"Apple, Tea and Tulips" and Quite a Party!

"Apple, Tea and Tulips," oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2015

"Apple, Tea and Tulips" is the first painting officially started in my new studio space at the Artists' Atelier newly located at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Looks pretty content, right?

Grand Opening Was Truly Grand
Thank you to so many of you who showed up last night to help us celebrate our move into the Village Centre. We loved seeing you!

The space looked gorgeous and it was so much fun to show it off. The studios and school/gallery space are connected by a hallway -- one flowing into another and both spill onto porches of their own. From all the comments received, guest loved it just as much as we do.

The biggest thrill is being right in the heart of Great Falls. There's an energy here that keeps each  day spent in the studio interesting! I love seeing picnics happening on the Green, the coming and goings right out the window. And, we get visitors -- regularly. Not just on opening night.

My studio space at the Atelier in Great Falls as seen through the window after guests had dwindled

Cars and Coffee

Grand Opening: blurry photo ... but you get the idea

This morning I headed back to the Village Centre to try to capture in paint Cars and Coffee, an amazing Great Falls Saturday a.m. ritual that brings antique cars, their owners and a huge appreciative audience to hang out for a few hours. Because of the complexity of the scene -- all the people and cars appearing and disappearing -- my sketch there will need to be worked on some more ... but it's a very cool start.

Today's outing was sparked in part because  Wayne Plein Air is just ahead. I need continuous practice to handle the challenge of painting in changing conditions. Cars and Coffee seemed sufficiently difficult -- and it was.

Randy fixing up crostinis on my window seat.  We're kitchen-less.

Join Us for Artfest: Art on the Green and Paint Great Falls, May 30 & 31
May 30 and 31: I'll be under a tent on the Village Green in the heart of Great Falls, Va (just use our new studio address: 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA for GPS directions) AND I'll be painting in Paint Great Falls and the Quick Draw on Sunday, May 31, 10am to Noon.  For the quick draw, all are invited to come draw or paint around the Village Centre. Registration is $10 that morning. There's a youth and adult category for prizes to be awarded by Armand Cabrera. At 10am you start. At noon, that's it. Artwork then should be brought to a viewing area for judging. Spectators are invited, too!

Mark your calendars. This is going to be a great weekend chock full of art!

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.  Registration is now open at www.greatfallsart.org/plein-air. (This is in addition to the Quick Draw on May 31.)

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

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. Sunday, June 7: I'll be the official demoist at the show at 1pm.

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
July 18-19: Westport Fine Arts Festival, Westport, CT

August 8-9: Mystic Seaport Outdoor Art Festival, Mystic, CT

August 29-30: Shadyside... The Art Festival on Walnut Street Pittsburgh, PA

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