"Late Night on Light Street" Wins Second Place in the MAPAPA Baltimore Nocturnes Show

Tim Kelly Awards My Plein Air Painting One of the Top Awards

"Late Night on Light Street," oil, 24"h x 12"w by Jill Banks wins Second Place

I barely squeezed in time to paint for this Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painter Association "Baltimore Nocturnes: A Plein Air Show." Work needed to be completed before August 31, created on location in Baltimore to be hung at the Highlandtown Gallery at the beginning of September.  With extensive travel including lots of painting days in the South of France, there was little time left to create this work and others with the same deadline in Long Beach Island NJ for the exhibit there.  Good thing weather was on my side.

Anyway, it is cool, unexpected news to have received this award for "Late Night on Light Street" from a fellow painter whose work I deeply respect.  Another happy dance ensues. See the exhibit through October 31.  Gallery Hours are:
Thurs/Fri/Sat
8am - 5pm
and by appointment
248 South Conkling Street • Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 327-7035

MPA Artfest this Sunday - Tomorrow - October 6, 10am to 5pm

 I am one of 40+ regional artists exhibiting at MPA Artfest, this juried outdoor arts festival being held in McLean Central Park in McLean VA at the intersection of Dolley Madison Blvd. (Route 123) and Old Dominion Drive.  Hope to see you there!

Events

Sunday, October 6 - MPA McLean Artfest, McLean Central Park, McLean VA, 10am to 5pm

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

Friday, Nov. 1 - First Friday Art Walk in the Village, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls VA - 6-8pm

Exhibits

September 6-November 3 - Long Beach Island Plein Air Plus Exhibition, Loveladies NJ

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

Thru October 31 - Baltimore Nocturnes, Highlandtown Gallery, Baltimore MD

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

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)

Here I am painting "Late Night on Light Street" on an overhead walkway in Baltimore MD this summer. Interesting perch.

The McLean MPA Artfest Rescheduled for Monday, October 12, 2015

"Saint Bernie the Fourth," oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©2015 Jill Banks

McLean Artfest, Monday, Oct. 12, 10am to 5pm - on Columbus Day
Blame it on the weather. But, now on Monday, October 12, 2015 -- artists will fill McLean's Central Park (at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Dolley Madison Boulevard in McLean, VA) with booths of beautiful temporary galleries and hope that you will join us to celebrate and shop for art. 10am to 5pm that day. Please help spread the word.

Artfest and the Great Falls Studio Tour
That will be a big art week -- with Monday's McLean Artfest and the Great Falls Annual Studio Tour on the Friday to Sunday, October 16-18, that follows. On that weekend, take the self-guided tour visiting 44 artists displaying and demo'ing, talking art in various locations all over town. I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, 756 Walker Road, Great Falls. I'll give a demo each day of the tour, too -- from noon to 1pm. Stop in.

About "Saint Bernie the Fourth"
Helping out our art tour promotion, the Great Dogs shop in Great Falls, VA have animal-themed art in their display window this October. My painting, "Saint Bernie the Fourth" -- started while participating in Telluride Plein Air this Summer, is hanging out in the window and Bernie seems happy to be there. He was yet another test of how well I can capture a moving subject. Funny what we can do.

"La Chien de Grange," oil, 30"h x 40"w, ©2013 Jill Banks. Private collection

Putting up the photo of Bernie reminded me of another dog I'd captured on canvas.  "La Chien de Grange" is hanging out in a loving home (not mine) ... Remember her?

Thanks for reading!

Jill

Phone: 703.403.7435

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

Monday, October 12:  McLean MPA Artfest, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

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.

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 & Sale, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL

A New Use Found for Our Family Room: Booth Staging Ground

Today ... a whole lot of it ... was spent selecting paintings for my booth setup for Sunday's McLean Artfest. I'm positive that all those artists who travel the country doing art festivals have this down pat (or don't worry as much). It's hard to leave some home. I want to have some extras for when pieces do sell. Randy and I would both like to include drawings, too, but we'll have to find a different way to present those. I still have to do labels, signage, figure out what else I need to bring, etc.

