Sunday, November 27, 2016

"Maya and Dallas" Portrait Painting

www.JillBanks.com
"Maya and Dallas," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2016 Jill Banks

"Maya and Dallas" depicts my grandniece Maya with her first horse -- and happily combines two favorite subjects. Fun to paint and fun to deliver this week as we've been celebrating a family reunion with my parents, cousin, brothers, their spouses, all of our kids and all their kids. An amazing gathering where we had plenty to be thankful for.

I'm pretty sure Maya is thankful for Dallas plus her human relatives and friends.

Sure hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.

In case you are still shopping for art for the holidays or other celebrations, consider visiting my studio -- the Artists' Atelier at 759 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA

Ho! Ho! Ho! Holiday Art Shopping in the Great Falls Village Centre
Friday, December 2 -- Art Walk in the Village, 6-9pm
Saturday, December 3 -- Studio/Gallery Open, 10am to 5pm. Come for a visit!
Sunday, December 4 -- Studio/Gallery Open, noon to 4:30pm.

We'd LOVE to see you!
At the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066

After that, I'd be glad to meet you for a studio or home studio visit. Just ask!

Thanks for reading!
Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  
Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
(Please like that page if you like it...)
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Monday, November 21, 2016

"Peek A Boo" Granddaughter Emma at Six Months

"Peek A Boo -- Emma at Six Months," oil, 10"h x 8"w, ©2016 Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com
Portraits by Commission

Miss Emma is actually approaching eight months old and I need to catch up on my portrait a month project. Finishing this one today ... started when Randy and I were happily babysitting granddaughter Emma for a few hours ... is a step in the right direction.

This is Emma trying out the front seat and turning a seat belt into a toy. 

See more of my paintings of Emma on my web site in the People and Portraits Gallery.

There will be a post coming soon -- and probably an email newsletter as well -- about yesterday's fun and successful Home Studio Open House for Collectors and Students. Thank you to all who came! Painting days have been plentiful and fruitful. The house was adorned with many newly finished pieces as well as dry paint favorites.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. I'm truly THANKFUL for YOU!

DECEMBER 2, 3, 4 -- ART STUDIO OPEN
My studio in Great Falls (at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) is looking bare right now ... but my home is overflowing with artwork. Must be a sign of something. But it will look great again -- just in time for the last First Friday Art Walk in the Village of the year, December 2, 6 to 9pm. Then, the studio will be open for holiday art shopping on Saturday, December 3, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, December 4, noon to 5pm. It's time for holiday shopping ... what will you treat yourself and your loved ones with this year? I'd be VERY glad to help.



Thanks for reading!
Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  
Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
(Please like that page if you like it...)
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Saturday, November 19, 2016

"Colors on King Street" Commission Delivered Today

"Colors on King Street," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2016 Jill Banks
Commissions aren't always portraits and "Colors on King Street" is a case in point. The painting was commissioned by a couple who first collected my work last year at the Alexandria King Street Art Festival and during that first purchase we discussed this painting to be.

They picked it up tonight in time to have it help deck their house for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

Happy folks!

DECEMBER 2, 3, 4 -- ART STUDIO OPEN
My studio in Great Falls (at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) is looking bare right now ... but my home is overflowing with artwork. Must be a sign of something. But it will look great again -- just in time for the last First Friday Art Walk in the Village of the year, December 2, 6 to 9pm. Then, the studio will be open for holiday art shopping on Saturday, December 3, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, December 4, noon to 5pm. It's time for holiday shopping ... what will you treat yourself and your loved ones with this year? I'd be VERY glad to help.


Thanks for reading!
Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  
Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
(Please like that page if you like it...)
 
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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Spring and Fall in Great Falls

Despite my absence from blogging, these recent days have been busy and exciting. I'll tell you my best day at the bottom of this post. (It's personal -- not art-related.)
"Spring Blush," oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©2016 Jill Banks

I put a number of new paintings up on my website a few minutes ago ... so you can check them out at www.JillBanks.com. Two of them represent Spring and Fall, painted plein air in Great Falls, Virginia with some work in my studio today as well.

