L'Auberge Chez Francois Paintings

Yesterday, Randy and I went to L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA to celebrate my birthday. We had a great dinner as usual, finished with a chocolate souffle. I collected plenty of ideas for new restaurant paintings -- but thought I'd share two I've already painted of this spot. The first, "The Celebration", 30"h x 40"w, depicts friends and fellow artist (photographer) Walt Lawrence, his wife Maria and sister-in-law Bernie enjoying an anniversary and birthday celebration themselves. This painting is in Walt and Maria's collection (so not for sale), but it is a good example of the non-traditional portraits I'm doing. The second painting is another scene from L'Auberge. It will be included in my display this weekend at the Great Falls Studios Annual Holiday Art Show and Sale at 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, VA. The Show is on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 & 14, 10am-5pm both days.

Making Headlines

Randy and I were out to dinner at the Brogue this past Wednesday and I happened to pick up a copy of the Great Falls Connection. On the cover, there's a small photo of me ... which is duplicated, larger in the E Section. This is part of the article "Great Falls Artists Gear Up for Tour" that gives a preview of the Studio Tour that's planned for October 18 & 19. You can read the story online.

The most interesting part to me is the caption under my picture that reads "Painter Jill Banks has created dozens of portraits, still life studies, and other paintings, mostly in oil, to display at her studio space during the Annual Great Falls Art Studios Tour, Oct. 18 and 19." Dozens of paintings -- that's a lot!

Come to the Great Falls Farmers' Market Saturday

Saturday, August 23 -- that's tomorrow as I write this -- from 9am to 1pm, I'll be set up to sell paintings and drawings in my own booth at the Farmers' Market in the Great Falls Village Centre (Great Falls, VA 22066). That's on the corner of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike, across the street from the Safeway.

Husband, Randy, is framing away. I'm trying out different arrangements in the garage -- see pic -- and I hope to see you there! I'll even have my own produce section. In paint, that is.

This will be my second time at the Farmers' Market. The first time, I sold three paintings. I hope to top that.

Some of what you'll see there: a painting of L'Auberge Chez Francois, the huge still life "On the Chopping Block" that was in the Gallery 222 "Something Hot" show, "Home Again, Home Again" -- another huge still life, and other restaurant scenes that are soon to go into a solo show in Alexandria -- assuming you don't decide to take them home. There are scenes from around Great Falls including "Sidewalk Sale" and "Sisson Landscapes."

Finalist in Artist's Magazine's 25th Annual Art Competition

I just found out that my painting "Max" is a finalist in Artist's Magazine's 25th Annual Art Competition in the Animal/Wildlife Category. The pooch's owners are Jim and Kathy Gudger -- longtime, great friends who let me "borrow" their poodle for this animal portrait. I was painting it for my entry in the Artists' Atelier show at Seneca Hill Animal Hospital and Spa in Great Falls, VA -- but it was bought off my easel within a day or two of completing it. It didn't last long -- thus I ended up painting my Murano cat for that show -- featured in an earlier post. That exhibit ends Monday, August 4.

This is my second time as a finalist. The first time around was in the portrait category for "Alan."