Second Showing at the National Arts Club This Fall

"Contrapposto," oil, 24"h x 20"w

Accepted into Allied Artists of America's Exhibition
Today, I got word that "Contrapposto" has been accepted into the Allied Artists of America's 99th Annual Exhibition -- being held at the National Arts Club. That exhibit runs November 9 through November 18. That reception is on November 18, 1-5pm. This is my second time being accepted into the Allied Artist Exhibit -- and good news arrived in a thin envelope. (That's unusual.) "Uh oh" turned to "yea" with the text "We are GLAD to inform you ..."

The first showing there this Fall is "The Poker Club" which is now in NYC -- ready to be hung at the National Arts Club as part of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's Annual Open Exhibition. That exhibit runs from October 2 to October 27 with a benefit reception on Friday, October 12.

The National Arts Club is located at 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC. Phone is (212) 475-3424.

Show Time
Fall is pretty crazy in Art Land. Tomorrow night's the Soiree! for MPA Artfest -- a special night for patrons and artists benefiting the outdoor arts festival that's coming up in a little over two weeks (Sunday, October 14 in McLean Community Park, McLean, VA, 10am-5pm). Hang the show next week in the gallery at the Artists' Atelier (1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA) in anticipation of the Great Falls Studio Tour. Paint and talk art at a special invitational cocktail party on October 10 in Great Falls. Enjoy the reception for the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club on October 12. Set up under a tent at MPA Artfest early morning on Sunday, October 14. Get ready for the Great Falls Studio Tour held on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and October 21, 10am to 5pm.

These are all great events and I can't wait ... but still am glad there is a little bit of time left to prepare for some of them.

For a more complete listing of Events, see that page on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

A Day on the Town, Plein Air

"Town Center Fountain" work in progress, oil, 11"h x 14"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Gorgeous weather. A perfect Fall day. A picnic lunch with my mom and dad.

Today, I painted in two different spots at the Reston Town Center (Reston, VA), enjoying being out and about. Three paintings were started. And now I'm completely pooped.

This is the first day I've had the chance to paint there after gaining permission to set up my easel. That made it super special. People sure seemed to enjoy having someone there painting ... as much as I loved being there. Lots of appreciative visitors stopped by. Especially kids -- as always. They rule.

It was also obvious the location was near my mom's home base. A number of people started talking to me ... and then asked, "Are you Jill?" It appears my mom has done enough promotion to form the equation, artist = Jill (Shonnie's daughter). 

Here's one of the three starts. The fountain at the Town Center is such a treasure. I'm sure it will be a subject many times.

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"Coconut Donut"

"Coconut Donut," oil, 6"h x 6"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Quick post. "Coconut Donut" might have been a cupcake if today's shopping trip, post Still Life class had procured such a subject. This coconut donut was the prettiest of all my choices.

Actually, this has been my third trip looking for a paintable cupcake. Yesterday's stopover at the Safeway had racks marked for gourmet cupcakes -- but no cakes. The cake maker is on vacation. Today's trip to Harris Teeter offered way over the top cupcakes that just didn't look like ones from my past. 

It's little. Only 6" x 6". See more still lifes on my web site: www.jillbanks.com.

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Finishing ... a Painting at a Time

"Ride 'Em Cowgirl," oil, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

Normally, I have a number of paintings in progress at one time. At this moment, there are a a boatload of them. It's overwhelming. They are everywhere.

So I'm taking hints from the tortoise (of Tortoise and the Hare fame). Slow and steady, one painting at a time ... should help me cross the "finish" line.

After class, there are hours of recovery time. Finally, I made it into my studio and chose "Ride 'Em Cowgirl" as the subject for finishing touches. While the wheels were what needed some help, I painted on a lot more than just them. It is done.

Many of these paintings will make it -- hopefully -- to my tent at MPA's McLean Artfest (Sunday, October 14, 10am-5pm in McLean Central Park, McLean, VA) and/or the Great Falls Studio Tour (where you can find me in my shared studio, the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA on October 20 & 21, 10am-5pm). That's the goal.

Check out "Ride 'Em Cowgirl" along with other still life paintings in that collection on my web site: www.JillBanks.com.

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"White Glads"

"White Glads," oil, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

Sorry about the lack of posting lately. I've been consumed with portrait commissions ... today included -- with sketching and a photo shoot for a new painting to be.

This is hopefully the conclusion of a painting started at the Torpedo Factory ... that gave me a full dose of challenges while there.

Something about painting a work of yours at a different angle ties the brain in knots.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA 

 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"Eat Your Veggies" Still in Progress

"Eat Your Veggies" work in progress, oil, 24"h x 18"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

For some reason, this painting -- started as the demo for the first day of Still Life class -- has proved to be a tough challenge. To be fair, I have been painting it in the "relative" dark -- to keep the classroom cool and lighting on my subject in high contrast.

