Mike Pahner Is Face #65

"Mike Pahner: Face #65," oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

Mike Pahner came to sit to become today's face. #65 in my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project. Mike and I met ... a number of years ago when I was in charge of exhibits for Great Falls Studios and we hung a show for the opening of the RE/MAX Gateway office in Great Falls. I remember Mike introducing himself and then asking me to take him on a tour of the exhibit. From that point on, he's come to see countless exhibits and just generally been there to support the local arts.

He took a few of my Still Life painting classes and credits me with getting him into painting and opening his eyes to what it takes to produce a beautiful piece of art. Hopefully, at some point he'll take from me again. (He was one of my best recruiters for new students and a pleasure to have in class.)

Only Mike...

We talked some about business careers, his pets (a new puppy Stonewall Jackson and a sweet cat who passed away), wild days, art, painting ...

Mike's most endearing quality (to me) is that he really is "in love" with his wife Pam. I witnessed phone calls during today's sittings (and formerly during class or other times) and they just take such great care of each other. He loves talking about her. Just beams. If I ever painted a portrait of the two of them ... that's what you'd see. (In my painting "Randy and Me," of my husband and me ... I made sure Randy was looking adoredly right at me.)

"Through the Window" Accepted in the Art League Show

"Through the Window," oil on linen, 30"h x 40"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007

Randy and I made the trip last night to the Art League to submit artwork for this month's juried show "Carnivale." Almost every month, artist members from the Washington DC area can bring in up to two paintings for possible inclusion in the exhibit. Over the years, my work has been accepted regularly (each month by a different, rather stellar juror), won Best in Show three times, and Honorable Mentions quite a few times. I thought "Through the Window" fit the theme in its celebration of life and vibrant colors ... but I'd love to have already seen and painted Venice's Carnivale celebration and entered that. That would be right up my alley. Someday.

"Through the Window" was based on a photo taken while in Florence, Italy in 2006. (My first trip to Italy.) I loved the contrasts of the ancient dulled buildings and windows of stores and restaurants overflowing with vibrant colors and warmth. I showed this painting during my solo show "Place Settings" at the Art League, January 2008.

I updated my web site's 100 Faces in 100 Days Project page yesterday so go take a look at 64 of my faces with links from each photo to the blog post about my sitters. 

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