"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