That means -- I can't see the color well enough until the painting is shown in better light. Surprises occur. It's time to let it sit. In a brighter place. Where I can see it out of the corner of my eyes.

With MPA Artfest (October 14, 10am-5pm, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA) and the Great Falls Studio Tour (October 20 & 21, self-guided tour of 50 artists in their studios in Great Falls, VA) right around the corner, all the artists I know are diligently preparing, planning and producing -- getting ready for the big events. I better get on that bandwagon. Sooner or later.

Go to my web site's Events page for more info on Artfest and the Studio Tour.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA 

 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Help ... Helps

New Owner for "Classical Painting Atelier," oil, 24"h x 18"

Due to economics, almost all artists working to make a living ... are heavy-duty into the do-it-yourself mode. They make the art, wash the brushes, order supplies, market themselves, frame the product, display it, package, ship, keep inventory, handle sales, blog, manage their own web sites, etc.

Lucky are those of us with spouses or significant others able and willing to assist. (I'm one of those. Thanks, Randy!)

Today, while I painted on a commissioned portrait -- Jamie, the intern I talked about last post, worked on my web site's "100 Faces in 100 Days" collection about my 2011 project. She added excerpts from last year's blog posts to Face #3 to Face #12. Jamie will work her way through Face #100, making the site a nice way to follow the project from beginning to end. It was fun for me to reread. (Might be for you, too.) Go to: www.JillBanks.com. Click on Works and then scroll down to my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project.
It was pretty exciting to know my web site is improving while I am painting. Thanks, Jamie!

The Photography Show: Fun Reception Yesterday
Terri Parent, one of my studiomates, curated a show of photography created by Great Falls Studios member this month and the opening reception/awards announcement was yesterday, September 15. Twelve photographers participated, and the Artists' Atelier was full of visitors -- new faces, regulars, fellow artists.

Annie Griffiths, an award-winning National Geographic photographer selected Val Mahon's piece for Best in Show and Robin Kent's for second place. The show continues through September 29.

Growing Collection
"Classical Painting Atelier" is going to a new home ... as soon as its new home is ready. Lately, wall painting has been preceding putting paintings on the wall. If my count is right, "Classical Painting Atelier" marks the fifth painting of mine heading to the same address.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Feathered and Furry Friend Paintings Up

"Goatyard," oil, 11"h x 14"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Not a great photo, but here they are in the lobby.

Four paintings from my animal series went up in an exhibit at the Seneca Hill Animal Hospital, Resort and Spa yesterday in a two-person show with Tina Learned, my Artists' Atelier studiomate. They include "Grazing on Buttercups," "Rainbow" (peacock), "Goatyard" from Wayne Plein Air and my latest chicken/rooster painting "He Started It!." I'll try to add better individual photos of the paintings later.
Seneca Hill is located at 11415 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066.

More new paintings have been added to the Animal, Still Life and Places collections on my web site. Take a look at www.JillBanks.com when you get a chance.

Plus I have an intern! Last weekend's visitors brought a young woman from Germany whose passion is art. She'd been applying for internships for her four-month stay here in Virginia. Somewhere in our conversation I mentioned my 100 Faces in 100 Days project ... and she offered to help. So, today Jamie and I sat down for some training and discussions of what she can do and I'll be reporting on that progress ... as it progresses. Both of us are excited about this internship. Yea!

The post has to go up. I'll add more in just a bit.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"Eat Your Veggies"

"Eat Your Veggies" work in progress, 24"h x 18"w, oil, ©Jill Banks 2012

I'm not sure about the title. There's so much going on in today's still life demo, words escape me.

It was the first day of the Fall term and a rowdy one at that ... filled with very cheery people happy to be back to painting class.

"Eat Your Veggies" is a work in progress. It's sopping wet with paint built up over the session. Hopefully, I can get back to it before the vegetables start growing something.

I happen to love the setup -- with its color combinations and the sense of depth created by the placement of objects, the frame and reflections in the glass behind.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"Joan with Chrysanthemums" Portrait Painting Demo

"Joan with Chrysanthemums," oil, 20"h x 16", ©Jill Banks 2012

Arriving home late ... three hours over my original estimate tonight ... husband Randy inquired what I'd been painting. My answers are often met with at least a hint of "why were you working on that?" as in there were other better choices on hand ... or the possibility that I was "noodling."

I plead the fifth.

Today was the first day of my portrait class, and Joan Piper readily agreed to be our model. She was a terrific sitter. Her hair was agreeably wild and fun to paint. Plus, she enjoyed the conversation about brushes, materials, artists, and more.

There may be more to do here ... as I am a little worried about some of the colors. The photo's a bit blurry as well. I signed it ... but that doesn't mean the brush is officially down.

