Life as an Artist- Jill Banks: #jillbanksart

Friday, June 14, 2019

"Date Night" Wins First Place in Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air

And the winner is... Date Night, Little City ... my plein air painting of the Dogwood Tavern ... taking First Place. A big thank you to judge, Glen Kessler, the Founder and Director of the Compass Atelier and the Falls Church Arts folks including its intrepid President, Barb Cram. What a great event!

On Saturday, June 15, the artwork created over the past weeks or months for the Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air was on view (and for sale) at the Farmer's Market at City Hall, 300 Park Ave in Falls Church VA from 9am to 2pm. There was a quick draw from 8am to 11pm with those paintings immediately displayed and judged with awards for both competitions announced at noon. Lots of great work and congrats to all the winners!

Saturday, June 15
"Scenes in the City" Plein Air Schedule
City Hall/Farmer's Market
300 Park Ave, Falls Church VA
9am to 2pm - Competition Paintings on Display/For Sale
8am to 11am - Quick Draw/Registration at 8am
Noon - Awards Announcements
People's Choice voting in the morning for the competition paintings - pick your favorites.

This is the second time I've entered this event ... and maybe the best since the area becomes a little more familiar and I tend to dig deeper.

Three paintings were handed in today to be displayed while I seek out my quick draw spot in the morning. Spring in Pinks and Greens was the first created this year -- painted over two afternoons as spring was peaking and moving beyond.

Coming up next was Date Night, Little City - painted in the parking lot behind the Dogwood Tavern another set of afternoons/early evenings.

In each of the three "scenes" chosen, people were gathering. "Spring in Pinks and Greens" is at the Cherry Hill Historic Farmhouse with Girl Scout Troops playing in the yard. "Date Night, Little City" was a mixture of dates and get-togethers during the beginning of warm and comfortable days.

My last of the three was a joy. On the way to Falls Church Arts via a different route, I passed Lincoln Park, a neighborhood playground and green space filled with toddlers and kids with a bevy of vehicles called constantly into action. It was pretty funny as a plein air painting location since there was some sort of unwritten rule that if I started to paint any of the unoccupied vehicles ... uh, they immediately became the car of choice. Okay, I've been through this so many times before. Patience. I'd get another view of it similar enough if enough time passed.

Creating "Making Memories" of Lincoln Park
became more than recording objects. This place, according to what I witnessed that day and what others told me ... is really magical. Full of friendships, family time, joy.

These three paintings will be on view at the Falls Church Arts Gallery
700-B W Broad Street (Route 7)
Falls Church, VA
Hours: 11-6 Tuesday-Saturday and 11-4 Sunday.
Ask for the work from "Scenes in the City"
Not sure how long they will be there.

Thanks for reading,

Jill

www.JillBanks.com
Jill@JillBanks.com
703.403.7435

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/JillBanksStudio/ (Please like that page if you like it...)

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

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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.

Read the Article: "Christmas Card Paintings: 46 Years and Counting"Here's a link to the article in Fine Art Today, published by Fine Art Connoisseur December 2018.

Read the Article: "A Paris Plein Air Adventure" published by Outdoor Painter (from Plein Air Magazine)

COMING UP

June 1 - August 31 - American Impressionist Society (AIS) Small Works Showcase, Petoskey MI - "Cat House" chosen by AIS jurors as one of approximately 200 small works by some of the nation's finest impressionist artists.

June 15 - Falls Church "Scenes in the City" Plein Air Competition Awards and Exhibit

June 28 - American Women Artists Museum Exhibition Reception - Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs CO (exhibit runs from May 24-September 2 - "On Top of the World" selected for this prestigious show)

June 29 - July 6 - Telluride Plein Air - Telluride CO

July 13 & 14 - Wickford Fine Art Festival, Wickford RI

September 12 - October 12 - Women Artists of the West Mountain Aire National Exhibition, Mary Williams Fine Arts, Boulder CO

September 13-15 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA

September 21-22 - 17th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival, Alexandria VA

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

"Still Life Stories" Solo Show Reception, Saturday, May 11, 3-5pm

You are SO invited! It's unusual for me to put up a show focused on still lifes vs. street scenes, figurative work ... and it looks great. Now "Still Life Stories" needs an audience ... YOU.

Saturday, May 11, 3-5pm at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA 22066. Hope to see you there! From 3:30 to 4:30pm, I'll be painting -- glad to have you sit for an informal demo while enjoying your surroundings. Want to reserve a seat? Email me at jill@jillbanks.com or text to 703.403.7435.

For the past few days, I've been working on a really challenging still life that's been occupying the window seat at my studio in the Artists' Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls. Long days spent at the easel trying to beat the inevitable flower meltdown happening before my eyes. If I'm happy with this tomorrow, it might be a guest painting at Saturday's reception.

Paintings other than still lifes can be found in my space at the Artists' Atelier and soon at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival at the Reston Town Center May 17-19. Hope to see you at whatever event/happening fits your schedule.

COMING UP SOON

May 11 - Reception 3-5pm, "Still Life Stories" Solo Exhibit, Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls VA - painting something or someone from 3:30 to 4:30pm. RSVP to jill@jillbanks.com if you would like me to save you a seat.

May 17-19 - Northern Virginia Fine Art Festival, Reston VA

June 7-9 - Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, Philadelphia PA