"Arance, Oranges" Finished

I should never say what I'm going to do the next day -- because inevitably I change my mind. Yesterday, I decided to finish this painting of oranges from a Florence, Italy market. (Instead of writing the post I told you I'd do the day before.) I thought that finishing "Arance" meant filling in the blank areas, that much of it was complete as is. But no. I worked on just about every inch in a 12 hour painting marathon. A little lunch. A very, very late dinner. At least I'm thinner.

I wanted to finish this one for a competition application that needed to go in the mail. So, after I painted it, I photographed it, downloaded that to my desktop computer, burned a CD, filled out my application, got it ready to mail. Read and answered email. Ate dinner. Life as an Artist, epitomized.

"Arance, Oranges", 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009. This is the latest painting in my market series. See more on my web site and on this blog by clicking on older posts.

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

"Arance, Oranges" Painting Continued

This shows Day 4 on my "Arance, Oranges" painting of a Florence, Italy fruit market. I'm working on adding a three-dimensional feel to the fruits. I've already gotten the comment (many times) that viewers think they can just reach in there and pick up the fruit. When I'm done, I'll think I can do that. My goal is to achieve that with as little detail as possible -- making you do some of the work in grasping the scene.

One of my favorite parts of these market scenes are the signs. Signs of people, the human touch, the artistry of the market folks. See more of my market scenes on this blog (look back through older posts) and on my web site.

Registrations are going on now for Fall 2009 classes at the Great Falls School of Art (part of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts). My Monday night drawing class and Tuesday morning painting classes are now full. I'm still considering adding a third class on Tuesday afternoons, 2:15-5:15 pm if there's enough interest. That class would start Tuesday, September 15 and run for nine weeks. Email me at jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703.403.7435 if you're interested.

This is the last week to view my "On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA (comes down August 31) and works in the "Still Life Poetry" show at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA (comes down August 30). See my web site for more details.

"Arance, Oranges" work in progress, oil, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Arance, Oranges" New Painting in Progress

This is Day Two on this painting of oranges and lemons from a market in Florence, Italy -- the latest work in my Market series. This is one of those paintings that looked phenomenal just in the underpainting stage -- when I first lay in the darks with Burnt Sienna and French Ultramarine Blue to "deign" the painting. You can see some of that underpainting on the parts of the painting I haven't touched yet.

I'm definitely having fun. Large forms, generous scale, loose brushstrokes, intense color, happy painting -- the perfect formula for me. It's hard not to love it.

My son Sam turned 21 today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAM!

His birthday present from Randy and me was "Michelle II". See yesterday's post.

I'm not sure "Arance, Oranges" will be the final title on this, but it will do for now.
"Arance, Oranges" work in progress, 24"h x 36"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

By the way, Randy and I had dinner tonight at the Old Brogue in Great Falls where my painting "Lemon Yellow" hangs as part of the Great Falls Studios group show through the end of August. Check it out and these other exhibits before they close at the end of this month.

"On the Bright Side" solo show of 23 paintings and drawings at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA through August 31. See my web site for more information about that show.

and "Still Life Poetry", a group invitational (fantastic) exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA -- where I have four still lifes -- on exhibit through August 30.

And, come see me at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Open Saturdays, noon-4pm and the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm. Plus, by appointment -- call 703.403.7435.

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