Last Days in Madrid

"Spanish Garden," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©Jill Banks 2015

To say that days were full here in Madrid is to be putting it mildly. There's so much to see! And do. We arrive back at the hotel with about 10 minutes of energy left. Maybe.

I think we were the only ones left from the group taking in a whole last day in Madrid. For Randy and I, that meant a late breakfast -- then off to find a place to paint. Crammed in a little bit before the venture out was locating a flamenco show -- the one thing on the agenda that hadn't yet been taken care of. So, today included three meals, two paintings, one wonderful flamenco show, packing and this post.

Although this doesn't sum up the trip, our suitcases are packed with lots of dirty laundry, ten paintings, three or four drawings (more done, this many "keepable"), too few other physical mementos of the trip.



Museums were amazing. Yesterday we went to the Cerralbo Museum and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Thyssen Collection was unbelievable -- covering centuries of art beautifully.  How in the world could one family amass, collect such a fortune of works? They had pieces by Van Gogh that surprised me, "Venetian Onion Seller" by John Singer Sargent, "Hotel Room" (and others) by Edward Hopper, two of the first oil paintings, ever, by Jan Van Eyck (c. 1435-1441) "Diptych of the Annunciation." Interesting that the first oil paintings could rival any others.

Right image of Van Eyck's diptych

Left image of Van Eyck's diptych

Given all the paintings that have made their way onto my easel and all the inspiration that has surrounded me for the  past two weeks, expect more on the blog about this incredible trip.  Drawings and paintings will work their way onto my web site as well. Some require finishing, others good photographs.

It's been one heck of a trip. Thanks for sharing it with me!

Sign Up for Classes -- In Virginia
Registration is going on now for Spring classes -- Tuesday nights, 6:30pm to 9:30pm for Evening Paint and Thursdays, 10am to 2pm for Painting the Plein Air Landscape.  Take a look at my Classes page and I hope you'll join us.


Call for Artists
Plus, if you enjoy plein air painting, consider registering for Paint Great Falls! (Great Falls VA) to capture the town from May 28 to 30 with a Quick Draw event on May 31, 10am to noon.  Registration is now open at www.greatfallsart.org/plein-air.

Thanks for reading!

Jill

Phone: 703.403.7435
Email: jill@jillbanks.com
Web: www.JillBanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com

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See the Events page for more info/updates

April 10 to May 1: Women Painters of the Southeast Juried Exhibition, Blue Ridge, GA

May 2 & 3: A-RTS @ Rockville Town Square, Rockville, MD

May 12-16:  Wayne Plein Air, Wayne and Philadelphia, PA. Juried as one of 30 artists nationwide to paint the area.

May 30-31: Art on the Green and Paint Great Falls, Outdoor Art Show (under a tent) and plein air competition and exhibit, Great Falls, VA

June 5-7: Rittenhouse Square: The Original Art Show, Philadelphia, PA. 

June 18-21: VA Beach Boardwalk Art Show, Virginia Beach, VA. Visit my booth right on the boardwalk.

June 29-July 5: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO.  Juried as one of 32 artists who will spend the week painting this very cool town lined with Victorian houses, bustling street against a gorgeous mountainous backdrop.

July 11-12: Wickford Art Festival, Wickford, RI.

December 3-6: One Of A Kind Show & Sale, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL