Friday, April 28, 2017

Two Art Festivals This Weekend: April 29 & 30

"Spanish Dancer," 36"h x 36"w, oil, ©2016 Jill Banks ... will be at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA this weekend

I've been scurrying around getting ready for a busy weekend of art ... so this is the just-the-facts part of my email newsletter (send out Wednesday night) ... in hopes I just might see you!

2017 Art Events

I REALLY Hope to See You! Two events in one weekend

April 29-30: Fairfax Fine Art Festival, Fairfax Corners, VA, 10am-5pm. Visit my mini gallery. Follow the link to get more info.

April 29-30: Great Falls Spring ArtFest at the Atelier (756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) and the Grange/Schoolhouse plus more. My parents -- Ken and Shonnie Johnson -- will be there to greet you in my space while I hold down "the fort " at the Fairfax Fine Art Festival over this weekend. 10am - 5pm each day. Click the link for more info on the event on what you'll see in my space.

May 5: First Friday Art Walk in the Village Centre, 6-8pm -- Start at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. See you there! (The Artists' Atelier is open Wednesdays, noon to 4pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm). I will also have five paintings of Great Falls hanging in the mini gallery at TD Bank in the Village Centre which will be open for First Friday from 6-7pm only. Come join the fun for a cool night out. 3 joint studios. 2 galleries. Plenty of restaurants. Special Guest Artist in the Arts of Great Falls Gallery, too -- May 5 only.

May 20-21: Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston, VA. I'll be in booth #617 (on Market Street near the corner of St. Francis and Market Street in the Reston Town Center). Hours: Saturday: 10am to 6pm and Sunday:10am to 5pm.

June 2-4: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

June 5-11: Bucks County Plein Air, Philadelphia PA

June 28-July 4: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO

July 8-9: Wickford Art Festival, Wickford, RI

September 23-24: Armonk Outdoor Art Show, Armonk, NY

Thanks very much for reading and your interest in my art. I hope to see you soon!

Jill Banks

Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jill-Banks-Studio-278493468836508/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

Friday, April 21, 2017

Rain Or Shine ... Two Weekends of Art Shows in Arlington, Fairfax and Great Falls

"Flower Power," oil, 30"h x 24"w, ©2017 Jill Banks was just completed and will be in my booth at the Arlington Fine Art Festival this weekend, April 22 & 23 in the Clarendon District in Virginia.  I'll be in Booth #59 on North Highland Street near Mister Days Sports Rock CafĂ©.  Rain or Shine. Free. REALLY hope to see you there!

 

You're Invited! Art Festival Time!

 

www.JillBanks.com

 

Spring Art Events -- Three Festivals/Two Weekends

"Tucked Away Cafe," oil, 40"h x 30"w, ©2016 Jill Banks will be at Arlington
Hope you'll mark your calendars. Follow the links for more info.

April 22-23: Arlington Festival of the Arts, Arlington, VA. Booth #59 on North Highland Street in the Clarendon district. 10am to 5pm both days

April 29-30: Fairfax Fine Art Festival, Fairfax Corners, VA. 10am to 5pm both days

April 29-30: Great Falls Spring Art Festival at the Atelier (756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) and the Grange/Schoolhouse plus more.  My work will be at the Atelier and my Mom and Dad will be there -- but see me at the Fairfax Fine Art Festival at my booth. Paintings at the Atelier for this weekend include still lifes -- "Garden Girl," "Mandarins" and "Story Time" as well as paintings of local Great Falls -- "Spring Blush," "Moon Glow," "Table on the Green" and more.

And More After That...

May 5: First Friday Art Walk in the Village Centre, 6-8pm -- Start at the Artists'Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. See you there! (The Artists' Atelier is open Wednesdays, noon to 4pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm)

May 20-21: Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston, VA

June 2-4: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival, Philadelphia, PA

June 5-11: Bucks County Plein Air, PA

June 28-July 4: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO



What You Might See ... Where

It's back to setting up booths ... mini art galleries springing up early morning, filled with work carefully selected and hung with care ... hopefully for you to see this weekend (April 22 & 23 in Arlington's Clarendon district in Virginia, 10am to 5pm each day) and next (April 29 & 30 at Fairfax Corner AND in Great Falls VA at the Artists' Atelier).

All events are rain or shine.  All free. All great opportunities to shop for art.

This weekend's Arlington Fine Art Festival might require an umbrella from time to time but it's dry in each of the 150-ish artists' booths that will line North Highland Street and Washington Boulevard in the Clarendon district.

