Life as an Artist- Jill Banks: Another Happy Studio Tour Day

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Another Happy Studio Tour Day

"Kensington Gardens"

Despite a Redskins game, we had a steady, enthusiastic crowd today as well for the Great Falls Art Studios Tour. Young and old(er) came out to enjoy the day of art and inspiration. I'm exhausted ... as are the rest of my studiomates ... as are I bet artists all around Great Falls. We had 48 artists participating, opening up their studios for anyone who wanted to come take a look. It's funny. Everything gets examined. Like the rubber mats that line our floor to help our feet make it through painting sessions. Or the taborets we use for storing supplies and resting our palettes.

"Elgin Marble"

A young girl came up to me with a huge happy hello. She had painted (as I had) in the Paint Herndon! competition on September 3 and we had both won an award. She even sold her award-winning painting (I didn't sell mine) -- her first sale of art for $100 at that show. When I was at the awards ceremony that night, I remember the judges commenting that it was the youngsters art that blew their socks off. This young girl was one of the big reasons why. One more note, she had been enrolled in an adult class in Reston taught by Pam Coulter for a session ... and then wasn't in class the next term. The Reston Community Center wouldn't allow young people in an adult class. I think that's a shame. Why? We'd have some amazing artists if they started with real art education early on.

Personally, I had an amazing weekend. I met and saw so many people who love my work ... and who had a difficult time figuring out which ones they liked best. Many purchased work ... and here's my rundown of work that's found some happy new homes this weekend:

"Give Me A Kiss"

"Kensington Gardens": an ink wash/pen & ink drawing from my trip to London this Spring went to one of my friends from Rob Liberace's class
"Elgin Marble": a graphite drawing done in the British Museum of a horse's head from the Parthenon
"Give Me A Kiss": the frog beanie baby went to a volunteer at the Great Falls Library where I've held several solo shows. She bought this on Saturday.
"Who Goes There?": the mouse beanie baby afraid of its own shadow went to the same purchaser as "Give Me A Kiss" -- just one day later.
"White Peonies" went home with one of my 100 Faces and her husband
"Sprinkles and Dots Cupcake" went home with another one of my 100 Faces, friend, fellow artist and enthusiastic collector


"Who Goes There?"

"Il Gatto" went home with former neighbors who were finally able to make it to one of my (many) art events. My Italian cat reminded her of all the cats in Greece that hung out next to green shutters.

Pretty exciting, rewarding, cool day. Thank you to everyone who came, talked, shared, listened and shopped this weekend.

This week's a bit nuts ... but it should make for some good blog posts.

Time for bed.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Out & About Norfolk Plein Air Painting Event, October 20-22

ON EXHIBIT

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s 115th Annual Open Juried Exhibit

National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC, October 4-28

"White Peonies"

The Art League's October All-Media Membership Exhibit, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. My charcoal drawing of "Oscar" was juried in and will be on view through November 7. "Cubanelle and Roses" is in the Bin Gallery.

American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National,Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC, Nov. 1-11

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.