"Table on the Green," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2016 Jill Banks
"Spring Blush" was painted in April catching the Cherry Blossoms just before they drifted to the ground near the Old Schoolhouse in Great Falls. "Table on the Green" was painted during my free demonstration held at the Village Centre in tandem with the Paint Great Falls plein air competition  (which I had the privilege to judge this year).

Again, more were added to my website ... like "Fiddlin' Around" painted on my last day in San Angelo Texas during En Plein Air Texas. That was SO much fun. The competition was over and we were entertained by fiddlers and a banjo player right after enjoying a hearty breakfast with fellow artists.

DECEMBER 2, 3, 4 -- ART STUDIO OPEN
My studio in Great Falls (at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) is looking bare right now ... but my home is overflowing with artwork. Must be a sign of something. But it will look great again -- just in time for the last First Friday Art Walk in the Village of the year, December 2, 6 to 9pm. Then, the studio will be open for holiday art shopping on Saturday, December 3, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, December 4, noon to 5pm. It's time for holiday shopping ... what will you treat yourself and your loved ones with this year? I'd be VERY glad to help.

Thanks for reading!
Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  
Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
(Please like that page if you like it...)
 
EMMA and PAT
This past Saturday, husband Randy, daughter Sarah, my parents and I headed to Richmond to attend granddaughter Emma's baptism. First, any moments with Emma are sure to make everyone happy and we had plenty of playing time before and after church. Emma's a REALLY content, beautiful baby -- and that's not just grandmotherly bias.  During the baptism she was perfect -- looking around, sweet as could be -- not a peep. Just smiling as she was introduced by the priest as the newest member in the church.

Right after the service, as we got ready to leave, Randy is shaking hands and saying hello to Paul Plonski -- husband of my dear friend Pat from High School in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Pat works in the church where Emma was just baptized. Wonderful reunion at a special time -- away from home -- in a church that son Sam's in-laws belongs. What a coincidence!



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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Three From En Plein Air Texas 2016

"Late Long Shadows," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2016 Jill Banks
Three of the twelve-plus canvases painted in and around San Angelo, Texas last week stayed there ... now in new homes but others headed back with me or are yet to arrive here ... being shipped. I hadn't packed my camera so the shipped and paintings with new owners will miss out on decent photos. (I still might show them to you later.)

"Late Long Shadows" was one of two paintings I chose as my competition pieces. It's a near nocturne -- painted rapidly as the sun worked its way toward the horizon line behind Palmer Feed in San Angelo, Texas. Every second seemed to bring new shadows and altered colors to the industrial buildings on site. While the painting was completed quickly (of necessity), I'd scoped out the area for days -- figuring out where to set up and when.

My Saturday Quick Draw painting was "Morning Paper" -- with husband Randy helping me out by "reading" his way into the scene.  The architecture in town is striking making the resulting shadows even more so.

"Morning Paper," oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©2016 Jill Banks -- my Quick Draw painting

I had so much fun this week -- meeting fellow artists, San Angelo residents, a wonderful host, organizers and supporters, enthusiasts. What a warm welcome they provided.

I'll write about my favorite moments sometime soon in the next edition of my monthly email newsletter. Have you subscribed to it at www.JillBanks.com? Hope so!

The last of the three for today's post is "Vineyard Vistas" -- a scene that captures my view at the Christoval Winery and fellow artist Nancie King Mertz capturing hers as well. Painter painting a painter. What a pretty place!

"Vineyard Vistas," oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©2016 Jill Banks -- capturing Nancie King Mertz painting in the Christoval Vineyard
Friday, November 4: First Friday Art Walk in the Village
Come see these paintings and many more at the Artists' Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066 from 6 to 9pm on November 4.  Hope to see you there in my studio and venture on to two more joint studios and an opening of this month's art exhibit by AHH studios in our adjacent gallery. Lots of art and a great night out on the town.

Thanks for reading!
Jill Banks
www.JillBanks.com

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  
Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
(Please like that page if you like it...)
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