Delivering a Wall Full of Emmas

Oil portraits of granddaughter Emma by Jill Banks. The order shown above are top row (left to right): Months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and bottom row (right to left): Months 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and one year.  Thus, month 1 is directly above her one year portrait.

 
There's nothing like a wall full of twelve portraits of Emma to light up a room ... well, except for that little girl herself. (She's awfully good at that.)

"Granddaughter Emma at Month One," oil, 10"h x 8"w,  ©Jill Banks

On Christmas Day, we delivered and hung twelve 8"x10" portraits celebrating each month of granddaughter Emma's first year at son Sam and daughter-in-law Michelle's family room.  Every aspect of creating, finishing, framing and hanging them was a labor of love. Not for the faint-hearted ... and I think husband Randy might just want a new painting hanging partner.

Starting this project, it was really tough to know whether I'd "captured her." Each month, Emma grew more into herself ... and luckily I had the chance to spend more time with her.  I fell out of sync with the portrait a month at month 8, with that portrait not going well at all. With two attempts at that original image, I finally gave up on it and eventually a new one took its place.  Month nine was fine and posted but after that, my portrait posting took a substantial hiatus while commissions, art events, competitions, teaching, traveling, etc. took over.

"Emma in Blue -- Ten Months, " oil, 10"h x 8"w, ©2017 Jill Banks

In the last couple of weeks, I painted the new month 8, month 10, month 11 and Emma at one year.  Then, I returned to months one and four with a fresh eye and finished the edges or bottoms or tops of the beginning portraits as originally they were going to be 8" x 8" squares and later we decided to keep them as 8"x 10"s.

Although these are twelve portraits of Emma, each one is so unique. Creating these portraits definitely reminded me of my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project. I was learning with each one.  And when someone sat for me during the 100 Faces Project, I saw so many potential ways to portray each person.  Different emotions, moods, parts of that person's character that could be displayed.

I do accept a limited number of portrait (and other) commissions a year.  (Read more about commissioning a portrait here.) Several are already in the wings for 2018.

See examples of work in the People and Portrait gallery here on my web site (which includes commissioned and non-commissioned work).

Read more about my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project here.

Once a year, I offer a Painting or Drawing the Portrait Class -- and that starts on Sunday, January 28 -- taught through the Arts of Great Falls School at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA -- right across the hall from the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 10 other artists. The class is challenging and fun ... and I'd love to have you join us. Click on the link above for more info and to register.

Two other classes are offered on Tuesdays: Still Life Plus (CLASS FULL) and Evening Paint (ALMOST FULL) starting on January 23.  Get more info about all offerings on my Classes page.

"Emma at Eight Months" (in Santa's lap - 2016), oil, 10"h x 8"w,  ©2017 Jill Banks

To see each of the portraits of Emma, click the links below:
Granddaughter Emma - Month One
Month Two
Emma Thinks You're Funny: Grandbaby's Portrait Month Three
Granddaughter Emma at Four Months
Lunch with Emma at Five Months
Peek a Boo - Emma at Six Months
Granddaughter Emma at Seven Months
Emma at Eight Months (version 3)
Emma at Nine Months
Emma in Blue - Ten Months
Lucky Emma (at 11 Months) 
Emma at One (Year) 
(Feel free to tell me your favorites ... and why. I'd love to hear from you!)

Son Sam with granddaughter Emma on Christmas Day after the hanging crew (husband Randy and I) had redecorated the family room with lots of Emmas.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and wish you a very Happy New Year!

Jill Banks

A Few Events
Women Artists of the West Annual Exhibition at McBride Gallery in Annapolis MD through December 31 ("Better Days" included in the exhibit)

January 9-26: Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Open Juried Exhibition at the National Arts Club in NYC.  ("Randy and Me" included in the exhibit. ) Benefit Reception supporting the Metropolitan Museum of Art: January 19, 5:30 to 8pm at the National Arts Club

February 1-June 3: Women Artists of the West Spring Showcase at RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, TX (I'm one of 50 artists included in the showcase with up to five pieces at one time over this four month period.  I plan to attend and demo at one of the First Friday openings while my work is there ... just haven't picked which one.

Classes
Painting the Portrait in Oils -- Sundays, starting January 28
Still Life Plus -- Tuesdays, 10:30am to 1:30pm starting January 23 (CLASS FULL)
Evening Paint -- Tuesdays, 6:30 to 9:30pm
Taught through the Arts of Great Falls School in Great Falls, VA.  Register now.

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

Email: jill@jillbanks.com

Website: www.jillbanks.com

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 (New): https://www.instagram.com/jillbanks1/

Read the Article: Southwest Art Artist to Watch,  July 2017
Here's a link to the PDF of the wonderful Artist to Watch article written by Kim Agricola.