Michelle and My Son Sam: BIG News

The REALLY, really big GREAT news I have to share is that my little kid, son Sam had quite a week and proposed to his girlfriend Michelle last night. It wasn't enough that he went through surgery for a deviated septum (on Michelle's birthday), a stomach virus, and healing this week ... during Spring Break at Virginia Tech. He bought an engagement ring (with a bandaged nose) and proposed. And, Michelle said yes.

We are thrilled. Both Sam and Michelle are lucky people to have each other to spend the rest of their lives with. They are just fun to be around and terrific individuals. Even better together!

I've so enjoyed getting to know Michelle. How lucky I am to be getting her as my daughter-in-law! She's an incredibly caring, supportive person who obviously deeply loves my son. When Sam (nose bandaged, sick to his stomach) asked Michelle if she wanted anything ... she said "yes, for you to get better." To know her is to love her.  I'd say Sam agrees.

To know Sam is to love him. They are just right for each other.

Last summer I painted two portraits of Michelle while she was staying with us for the month. Her parents own "Michelle I" and Sam owns "Michelle II".  Something I found interesting is that her Mom (and Michelle) like their portrait ("Michelle I") the best and Sam likes his portrait ("Michelle II") the best. How'd that happen?

You can read more about those portraits on earlier blog posts:
"Michelle II"
"Michelle I Getting Better"
"Two Alla Prima Portraits: Lots of Michelles"

The only odd thing for me about this news is that I'm now the Mom of someone getting married. That must mean I'm out of my 20s. I've noticed that as I grow older, I find myself on the other side of events ... you remember when the same moments happened to you ... and now you know what your parents felt and experienced during those big moments in your life. Sam talked to Randy and I about his plan last Friday night. On Saturday, while Michelle was taking care of Sam, Randy and I walked around the quad at Virginia Tech ... taking it all in. Excited but still adjusting to this new stage in our life. It just so happened that a wedding was taking place at the chapel there as we walked. I kept thinking of the song "Time Passages".

Congratulations Sam and Michelle!

Left: Michelle's newly adorned left hand.

Top: "Michelle I", oil on linen, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Middle: "Michelle II", oil on linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Michelle I" Finished and Day 4 for "Tranquility"

It was a good painting day today. This morning was day 4 for a live modeling session for the Artists' Atelier painters. (I share studio space with 15 other artists at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066.) I made a lot of progress on "Tranquility", working during the first few sittings on the model's face, then her leg and shoe and more on her outfit. I also started sketching in the background ... a scene from the studio.

Then, I finished up working on "Michelle I" -- a painting I started in preparation for the public demo I gave as part of my "On the Bright Side" solo show this summer. "Michelle I" is a portrait of Michelle Anonick, my son Sam's girlfriend. It's a fitting portrait -- I can see "her" in the painting -- and that's a good thing.  She's a natural beauty, inside and out.

This coming Friday, November 6, is First Friday at the Artists' Atelier (1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066), 7-9pm. Art donated for the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts Gala (November 20, 7:30-10pm, see the GFFFTA web site for more info) will be hanging in the gallery  and on our moveable walls. Come take a look and pick your favorites for silent auction on the 20th.

Then on Saturday, I'm off to NYC for a reception of the American Artists' Professional League's Grand National 2009 being held on Sunday at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue in NYC, 2-5pm. My painting "Sunflowers II" was juried into that show that is on exhibit at this esteemed arts club from November 3 to November 13. So, I won't be in the Atelier for regular open hours this Saturday ... but you can still visit from noon-4pm.

"Tranquility" work in progress day 4, oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"Michelle I", oil on linen, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435