"Dante Ristorante" Plein Air Painting Today

"Dante Ristorante, Leigh House", oil on Raymar by Jill Banks

Today I returned to this painting of the restaurant that's right next to the Artists' Atelier. The Colvin Run Historic Street Fair was on from noon-4pm and I had lots of visitors stop by while I painted to clue me in on the history of the building. Dante Ristorante is housed in the original Leigh House, home to generations of doctors. One of my visitors, who has lived in the area for 42 years, had frequented the home many times. To write this post, I researched further on the Dante Ristorante web site and found it has a rich history as the headquarters for a large dairy farm and the area's only "lying in" hospital. Now I'll look at my neighbor a bit differently!

As I said, I had a lot of visitors stop and talk. A favorite group were four young guys riding all over Great Falls on their bikes. They stopped to look and raved. That was nice! Two are into art ... enjoying it at school.

This coming Thursday, May 19 is Art Night Out!, a fundraiser for the Great Falls School of Art held at the Riverbend Country Club, 7 to 10pm with art auctions (I have four pieces in the auction), demos (I'll be painting), and entertainment. Cost is $75. Go to the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site for more info and to download a reply card.

100 Faces in 100 Days Exhibits

All 100 faces will be on view two times this Spring/Summer.  Come see!

May 3-31 at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA

Demo/Artist’s Talk: Saturday, May 21, 2-5pm

August 1-31 at the Gallery in the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

Reception: Friday, August 12, 6-9pm

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, August 13, 2-4pm

www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

Art Night Out 2010 Coming Up

"Corner Couple", 24"h x 18"w, oil on panel

Last week I delivered paintings for the upcoming Art Night Out 2010, the main fundraiser for the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (GFFFTA) to benefit the school (where I teach). Funds generated through ticket sales, raffles and the silent auction will help the organization secure workshop space, make facility improvements (like better lighting!), purchase equipment and market the school's programs.

Classes offered through the school (I teach regular classes on portrait painting and drawing and still life painting) are terrific with solid instruction offered to students of all levels and ages by established local and regional artists. (See more info about my Winter classes on my web page: www.JillBanks.com, click on classes. Just updated.)

Great Falls (Virginia) is a wonderful artful  community and the school, founded in 2008, offers classes that help the community discover or rediscover the artist within. Art enriches lives, helps us see the world through new eyes, and teaches us how to learn and become super problem solvers. As a teacher and observer of classes at the school taught by other instructors, I see great good happening here. Three hour classes fly by (even for the younger students). No one's ready to leave. Students go home satisfied that they know something more than when they walked in. There's a great sense of community growing, too. Friendships are formed.

"Nigerian Beauty", 24"h x 18"w, oil on panel

But, the school space needs help. It's too small to meet growing enrollment and comfortably house students and the "stuff" that comes with making art. The limited space precludes our being able to host larger workshops. Workshops are great for both the experienced professional artist who wants to hone skills and the budding artist who would like to try out an art form. A larger classroom makes for a more comfortable learning space and gives us the ability to enroll more students and attract other top-notch teachers to the school.

So those are some of the reasons why I'm supporting the school through my donations. I went a little nuts (perhaps) in my donations, with some real treasures here that will be available through silent auction at Art Night Out happening this coming Friday, November 19, 7-10pm at the Riverbend Country Club. Find out more at the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts "Art Night Out" page. Interested in obtaining tickets? Contact Chris Fraley at cfraley3@aol.com.

"Ellen: Alla Prima Portrait", 11"h x 14"w, oil on linen

All work protected by copyright by the artist: Jill Banks. "Corner Couple", 24"h x 18"w, oil on panel, copyright Jill Banks 2007. "Nigerian Beauty", 24"h x 18"w, oil on panel, copyright Jill Banks 2007. "Ellen: Alla Prima Portrait", 11"h x 14"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010. "Figure Drawing Class", 7"h x 5"w, sepia ink wash and pen&ink, copyright Jill Banks 2006(?).

I realized in putting up this post that I don't have a decent photo of either "Ellen: Alla Prima Portrait" or "Figure Drawing Class". That will have to be part of my mission at Art Night Out! on Friday. I will be demo'ing -- painting something -- as part of the festivities. Hope to see you there.

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

Art Night Out! A HUGE Success!

I get the distinct impression that Art Night Out!, the annual gala fundraising event of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts is truly the "party of the year." Tons of chocolate, great wine, art supporters, artists and art enthusiasts, beautiful setting in the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 15 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA), a silent auction, strawberries, cappucino, fun conversations -- were all part of the mix making this the place to be this past Friday night, November 20.

Anjanette Murphy was the event chairperson. Her committee team were like magic elves -- transforming our studio space, hanging the show for the silent auction, bringing in incredible food, catering, and drinks and inviting and bringing in a fantastic crowd. I don't know how many people were there -- but I don't think we could have fit in one more person. It was packed!

All three of the pieces I donated to the auction went to new homes. Yea! That means I sold my third (out of three) "Bellydancer" painting -- so it's time to start thinking about the fourth. I also sold my "Town Center Fountain" ink wash drawing. I love showing my drawings and paintings together ... they represent the two "sides" of me.  The drawings also offer people an opportunity to collect my work at an affordable price -- and they still get to own a beautiful original piece.

I can't wait 'til next year! Thanks to everyone who bought tickets, bought art, contributed work or food and drink, worked on the event or sponsored it. What a great success!

The photos from top to bottom: The buffet table pre-guests, my mom and dad (Ken and Shonnie Johnson) taking a chocolate tour around the world, signs of an animated evening, Randy and me in my downstairs studio/gallery space (I have space upstairs and downstairs) - photo taken by friend and fellow artist Adrienne Kralick, and a view of the party through the strawberries.

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