. Beautiful! And, what a stupendous idea. Connie Hayes asked to "borrow" her Maine neighbors' views. To come and stay in their homes. Paint their views. And, I believe she paid them with one of her paintings. Well, I'm up for that! Really inspiring was to see a photo of the scene side-by-side with Connie's interpretation. Wow! Much, much, much better in paint.
Francie also brought with her a retrospective catalog of
Richard Schmid's filled with his beautiful portraits.
And, she brought a beautiful art journal Francie had made of a two-week trip to India. Francie had learned the technique from
Susan Abbott who teaches how to construct journals combining textual and visual "memories" of her travels. Susan Abbott offers travel workshops through
the Art League. Very cool to see. Inspiring for me before a trip coming up shortly to England.
Actually, Francie was inspirational all day long. Lots of extra ideas running around. She made me get that "I'm dying to paint that" feeling.
It was a little daunting to leave the art books and start painting Francie's face. Who knows how the vision will turn out?
I painted for awhile. We broke for some lunch. And I painted some more. Francie can definitely hold up her end of the conversation. All of it was interesting. I want to see her barn and horse. Her conversation allowed me to concentrate, too, on painting.
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| "Sunflowers In My Studio" Found a New Home |
When Face #74 was done, Francie took an art tour around the house. Something she wanted to do. She purchased "Sunflowers In My Studio" -- the painting that had recently won an Honorable Mention at the Art League's January 2011 All Media Membership Show. (I love that painting and know it will make her very happy to own it.) "Sunflowers In My Studio" had been hanging over the mantel on one side of our master bedroom's two-sided fireplace. "Tranquility," a painting we're in the midst of shipping off to San Antonio for Salon International, was hanging above the mantel on the other side. Right now there are two bare hooks. Better paint.
Thanks, Francie, for a great day!
Web:
www.jillbanks.com
Blog:
jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project:
www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435
2 comments:
I love your big idea, Jill! And the portraits are wonderful. Definitely sending people here to see them. (Thank you, Twitter!)
Thanks, Alyson.
I have yet to address twitter/facebook/etc. but know I should. Many of my "faces" have helped spread the word through facebook though. (Thank you, sitters!)
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