Face #11 is Dad! Great Day Today

Today was the first day of my Still Life class ... more on that later.

"Dad" is Face #11. Yea!

Today was also my Dad's day to sit for my 100 Faces in 100 Days project ... and I wouldn't trade in today's four hours for the world. Sometimes, you realize (or recognize) just how lucky you are. I know it always, but it comes right smack dab and hits you over the head other times. Like today.

I heard some stories I hadn't heard before and some I had that were fun to hear again. Our conversation crossed all paths, wound around, filled the space with good cheer and laughter. We rarely get a chance to just spend time like that together. One on one. Today was one of those memories I'll hold onto for a lifetime.

My painting of Dad is just like Dad. He's wearing his Swedish hat and his head is cocked and thoughtful. He's always telling me that someone else has an interesting face to paint ... or that someone else would be more interesting to paint than him. So he's not wise in this one area.

Looks are deceiving here. My painting is only 12"h x 12"w

I showed it to him in a number of stages, and just like the rest of my sitters, he was surprised to recognize himself on canvas. He really liked it, and was wondering if that was an okay reaction. That's a great reaction. How sad for me if someone didn't like my painting of them.

My paintings express just what I like (or love) about the people in front of me.

So, at the end of today with freezing rain and snow falling outside the studio, I had a hard time leaving my wall of faces behind. (I bet Dad likes it because he gets to share the row with Mom.) It's getting somehow more powerful by the day.

Day #11. Face #11. "Dad" (Ken Johnson), oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.






Web: www.jillbanks.com
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100 Faces in 100 Days Project: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
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Phone: 703.403.7435