Tomorrow is the first day of my Fall Still Life class. I set up something pretty interesting for the demo. Should definitely be fun to paint.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

 

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

"He Started It!" Roosters and Hen Painting

"He Started It!," oil, 12"h x 9"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Today was my first painting session back in the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 12 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA) since the beginning of the Summer. That's hard to believe ... but it was great to be back!

Whenever moving from place to place, studio to studio, the first decision to be made is what to paint there. With a show of animal paintings to be hung this coming Thursday in a new exhibit, I decided to work more on a sketch of the central rooster -- done live last year at Herndon's Kidwell Farm in Frying Pan Park. I'd been searching around for that quick sketch in my home studio -- that has plenty of stacks of unfinished works -- to no avail. Then when I got to the Atelier, where there are few unfinished pieces, guess what I found...

Most of the day was spent just painting the rooster from some photo references -- adding detail to that original painting. Next, I played with the background adding dots. In the last hour, two "friends" for the rooster showed up.

It's called "He Started It" because at first there was only one. Plus, with all the posturing and antics witnessed in the coop -- these characters never seem to be getting along too well.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Lessons from the Past

"Rainy Morning Breakfast" is on view at the Torpedo Factory

Classes Start Next Week! Sign Up Now...

Go to my Classes page on the web site for Portrait Painting and Drawing (Mondays, 10am-1pm) and Still Life Painting in Oils (Tuesdays, 10am-1pm). Email me too if you're signing up to make sure there's a slot left for you. Both classes are almost full.

It's not like this has been a leisurely Summer, but up ahead is the change in pace that so many of you are feeling -- going back to work, school, more regular schedules and activities. I'm looking forward to ... and getting ready for ... starting teaching again after months' off.

Visiting Artist Program Exhibit
"Rainy Morning Breakfast" is one of the paintings from the Wayne Plein Air competition last May. That's husband Randy helping out as my model. This painting is on view this month at the Torpedo Factory as part of the Visiting Artist Program exhibit. 

Lessons from the Past
One of my jobs today was to try to regain control over my computer and photos... in an attempt to find some source photos I never located. What I did find, however, was some step-by-step views of my painting "Yellow Onions." My students have asked me to photograph my work in progress ... like every five or ten minutes or so. I can't really do that and paint decently, but this four-stage view does give you a general idea of how I pull a painting together.

The beginning: straight lines, just a guide for the composition

Stage 2: I indicated some shadows where they were obvious and started in with direct color

Stage 3: more color, thinking about the planes of the different onion, filling in the background helps with value comparisons

Finished. "Yellow Onions," oil, 8"h x 16"w, private collection.

Links Page
In addition to finding photos of "Yellow Onions" in progress, I updated the Links page on my newly refurbished web site. There you'll find links to art organizations, art suppliers, fellow studiomates at the Artists' Atelier, other artists' sites and blogs, etc. Please check it out at www.JillBanks.com.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

 

And the Winners Are...

"Fresh Bread," oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Well, one of them is me.

For Paint Herndon!, yesterday and today's plein air painting competition in Herndon, VA ... in the adult category, the award recipients are:
Honorable Mention: Catherine Hillis
Third Place: Donna Robinson
Second Place: Vicki Blum (who happened to walk through the Herndon ArtSpace door right after her name was called -- a straight path to the floor to accept her award
First Place: Jill Banks (me)

I tried to jump up and down like the girl in the Youth category ... who gleefully accepted her award and kept on jumping. I'll have to practice that.

Present at the awards ceremony was my "model" Greg, who was there with his wife Betsy. After volunteering to sit with dog Kelsey yesterday, Greg had gone home to tell Betsy about the experience -- which may just push him back into painting.

Painting this afternoon

I hope so.

The jurors were Gennara Moore (a painter) and Pat Macintyre (painter, founder of the League of Reston Artists and the Reston Arts Studios and Gallery. Thank you!

I'm really happy with this painting ... because it's such a me-kind-of painting ... done plein air. With a year of occasional plein air experience (most of my work is still in the studio), I'm beginning to develop a logical process. That's better than panic from beginning to end. "Fresh Bread" started with a scribbly sketch in pen on lined paper ... but that was a great resource throughout to hold my shadow patterns. Plein air painting is crazy and confusing. A road map of sorts is handy.

Something Beautiful
I've been meaning to link to this blog post by Matthew Innis on his Underpaintings blog. Matthew gave a sneak peek at Michael Klein's Solo Show at Collins Gallery in Massachusetts. You have to see Klein's paintings. There's a mesmerizing YouTube video, too of him painting flowers. It may just change the way I pursue painting leaves. Masterful! With great writing, as usual by Matthew Innis.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events and Exhibits

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com