Bethesda Row Art Festival This Weekend - October 12 & 13

Hope to see you at Booth #W18 on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda MD.

Meet me at Booth #W18 on Woodmont Ave in Bethesda MD for the largest fine art festival in the region.  Looks like it will be UNBELIEVABLY great!

Bethesda Row Art Festival

Saturday, October 12, 11am to 6pm

Sunday, October 13, 10am to 5pm

You need my booth number W18 - on Woodmont Avenue between Elm Street and Hampden Lane - to be sure you'll find me -- I'm NOT in the program.

Get more info on my Events page here.

 Getting There:

METRO

The show is two blocks from the Bethesda Metro Station (Red Line). At the top of the escalator, turn left through the bus terminal to Woodmont Avenue. Turn left on Woodmont and walk into the festival.

DRIVING

The public garage in the middle of the festival is accessible from Bethesda Avenue via Arlington Road, and other lots near the event are also open. Please do not park in private lots, or the lots of other businesses.

BIKING

The Capital Crescent Trail crosses the show at the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Avenue. There is plenty of bike parking throughout the show. Please do not block sidewalks or walkways.

 

Great Falls Studio Tour is Next After That -- October 18-20 -- Hope to See You At Both.
Our vehicle is packed with paintings, a tent and all the trappings to be unpacked, put up, spiffed up and presented ... hopefully to you starting at 11am on Saturday morning, October 12.   It's the second to last major public art event of 2019 (some Atelier First Fridays, a holiday gathering and my collectors party in November/December).  On October 18-20 is the Great Falls Studio Tour -- where I'll be that Friday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm daily at the Artists' Atelier at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA.

Each show and event is different -- not completely so but I can generally present more work in a booth/outdoor festival setting and depending on the show, I'll sometimes limit what kinds of art showing where.  Bethesda definitely has a concentration of urban and rural landscapes while a wider mix can be seen during Studio Tour.

October 12-13 - Bethesda Row Art Festival, Woodmont Ave., Bethesda MD

October 18-20 - Great Falls Annual Studio Tour,  Great Falls VA - Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road

Exhibits

Thru November 3 - Long Beach Island Plein Air Plus Exhibition, Loveladies NJ

Thru October 12 - Women Artists of the West Mountain Aire National Exhibition, Boulder CO

Thru October 31 - Baltimore Nocturnes, Highlandtown Gallery, Baltimore MD - "Late Night on Light Street" awarded second place by judge Tim Kelly.

Visit my studio in the heart of Great Falls

Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA. Regular Open hours: Wednesdays, Noon to 4pm and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm. Or by appointment, 703.403.7435 or chance. First Friday Art Walk, April to December, 6-8pm

"Back in Time," oil, 12"h x 16"w -- painted plein air in Bologna Italy -- will be in my booth this weekend.

 

Contact me with any questions/comments here.  Web: www.JillBanks.com (subscribe to receive my email newsletter)  

Phone: 703.403.7435

Follow me on Facebook: JillBanksStudio

Follow me on Instagram: jillbanks1

Really Hope to See You Soon!

Jill (Banks)

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

Another Happy Studio Tour Day

"Kensington Gardens"

Despite a Redskins game, we had a steady, enthusiastic crowd today as well for the Great Falls Art Studios Tour. Young and old(er) came out to enjoy the day of art and inspiration. I'm exhausted ... as are the rest of my studiomates ... as are I bet artists all around Great Falls. We had 48 artists participating, opening up their studios for anyone who wanted to come take a look. It's funny. Everything gets examined. Like the rubber mats that line our floor to help our feet make it through painting sessions. Or the taborets we use for storing supplies and resting our palettes.

"Elgin Marble"

A young girl came up to me with a huge happy hello. She had painted (as I had) in the Paint Herndon! competition on September 3 and we had both won an award. She even sold her award-winning painting (I didn't sell mine) -- her first sale of art for $100 at that show. When I was at the awards ceremony that night, I remember the judges commenting that it was the youngsters art that blew their socks off. This young girl was one of the big reasons why. One more note, she had been enrolled in an adult class in Reston taught by Pam Coulter for a session ... and then wasn't in class the next term. The Reston Community Center wouldn't allow young people in an adult class. I think that's a shame. Why? We'd have some amazing artists if they started with real art education early on.

Personally, I had an amazing weekend. I met and saw so many people who love my work ... and who had a difficult time figuring out which ones they liked best. Many purchased work ... and here's my rundown of work that's found some happy new homes this weekend:

"Give Me A Kiss"

"Kensington Gardens": an ink wash/pen & ink drawing from my trip to London this Spring went to one of my friends from Rob Liberace's class
"Elgin Marble": a graphite drawing done in the British Museum of a horse's head from the Parthenon
"Give Me A Kiss": the frog beanie baby went to a volunteer at the Great Falls Library where I've held several solo shows. She bought this on Saturday.
"Who Goes There?": the mouse beanie baby afraid of its own shadow went to the same purchaser as "Give Me A Kiss" -- just one day later.
"White Peonies" went home with one of my 100 Faces and her husband
"Sprinkles and Dots Cupcake" went home with another one of my 100 Faces, friend, fellow artist and enthusiastic collector

"Who Goes There?"

