First Day of the Great Falls Annual Studio Tour ... and a Cow

"Persimmons, Melon and a Cow" work in progress, oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©2015 Jill Banks

A big thank you to all who visited the Artists' Atelier ... and me in the studio today on the first (of three) days of the Great Falls 12th Annual Studio Tour. "Persimmons, Melon and a Cow" is what I was painted during my promised daily painting demonstration ... from noon to 1pm in the Great Falls School of Art space adjacent to the Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.  Come visit on Saturday, October 17, when we're open from 10am to 5pm. I'll be demo'ing again ... but instead of capturing a still life will be painting a very quick alla prima portrait. Stop in anytime but if you're there from noon to 1pm, you'll start to see a portrait emerge on the canvas.

For "Persimmons, Melon and a Cow" -- I incorporated a cast iron cow sculpture purchased yesterday at DePaul's Urban Farm in Vienna, VA. It was the last day of my Plein Air landscape class and the owners of DePaul's graciously allowed my class to set up throughout their beautiful property. While I wasn't painting, instead teaching, the setting was so inspiring, artful.  Turns out the owners are artists and pansies, mums, pumpkins, gourds, market stands and displays are their canvas.  If you are anywhere close, stop by and see Autumn at its best at DePaul's at 2499 Chain Bridge Road in Vienna, VA. Tell me what you think. Maybe this weekend? Farm market shopping and the Great Falls Annual Studio Tour ... what could be better?

Studio Tour hours:
Friday, October 16: noon to 5pm
Saturday, October 17: 10am to 5pm
Sunday, October 18: noon to 5pm.

Winter classes are now up, too, on my web site. Take a look!  Find out more during Studio Tour.

October 16-18:  Great Falls 12th Annual Studio Tour, (I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066). Self-guided tour of the home or group studios of 44 Great Falls artists. Hours: Friday and Sunday, Noon to 5pm. Saturday, 10am to 5pm. I'll be giving a painting demo from Noon to 1pm each day of the tour.

Pass the word. Invite your art-loving friends to join you... please.

Thanks for reading!

Jill

Phone: 703.403.7435

Email: jill@jillbanks.com
Web: www.JillBanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com

See the Events page for more info/updates

October 16-18:  Great Falls 12th Annual Studio Tour, (I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066). Self-guided tour of the home or group studios of 44 Great Falls artists. Hours: Friday and Sunday, Noon to 5pm. Saturday, 10am to 5pm. I'll be giving a painting demo from Noon to 1pm each day of the tour.

October 19-25:  Plein Air Brandywine Valley, Juried plein air competition, wet paint show and sale in Delaware.

December 3-6: One Of A Kind Show and Sale, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL

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

Last Day to See "On the Bright Side" Exhibit

In case you've missed it, today's the last day to view my "On the Bright Side" solo exhibit at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. The show includes 23 paintings and drawings that give you a solid glimpse into my joyful-leaning outlook on life. Turn off the news. Go see the show.

Tomorrow's the last day to see "Still Life Poetry" an invitational group exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA, open tomorrow 1-3pm. I have four pieces there including "Sunflowers and Gladioli", "Peonies", "Sunday Morning" and "Peppermint Stick and Pencil". It's a great exhibt. Don't miss it either!

I'll be in my studio today (Saturday), the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls from noon-4pm -- probably painting apples. Maybe oranges. Maybe Michelle. Maybe a commission.

There are my marching orders for you this weekend. I hope they work.

I still don't have evidence that the subscribe via email section is working. Keep checking this site until you start to get posts via email from me. Thanks!

"Rainy Day Market" is my postcard image for the "On the Bright Side" show. Remarkably, it's still available for purchase. Oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

First Friday and the "Go Figure" Exhibit

We hung the "Go Figure" show at the Artists' Atelier (working studios and gallery spaces I share with 15 other artists in Great Falls, VA) ... in time for some tweaking before Friday's "First Friday" 7-9 opening. We could have put up a show about three times this size -- it seems we share a passion for portrait and figure paintings. After much deliberating, rearranging, measuring and pounding, all of us in the hanging crew kept patting each other on the back for a job well done. Come join us this Friday, June 5, 7-9pm for art, refreshments and some fun -- and tell me what you think. 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA (behind Dante Ristorante near the corner of Walker Road and Colvin Run Rd.).


In addition to changing the exhibit in the gallery, many of us have plenty of new pieces to see throughout the Atelier. My area looks like my obsession with food is calming a bit. More people; less frosting.