"Cabaret," oil, 40"h x 30"w, ©Jill Banks
Included in my booth at Arlington and Fairfax Corner will be a mix of plein air and studio work, some fresh (REALLY fresh) off the easel and one piece that hasn't been seen for a while.  Recent visits to my home to see a very wide range of my work spurred me to include "Cabaret" -- one of a dwindling series of large-scale portrait paintings available for purchase.

As mentioned above, on April 29 & 30 in the Great Falls Spring Artfest -- in my studio you'll see my folks and some great still lifes and paintings of local Great Falls scenes plus much more.

Thank you for reading and your support... Hope to see you soon!


Jill


Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition, September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- out of 1440 entries.  More info on the competition here.

Finalist -- Sedona Art Prize, January 2017 for "Scene at the Bar" -- see the 12 Top Paintings selected by artist Robert Burridge here: https://www.sedonaartprize.com/about-sedona-art-prize/finalist-paintings/finalist-paintings-january-2017

Top 9 Painting and Drawing Teachers in Washington DC for 2017 -- Selected by Expertise.com.  See the list here.

Blog: For my latest art news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as and Artist at: http://jillbanks.blogspot.com/

Email: jill@jillbanks.com 

703.403.7435

Website: www.jillbanks.com
Subscribe to my email newsletter News From the Easel

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jill-Banks-Studio-278493468836508/
(Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Saturday, April 15, 2017

New Boat Painting and I Made the List!

"Quiet Day at the Marina," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2017 Jill Banks

Chosen as one of the Top 9 Painting and Drawing Teachers in Washington DC ... Wow!


Expertise.com looked at 132 Painting and Drawing Teachers in the Washington DC area and picked the Top 9.  Guess who was one of the nine? Jill Banks ... me!

Here's the link to find out how they made their selections and who made the list: 
https://www.expertise.com/dc/washington/painting-and-drawing-classes

Two of my classes started this past week ... Still Life Plus and Plein Air Landscape.  One more, Evening Paint, starts on Tuesday, April 18. You could join any of those ... and I'd love to welcome you to the class. See my listing of all current classes here: https://jillbanks.com/workshops

Student Art Exhibition -- Arts of Great Falls School

Last night was the reception for Student Exhibition for the Arts of Great Falls School.  What a wonderful celebration.  The exhibit is up now until April 26 in the School/Gallery space at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. It's a beautiful show ... well worth seeing.  Artist Elizabeth Floyd judged the show and presented awards.

1st Place: "Friendly Gathering" by Hannah Huthwaite. Acrylic on Canvas

2nd Place: "Flowers in a French Vase" by Cindi Berry. Oil on Canvas

3rd Place: "Cloud Burst" by Jay Pigeon. Pastel on Paper

Honorable Mention: "Terlingua Texas Farm" by Kyle McAdams. Oil on Canvas

Honorable Mention: "Sky Meadows I" by Alice Nodine. Acrylic and Mixed Media on Paper

People's Choice: "Friendly Gathering" by Hannah Huthwaite. Acrylic on Canvas

Congratulations to all the Winners and students who submitted his/her work.  I received so many comments last night about how great the work was.  I also have a sneaking suspicion pieces were being considered for purchase. Come take a look!

Plein Air At the Marina

A couple of weeks ago, I went on my first plein air painting outing this Spring ... this time at Columbia Island Marina on the George Washington Memorial Parkway.  With fingers crossed, I picked my subject and hoped the boat's owner wouldn't try whisking it away before it was captured on canvas. Phew. Made it.  Look closely too to see two ducks floating past.

The trip to the marina was one of many I do scoping out spots to paint and to bring my plein air class. We travel to a different location each week ... almost always in the Virginia/Metro DC area.  The requirements for the perfect spot include access to bathrooms, a great view with some structures or sign of life, shade, not too much human activity at least until the class feels more comfortable, and an absence of some critters. Have a place to suggest? I'd love to hear it.  This past Thursday we were at Meadowlark Gardens painting tulips which are incredible.

Get more info about "Quiet Day at the Marina" and see other paintings on my web site: www.JillBanks.com. It will be at one of these upcoming events unless you'd like it to be yours sooner.

Spring Art Events -- Coming Up REALLY Soon!

Hope you'll mark your calendars.