"Il Gatto" went home with former neighbors who were finally able to make it to one of my (many) art events. My Italian cat reminded her of all the cats in Greece that hung out next to green shutters.

Pretty exciting, rewarding, cool day. Thank you to everyone who came, talked, shared, listened and shopped this weekend.

This week's a bit nuts ... but it should make for some good blog posts.

Time for bed.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Out & About Norfolk Plein Air Painting Event, October 20-22 

ON EXHIBIT

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s 115th Annual Open Juried Exhibit

National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC, October 4-28

"White Peonies"

The Art League's October All-Media Membership Exhibit,  105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. My charcoal drawing of "Oscar" was juried in and will be on view through November 7. "Cubanelle and Roses" is in the Bin Gallery.

American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National,Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC, Nov. 1-11

To read more about the 100 Faces in 100 Days project on my web site (www.jillbanks.com), go to the 100 Faces Project Pages 1 and 2 where you can see all 100 of my volunteers. Click on the paintings, and go to my blog post for that person's sitting.

"Il Gatto"

"Sprinkles and Dots Cupcake"

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 1 (faces 1-54): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 2 (faces 55-100): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project_2.html
Email

The Power Went Out

My Area of the Studio a Few Days Ago ... More's Been Added Since

I'd show you an updated version of the Artists' Atelier, a day and a half away from the Great Falls Studio Tour, but the power went out. We are yet under another deluge of rain. A tornado warning. Etc.

What I really wanted to show you was how Randy hung my nine Beanie Baby paintings together. They look great en masse and are now filling up the window space. Maybe a photo tomorrow?

For Studio Tour, there are 48 artists participating in 29 locations throughout Great Falls, VA. It's free. It's fun.

I don't mean this wrong ... but people buy art on the Tour. Not coming, means that piece you love, may not be there at the next event. (I only offer originals. One piece, one owner.)

The Studio Tour is the event that inspires the budding artist within. Those 48 artists are demonstrating their process, talking about their inspiration and encouraging others. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that remind me of how a conversation I had with them at this event -- made them return to creating art. People who profess to not be artists find out a creative outlet, and art-making can be something for them, too. It's truly an amazing experience not to be missed ... for people of all ages.

Start your tour at the Artists' Atelier at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, in Great Falls, VA. The Tour is Saturday and Sunday, October 15&16, 10am-5pm. We'll have refreshments ready although last year's crowds consumed every crumb we could muster.  I'll be in my corner waiting to see you. We'll have brochures with maps to plan the rest of your weekend.  Be a tour-goer! See you soon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, Oct. 15&16, 10am-5pm

Artists‘ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA

Out & About Norfolk Plein Air Painting Event, October 20-22 

ON EXHIBIT

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s 115th Annual Open Juried Exhibit

National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC, October 4-28

"Cubanelle and Roses," oil, 10"h x 8"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

The Art League's October All-Media Membership Exhibit,  105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. My charcoal drawing of "Oscar" was juried in and will be on view through November 7. "Cubanelle and Roses" is in the Bin Gallery.

American Artists Professional League 83rd Grand National

Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC, Nov. 1-11
To read more about the 100 Faces in 100 Days project on my web site (www.jillbanks.com), go to the 100 Faces Project Pages 1 and 2 where you can see all 100 of my volunteers. Click on the paintings, and go to my blog post for that person's sitting.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 1 (faces 1-54): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 2 (faces 55-100): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project_2.html
Email

Painting Magnolia Leaves, Seeds and Gourds

For today's Still Life class today, one of my students brought in these beautiful magnolia leaves and seed pods ... and gourds ...  and tomatoes to paint and to share. It wasn't until the class had ended that this setup sucked me in ... and made me pull out my paints. (The class keeps me hopping from beginning to end, anyway.)

This is definitely a complicated scene to paint. The work in progress, today's start, probably doesn't look all that exciting to you, but I'm liking it. What I'm drawn to in this setup is its three-dimensionality. It is filled with movement and spikes in height, roundness and striking shadows, plus beautifully open spaces of abstract shapes. So that's what I have to get at. I'm not sure how the objects will change each day. Pretty sure the tomato doesn't have long so I tried to develop it a bit more. Lots and lots to do, plus this canvas is pretty large -- 30"h x 24"w -- so I'll have to "paint like the wind."

The McLean Artfest this weekend was really nice. Lots of very enthusiastic visitors who stayed, chatted, worked on figuring out what to buy, oohed and aahed, etc. Two drawings (real favorites) "View from the Pantheon Steps" and "Barrel" plus "Stacked," a brand new donut painting sold, plus I believe more will sell during Studio Tour (October 16&17) as a result of this weekend's show. Get more info on the Great Falls Annual Studios Tour at www.GreatFallsStudios.com. I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA for this terrific self-guided, free, art tour event.

"Magnolia Leaves and Gourds" work in progress day one, 30"h x 24"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010.
"Stacked," 10"h x 8"w, oil, copyright Jill Banks 2010, SOLD.



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