Farm Day

Artists' Atelier Gallery Hung for Studio Tour.  Come See!

Wednesdays are a blessing. What's known as hump day in business life, takes on a different meaning surrounded by interesting landscapes to admire and explore for my Wednesday plein air painting class.

I've been thinking about pumpkins. Okay. That's not a true out-of-the-box concept come October. But, when planning this week's location, I wanted a pumpkin patch to figure into the equation somehow. Yesterday, after still life class -- I drove over to Krop's Crops. Perfect.

That's where, accompanied with two troops of preschool hayriders, my class set up to capture mums, old cars, tractors, quaint outbuildings and some pumpkins.

Larry, one of the owners, would make a heck of a portrait subject. He sat at one of the picnic tables waiting for hayrider group #1 -- with the backdrop of the market buildings that get added on and on ... and became someone I just need to reveal on a canvas. Didn't yet.

At Krop's Crops, Great Falls, VA

We were part of the joy of the place today. I returned late this afternoon for a bit and will go back ... but the story was this morning with eight easels spread over the ground, happy kids, pumpkin picking, tractor tackling, and Trina leaving the place laden with gifts from the interior to continue scattering a bit of farm happiness.

So much has been going on lately, my artist "minutes" have fallen grossly behind. Lots of great events improperly covered.  

October at the Artists' Atelier Gallery

Salon Style ... Studio Tour
We hung the Studio Tour exhibit at the Artists' Atelier Gallery (more to come in our individual and joint spaces)  ... and I absolutely love this show. It's hung floor to ceiling because I'm in charge of this one, and understated is not in my vocabulary. The gallery is drop-dead beautiful. You have to see it. Studio Tour is Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20, 10am - 5pm. We're one of the stops at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066. Come see us. The Atelier is also open Saturdays and Wednesdays, noon to 4pm for regular open hours and on Thursday (tomorrow), October 10 we're holding a Celebrate Great Falls coffee in the am (starting at 9:30am). The space never looks better than Studio Tour weekend ... no matter how hard we try.

"Mademoiselle" heading to a new home

Going or Gone to New Homes
"Dozen Roses," "Mademoiselle," and "Kitty." It was destiny.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com 
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435
Artists Atelier, Great Falls VA website: GreatFallsAtelier.com 

Events
Lots -- see the events page on my website.  Thanks!

Inaugural Exhibition Fine Art Professionals of Northern Virginia

Berkley Gallery

31 Main Street

Warrenton, VA

Three of my pieces on view. 28 artists. Exhibit through October 15

5th Annual Portrait Expressions Regional Juried Exhibition

ArtSpace Herndon

750 Center Street

Herndon, VA "Contrapposto" was chosen as a finalist

Friday, October 11, 5:30 to 8:30pm

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's Benefit Reception for the Metropolitan Museum of Art

National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park, NYC. 117th Annual Open Exhibition of CLWAC.   Exhibit October 1-25. Awards reception: Friday, October 25, 6-9pm.

Saturday and Sunday, October 19&20, 10am-5pm

Great Falls Annual Studio Tour -- Celebrating 10 Years!

See me at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. We join the 60 artists opening up our studios for the weekend, talking about our processes, tools, and hoping to inspire the artist in you in this FREE, self-guided tour throughout the streets of Great Falls.  

Coffee Break Solo Show at 

Greenberry's Coffee & Tea 6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Coffee or Tea?," "Cup of Tea," and "Not Picasso." Through October 15.