These photos do not do it justice and there still will be some swapping out, but here's a sneak peek. My brainstorm of the day was to buy a second red rug (just one was too small). I'm rolling out the red carpet for you. Come take a walk on it this Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm in the McLean Community Park at the corner of Dolley Madison Blvd. (Route 123) and Old Dominion Drive in McLean, VA. Stop by Booth #35.

UPCOMING EVENTS

MPA Artfest Outdoor Arts Festival, Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm

Booth #35, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

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

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
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Yellow Onions" Painting Today

"Yellow Onions," oil on Raymar panel, 8"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

I meant to spend time painting today and see what I could handle in one hour in preparation for tomorrow night's demo for the Vienna Arts Society. Oh, well. This took a lot longer than that. I didn't want to work too small because small is too tough to see for those planning to watch. So, now I'm thinking a decent size, single object that's not too overly detailed. I just have to figure out what that single object is. And, or just show part of the process (as in -- whatever can happen in about 40 minutes -- figuring that talking will slow me down). Hmmm. In any event, I ended up with a painting that I like alot. Those are pretty good-looking onions and I enjoyed painting on this size canvas. A little different.

Time seems to be marching rather rapidly lately as I approach the end of summer, beginning of classes and a rapid succession of deadlines and events. MPA Artfest (the Juried Outdoor Arts Fair sponsored by the McLean Project for the Arts in McLean, VA) is coming up right around the corner (Sunday, October 2) which means readying my work for that show. Soon after that is the Great Falls Annual Studio Tour (October 15&16, 10am-5pm at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA). Lots of reasons to paint like the wind, and get really organized, put my ducks in a row.

Demo Tomorrow Night: This Has Been Canceled!

Even though I'm not certain what I'll be painting, I'll be showing up in my smock tomorrow night. I'm the guest "speaker"/painter at the Vienna Arts Society that meets at the Vienna Arts Center on Pleasant Street in Vienna. The group meets at 7:30pm, Thursday, September 8 and my demo will be after a VAS business meeting and snack time. Come see what happens.

Juried into 2011 Out & About Norfolk 

On October 20 to October 22, I'll be participating in Out & About Norfolk 2011, a Plein Air Paint Out and Wet Painting Exhibition taking place at the Waterside Festival Marketplace in Norfolk, VA. 37 artists were juried in to paint all around Norfolk and come together for an awards ceremony and sale of work on Saturday, October 22, at 6-9pm. Sounds challenging and fun!

One Space Left: Tuesday Still Life Class

Due to a cancellation, there's one space left in Tuesday's Still Life Class that starts this coming Tuesday. Send me an email if you are interested in signing up. See more info on my web site, the Classes page.


Events
August 1 - September 21: "100 Faces in 100 Days" on exhibit at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Open hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Noon-4pm.

Canceled Due to Weather: Thursday, September 8, 7:30pm: Demo for the Vienna Arts Society, Vienna, VA. Vienna Arts Center, 115 Pleasant Street NW, Vienna, VA.

My Still Life and Portrait Painting & Drawing One spot left in my Still Life class. See the Classes page on my web site for more information on those classes. Send me an email if you would like to receive notification of other class/workshop offerings -- what kind of courses you would be interested in, days of the week and times.

Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm: MPA McLean Artfest, juried outdoor arts festival, McLean Community Park, McLean, VA


Saturday and Sunday, October 15&16, 10am-5pm: Great Falls Annual Studio Tour. Major weekend long event with 47 artists from Great Falls Studios participating in a self-guided tour. I'll be in the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls. Last year, the tour drew 7200+ visitors from throughout the DC area. Don't miss it!

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: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Il Gatto" Finished

"Il Gatto", oil on Raymar panel, 14" x 11", Jill Banks 2010

I started this painting awhile ago ... and it is one of many that sat unframed, leaning on the floor of my studio ... obviously asking for a little attention. In the midst of all the things I need to do to get organized for the upcoming art events, I did what I needed to do. Paint. This was challenging (like it always is when my routine's been thrown off course) ... but fun. Good looking fellow.

I'm using, consistently, tons more paint. There are piles of paint on this one. Can't explain why ... other than those pools of paint on my palette must just be begging to be put to good use.