There will be an exhibit in the school gallery, Suite D, of work created by students of the Great Falls School of Art. The work is impressive... showing what can be accomplished with small classes, good instruction and dedicated students. Registration is going on now for Summer classes. Download the summer bulletin at the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site or pick one up on Friday night.

See you then!

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

Come to the Artists' Atelier "Go Figure" Exhibit Friday, June 5

Tomorrow we're hanging a new exhibit "Go Figure" in the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (GFFFTA) Gallery ... that's located at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA ... the Artists' Atelier working studios and gallery spaces. This exhibit includes nudes and not-so-nudes, paintings, photographs and drawings. The exhibit runs throughout the month of June. Come see it and other new works by the Atelier artists during First Friday, June 5, 7-9pm (we're open the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm), or on Saturdays, noon to 4pm. You're also welcome to call and I'll show you around. (703) 403-7435.

Two of my paintings that will be on view are shown above. I'll also have many drawings (charcoal, ink washes, watercolor washes, chalk drawings). "Standing Nude", oil, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007. "Reclining Nude", oil, 20"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007.

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

First Friday Open House at the Artists' Atelier

You're cordially invited this Friday, December 5, 2008, 7-9pm to attend our first "First Friday" Open House at the working studios and gallery space I share with 13 other artists. 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066. Contact me at (703) 403-7435 or jillbanks1@aol.com for more info. Very light refreshments will be served -- and this is a great time to stop by and see some art fresh off (and on) the easel.


See more Artists' Atelier artists' work on our sites:
Jill Banks: web site and blog
Jennifer Duncan
Elaine Elinsky
Frances Vecchi
Heidi Mraz
Adrienne Kralick
John Francis McCabe
Brenda Drake

Other artist members of the Atelier are:
Margaret Power, Diane Falconer, Mehrnaz Moussavi, Mary Orr, Mollie Vardell and Judith St. Ledger-Roty.

In case you can't make it to see us this Friday night, our new open hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon-4pm. That doesn't mean we'll all be there then -- but some of us will be. I hope to see you soon!

Jill Banks

A Boat and a Car

Transportation seems to be on my mind. I finished up two paintings today. "Touring", a small painting of a woman sitting next to her car, seems to speak of more carefree times. "Ferrari Boat" shows some more Italian men sun-spangled in a Murano canal. Both will be featured in my studio space for this weekend's Great Falls Studio Tour. Please come, visit, enjoy!



Friday night is pre-tour party night at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066 (3rd floor -- but not as bad as that sounds) from 7-9pm. There's a raffle for Art Bucks (money to spend on the tour) and you're invited to wear a hat and participate in a contest for the most creative, and craziest, I believe.

Then the tour is all around Great Falls this coming Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm each day. Bring your checkbooks. You can pick up a booklet with map and other locations at the Atelier and at other stops on the tour. Or print one out at the Great Falls Studios web site (www.greatfallsstudios.com).

"Touring," 8"h x 10"w, oil on Senso linen canvas, copyright Jill Banks 2008
"Ferrari Boat," 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen canvas, copyright Jill Banks 2008

Where to See My Work: An Update

"Tea with Anne" is in the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's Annual Open Exhibition at the National Arts Club from September 23 to October 13. 15 Gramercy Park South, NY, NY 10003. Phone: 212-475-3424. See my earlier post about this show.











A charcoal of "John" is in the Art League monthly juried show through October 7. "Male Torso" is also in the Art League gallery on view until October 7.105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA. Gallery phone:703-683-1780.


"Summer Reading", "Striped Skirt" and "Orchestra at Florian's" are in the Art at the Mill show in Millwood, VA.15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA. Phone: 540-955-2600.

"Hog Wild", "Alice with a Bad Case of Wanderlust", "Nigerian Beauty", "Cabaret" and "Kathy After the Dance"--five interesting portraits-- are in my solo show, "La Femme" at the Bastille Restaurant in Alexandria, VA through the beginning of December.1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: (703) 519-3776.

Check on this before visiting, but at Chasen Galleries in Richmond, you can see (and buy) some of my restaurant series: "Through the Window", "Corner Couple", "After Hours", "Friends in Florence" and "Like Husband, Like Wife". They also have a still life "Food and Games." 3554 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA 23221. Phone: 800-524-2736.

At Chasen Galleries in Charlotte, North Carolina, see "Home Again, Home Again" and "Pumpkinfied".2850 Selwyn Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28209. Phone: 704-376-0066

And more, in my studio at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G. Come take a look. Best bet, make an appointment. Call me at (703) 403-7435 or email me: jillbanks1@aol.com


See my web site (www.jillbanks.com) for photos of some of the paintings listed here. Need more info? Contact me.

All images are copyrighted. All rights reserved.