Roosters Painting Finished Today and Time in the Atelier

"Barn Dance," oil, 24"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

This painting got finished and renamed today. "Barn Dance" used to be "Whatcha' Doing?" but thinking about my time with the roosters and hens at Kidwell Farm in Frying Pan Park. They careened around the pen ... sort of interacting ... and posturing.

One of my favorite parts of painting today was when I added in the blues to the tail feathers. I just loved the color but it also gave a good sense of iridescence. They are handsome critters.

"Barn Dance" is the first larger piece from my developing Feathered and Furry Friends series. Sooner or later, I'll get to many more. It will be in my tent for next Sunday's MPA McLean Artfest outdoor arts festival.

Time in the Atelier

I painted at the Artists' Atelier (1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA) today for open hours. Laurie Bell, owner of Great Falls Tea Garden, was holding a tea tasting seminar in the gallery for a number of new visitors to our space. I painted while learning a good bit about Darjeeling tea.

Bobbie (Roberta) Beasley and Walt Lawrence, two of my studiomates, were in ...and after they were gone, Mollie Vardell came in to spend some time painting and also packing up for a week-long plein air painting adventure/paint-out. Walt helped Bobbie out with advice on framing and frame shops. Mollie talked about packing for her trip and we walked down together to her car so I could see how she organized her supplies for the trip. We'd talked about travel easels up in the studio and she set up her latest (and greatest) one for me to see in the parking lot. Before that, we talked about Vasari paint and her new box of colors.

One of the great parts of sharing studio space with other professional artists is that we learn from each other ... all the time, whether the topic is framing or products or techniques. Mollie and I are both tackling plein air painting and it's a whole new ballgame. It's nice to have someone else to lean on/swap ideas with/share what we discover. That's pretty great.

Coming Up
Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm: MPA McLean Artfest, juried outdoor arts festival, McLean Community Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 15&16, 10am-5pm: Great Falls Annual Studio Tour. Major weekend long event with 47 artists from Great Falls Studios participating in a self-guided tour. I'll be in the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls. Last year, the tour drew 7200+ visitors from throughout the DC area. Don't miss it!

October 20-22, Out & About Norfolk 2011: Juried Plein Air Event and Wet Paint Sale. I'll be spending three days in Norfolk for this 5th Annual Plein Air Competition ... painting away. I'm excited!

November 1-11, 83rd Grand National Exhibition 2011: "Alan" will be on exhibit at the American Artists Professional League Grand National at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC. Reception" Sunday, November 6, 2-5pm.

My Still Life and Portrait Painting & Drawing Both classes are full for Fall sessions. See the Classes page on my web site for more information on those classes. Send me an email if you would like to receive notification of other class/workshop offerings -- what kind of courses you would be interested in, days of the week and times.  

To read more about the 100 Faces in 100 Days project on my web site (www.jillbanks.com), go to the 100 Faces Project Pages 1 and 2 where you can see all 100 of my volunteers. Click on the paintings, and go to my blog post for that person's sitting.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 1 (faces 1-54): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 2 (faces 55-100): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project_2.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435