This one won't be at Sunday's McLean MPA Artfest (October 3, 10:30am-4:30pm in McLean Central Park). Anything being painted today on will be too wet to make an appearance. But ... I do have a great frame for it  ... and it should be a present for Great Falls Annual Studio Tour October 16&17.

I hope to see you at all the art-going-ons this October. See earlier posts on events and my web site for details.

See "Il Gatto" in its starting stages on an earlier post.

"Il Gatto", oil on Raymar panel, 14"h x  11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Events and Exhibits: LOTS!

Fall's a really busy time for art-related activities. I hope you can join me at all ... or at least some of these. Here they are, in date order.

Great Falls Farmer's Market: Saturday, September 25, 9am-1pm in the Great Falls Village Centre (off of Walker Road near the corner of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, VA)
I'll have a booth there for the third time this year ... with paintings, drawings.

My booth at MPA Artfest 2009

MPA Artfest, an annual juried regional outdoor arts festival sponsored by McLean Project for the Arts: Sunday, October 3, 10:30am-4:30pm in McLean Central Park located at the intersection of Dolley Madison Blvd. (Route 123) and Ingleside Drive in McLean, VA.

"Expressions" Portrait Competition juried regional (MD, VA, DC, Delaware artists) exhibit: September 28-October 24, Reception and Awards: October 2, 7pm at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA 20170. "Nigerian Beauty" placed as a finalist and will be on exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon. (Judging for awards will be done from actual artwork after the show is hung.)

"Tranquility", 30"h x 24"w, oil

Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club's 114th Annual Open Exhibition: October 6-October 29; Benefit Reception for the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Friday, October 15, 5:30-8pm; Awards Dinner: Friday, October 29, 6-9pm all held at the National Arts Club, a National landmark, 15 Gramercy Park, New York, NY 10003. "Tranquility" was juried into this exhibit at the National Arts Club.

Seventh Annual Great Falls Studios Tour: Saturday and Sunday, October 16, 17: 10:00am to 5:00pm DON'T MISS This! Join us on a free driving tour on the back roads of Great Falls, Virginia, to meet 48 painters, potters, photographers, sculptors, quilters, jewelry designers and other artists in art studios and other venues scattered around our village. (I'll be at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with a great group of other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066.}October 16 and 17, 10:00 to 5:00. See unusual houses. Watch art demonstrations. Explore studios. Buy art. Celebrate creativity. Family friendly. Lunch/dinner available at many fine local restaurants.

To download a map and roster of artists and to register to win one of forty $50 gift certificates, go to www.GreatFallsStudios.com. You can also pick up a free map at any venue on Tour days.

Tour has become one of northern Virginia's most unusual and important art events. It is supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Arts Council of Fairfax County, Great Falls Foundation for the Arts, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, and the Great Falls Business and Professional Association.


 A Note: The Artists' Atelier will be decked out with LOTS and LOTS of original artwork -- floor to ceiling -- in a very special exhibit specifically for Studio Tour. So ... you have to see it THAT weekend.


See more of my work at:

Market Cellars at 11873 Market Street, Reston, VA (the Reston Town Center near the Hyatt). A small selection of paintings and drawings. Buy some art and wine. Ongoing exhibit.
Chasen Galleries, Richmond, VA.
Keller-Williams Realty, 6820 Elm Street, McLean, VA 22101, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. Eight of my still lifes are on exhibit in a two-person show with pastels by Pat Neumann through mid-October.

By the way, I've postponed the start of my portrait class by a week ... it begins Monday, September 20 ... due to coming down with the sniffles, cough, sneezes. Oh well. (See my web site for more info on classes: www.jillbanks.com.)

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435
For info on Fall classes: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/Classes_3.html
Great Falls School of Art registration form: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/Registration_Form.html

Up to My Eyeballs in Alligators ... and MPA artfest 2010

Today I received word that I've been juried in to participate in MPA artfest, an outdoor arts festival sponsored by the McLean Project for the Arts (McLean, VA) held on Sunday, October 3, 10:30am-4:30pm. This will be my third time participating in this terrific event. I'm looking forward to it.

I am literally up to my eyeballs in alligators ... If I manage to somehow get through all of the July&August obligations it will be cause for celebration, relief and maybe a weeklong nap. This is definitely not summer vacation.