April 22-23: Arlington Festival of the Arts, Arlington, VA

April 29-30: Fairfax Fine Art Festival, Fairfax Corners, VA

April 29-30: Great Falls Spring Art Festival at the Atelier (756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) and the Grange/Schoolhouse plus more.  My work will be at the Atelier and hopefully I'll have a helper to greet you -- but see me at the Fairfax Fine Art Festival at my booth.

May 5: First Friday Art Walk in the Village Centre, 6-8pm -- Start at the Artists'Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. See you there! (The Artists' Atelier is open Wednesdays, noon to 4pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm)

May 20-21: Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston, VA

June 2-4: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival, Philadelphia, PA

June 5-11: Bucks County Plein Air, PA

June 28-July 4: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO


Thank you for reading and your support... Hope to see you soon!

Jill

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition, September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- out of 1440 entries.  More info on the competition here.

Finalist -- Sedona Art Prize, January 2017 for "Scene at the Bar" -- see the 12 Top Paintings selected by artist Robert Burridge here: https://www.sedonaartprize.com/about-sedona-art-prize/finalist-paintings/finalist-paintings-january-2017

Top 9 Painting and Drawing Teachers in Washington DC for 2017 -- Selected by Expertise.com.  See the list here.

Blog: For my latest art news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as and Artist at: http://jillbanks.blogspot.com/

Email: jill@jillbanks.com 

703.403.7435

Website: www.jillbanks.com
Subscribe to my email newsletter News From the Easel

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jill-Banks-Studio-278493468836508/
(Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

I Have A Rabbit Problem

"Rabbit and the Red Dish," 11"h x 14"w, oil, ©2017 Jill Banks

I can't stop painting them.  This was set-up for a demo in the first day of my Still Life class ... this morning.  I didn't get around to much of a demo, putting students to work right past the sketch and grisaille stage.  But, since my Evening Paint sessions don't start until next week, I took the chance to paint after class.

You'll find many rabbits in the Still Life Gallery under works on my web site ... plus a couple in the Animals Gallery.  https://jillbanks.com/

Spring Classes are Open For Registration

Classes are taught through the Arts of Great Falls School at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.  You could still join my Spring class listings including Evening Paint and Plein Air Landscape .  Have any questions, please email me at jill@jillbanks.com.  See my listing of all classes here: https://jillbanks.com/workshops

Upcoming Spring Art Events Officially on the Calendar for 2017
Hope you'll mark your calendars.
March 14-April 9: "No Place Like Home" juried exhibit, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon VA. Reception: Sunday, March 19, 3-5pm. Get more info on that exhibit here.  "Persimmons in the Kitchen" won Best in Show.
April 22-23: Arlington Festival of the Arts, Arlington, VA (more info to come)
April 29-30: Fairfax Fine Art Festival, Fairfax Corners, VA (more info to come)
April 29-30: Great Falls Spring Art Festival at the Atelier (756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) and the Grange/Schoolhouse plus more.  My work will be at the Atelier and hopefully I'll have a helper to greet you -- but see me at the Fairfax Fine Art Festival at my booth.
May 20-21: Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston, VA
June 2-4: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival, Philadelphia, PA
June 5-11: Bucks County Plein Air, PA
June 28-July 4: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO

Thank you for reading and your support... Hope to see you soon!

Jill


Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition, September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- out of 1440 entries.  More info on the competition here.


Finalist -- Sedona Art Prize, January 2017 for "Scene at the Bar" -- see the 12 Top Paintings selected by artist Robert Burridge here: https://www.sedonaartprize.com/about-sedona-art-prize/finalist-paintings/finalist-paintings-january-2017

Blog: For my latest art news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as and Artist at: http://jillbanks.blogspot.com/

Email: jill@jillbanks.com 

703.403.7435

Website: www.jillbanks.com
Subscribe to my email newsletter News From the Easel

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jill-Banks-Studio-278493468836508/
(Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/ 

Sunday, April 9, 2017

"Pairs of Parakeets" and Home Studio Visits

"Pairs of Parakeets," oil, 24"h x 12"w, ©2017 Jill Banks
Despite my blogging absence, there are actually a number of paintings "cooking" in my studio (and out and about) lately.  There are two plein air pieces of boats that need a little polishing. A really neat painting of Great Falls that's in progress.  Multiple portrait commissions coming together. And today, I went back to work on a piece "Pairs of Parakeets" that was lacking a signature and some more definition ... before a collector who owns parakeets came over to my house for a home art tour.

My photograph is awful.  Just what I get for waiting until dark to capture a wet painting.  A better one will go up on my website later.

About Home Studio Visits
There are a few times in the year that I'm able to make our home a rather perfect gallery to welcome collectors to see a full range of work. To do so generally requires tearing up my display at my studio in Great Falls and not being in the thralls of art shows or plein air competition seasons. This weekend was one of those rare times.

I'd been working on hanging the house and making  a list for a couple of days.  While the house was being prepared for my parakeet-owning collector, another admirer of my work had inquired about a piece she'd seen quite a long time ago and asked about seeing all of my available work.  While it isn't possible to see that -- this temporarily pulled together home collection was as close as I could get to accommodating that request.  Really, the stars aligned.

"Grace," oil, 24"h x 12"w, ©2017 Jill Banks -- one of 8 paintings purchased today.
She purchased a LOT of paintings on Sunday ... to be physically delivered later. They include many new and older favorites of husband Randy and mine including: "Grace," "Irish Pub" (of the Old Brogue), "Alice with a Bad Case of Wanderlust," "Tony," and "Parks and Recreation." "Alice" has been in my private collection until the showing this weekend when I decided it was okay to let her go ... as long as she was landing in a good home.  I know she'll have one.

I hung the house, too, in a way that would interest me ... with my best work, regardless of its new-ness.  My artwork has evolved over time, becoming more impressionistic -- but I love the best of yesterday and today.

Now the house will gradually return to being less put together with classes starting Tuesday morning and many fine art festivals starting in a couple of weeks. Maybe that's where you'll find a treasure of your own.

You know I'd love to see you!

Two More Pieces of News -- Women Artists Groups
I was just juried in as an associate member of Women Artists of the West -- a group I've been interested in being a part of since seeing an exhibit of theirs while in Estes Park, Colorado for a family reunion. I was impressed by both the work and the celebratory nature of the members.  There's a real need out there to promote the work and careers of women artists who are rather woefully underrepresented in collections, museums, galleries ... etc.  http://www.waow.org/

Another incredible arts organization for women is American Women Artists -- who are rolling up their sleeves to put together 25 museum shows in 25 years for their Associate and Associate Members with Distinction. (I'm an Associate Member with Distinction -- an honor awarded because one of my pieces managed to be accepted into their Annual National Exhibit a few years ago. They only accept 60 pieces total each year so the odds are slim.)  I did also find out that "Scene at the Bar" was accepted as a finalist in the American Women Artists Spring Online Show which will go up live on Tuesday, April 11 on their website.  While that number isn't limited to 60 ... there are just a little over 100 pieces selected and they are beautiful. So take a look online Tuesday or after.  It will be up for a year. https://americanwomenartists.org/

Spring Classes are Open For Registration

Classes are taught through the Arts of Great Falls School at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.  Spring class listings including Evening Paint, Plein Air Landscape and Still Life Plus are on my web site.  Have any questions, please email me at jill@jillbanks.com.  See my listing of all classes here: https://jillbanks.com/workshops

Upcoming Spring Art Events Officially on the Calendar for 2017
Hope you'll mark your calendars.
March 14-April 9: "No Place Like Home" juried exhibit, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon VA. Reception: Sunday, March 19, 3-5pm. Get more info on that exhibit here.  "Persimmons in the Kitchen" won Best in Show.
April 22-23: Arlington Festival of the Arts, Arlington, VA (more info to come)
April 29-30: Fairfax Fine Art Festival, Fairfax Corners, VA (more info to come)
April 29-30: Great Falls Spring Art Festival at the Atelier (756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA) and the Grange/Schoolhouse plus more.  My work will be at the Atelier and hopefully I'll have a helper to greet you -- but see me at the Fairfax Fine Art Festival at my booth.
May 20-21: Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston, VA
June 2-4: Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Festival, Philadelphia, PA
June 5-11: Bucks County Plein Air, PA
June 28-July 4: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO

Thank you for reading and your support... Hope to see you soon!

Jill


Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition, September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- out of 1440 entries.  More info on the competition here.


Finalist -- Sedona Art Prize, January 2017 for "Scene at the Bar" -- see the 12 Top Paintings selected by artist Robert Burridge here: https://www.sedonaartprize.com/about-sedona-art-prize/finalist-paintings/finalist-paintings-january-2017

Blog: For my latest art news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as and Artist at: http://jillbanks.blogspot.com/

Email: jill@jillbanks.com 

703.403.7435

Website: www.jillbanks.com
Subscribe to my email newsletter News From the Easel

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Jill-Banks-Studio-278493468836508/
(Please like that page if you like it...)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbanks1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/