My art stuff on the calendar:

• Thursday, July 1: hang my new show "Painting the Town" at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. (Three of my paintings aren't dry, many need to be framed, I'm varnishing others, need to put together tags, a press release, brochure, finalize my web site preview page, still need to order new business cards.)
• First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, Opening Reception "Summer Landscapes", a group show of works by Artists' Atelier members. Friday, July 2, 7-9pm, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066
• Saturday, July 3: under a tent at the Great Falls Farmer's Market, parking lot at the Village Centre near the intersection of Walker Road and Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, 9am-1pm showing paintings and drawings that didn't go in my "Painting the Town" show.
• Friday, July 9, 6-8pm: Closing reception: Salmagundi Club's Annual Photography and Graphics Exhibition, NYC. Two of my drawings: "Sarah" and "The Nutcracker" are in that show.
• Saturday, July 17; Sunday, July 18; Monday, July 19: Teaching my "Painting (and Sketching) the Town" single-day workshops. See my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes for more info.
•  Friday, July 23: Closing reception: Salmagundi Club's Annual Painting and Sculpture Exhibition, NYC. "Rainy Day in NYC" was juried into that show -- my first time getting into this competitive exhibition.
• Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm reception for my "Painting the Town" show at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066.

I'm going to try to squeeze in one painting demo day at the Brogue prior to July 15 ... and post the day/time here for anyone who'd like to come and watch or potentially be painted into the scene.
I'll leave off the August events ... no point thinking about them now.

What I hope you'll do:
Sign up for classes/workshops.
Visit my show at the Brogue.
Come to the Farmer's Market this Saturday.
Come to a reception or two...

By the way, the artReston show -- where my painting "On High" won Best of Show -- closes in one week (July 6). Stop by to see it at the JoAnn Rose Gallery at the Lake Anne Reston Community Center, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston, VA.


Above: photos of my booth from the MPA artfest 2009. These were taken before the crowds showed up.

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

Scenes from My Studio Pre-MPA and Color Lessons

Tonight I'm in "deer-in-the-headlights" mode. I've honestly got a gadzillion things to do to prepare for MPA Artfest (coming up this Sunday, October 4, 10am-5pm at McLean Central Park, McLean, VA) and I don't know how to wrap my arms around this particular challenge ... or to move out of my chair at the moment.

One of my tasks, of very high priority, is to clean out my car so that it can be packed (carefully) with paintings, screens, bags and bubblewrap for all the paintings and drawings I'll be selling, etc. at this weekend's event. My car currently cannot accommodate one more thing. I drove home today from the Atelier with my multitude of still life objects, painting supplies, paper, frames, artwork, art books shifting with every turn. I have passenger seats ... just can't accept any passengers.

Let's say I get the chance to clean my car. What's left between me and MPA Artfest? 1. Signing, matting, picking out frames, framing drawings and paintings. 2. Picking up screens. 3. Designing my display, essentially figuring out what works to bring and where to hang them -- the very hardest and most important task of all. 4. Putting together and printing labels. 5. Bringing my portfolio up to date. (Photographing new work, printing) 6. Putting together signage. 7. Putting up the new exhibit in the gallery at the Artists' Atelier (to do tomorrow). 8. Rearranging my walls in Suite D and G at the Atelier in preparation for First Friday (this week). 9. Varnishing paintings. 10. Packaging up all the stuff I'll need and loading it into Randy's and my cars. 11. Figuring out what to wear?

The one thing that I can say is that I'm not exactly short on work to choose from. Even though I've also been working on commissions, I've noticed that if you really are creating all the time, you can cover an awful lot of linen canvas. These photos give you a little glimpse into the overflowing nature of my environs. This is the tip of the iceberg.

Oh, and color lessons. This morning I taught my "Oil Painting from Life" class (that I teach through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts). One student had requested instruction on color mixing. This is something I do well, but I researched it to form the lesson. In the process, I learned so much and passed it on. Here are the email comments from two of my students:

"I've been taking painting classes for over 5 years now and that's the first time anyone has ever explained to me how to keep my colors bright... Today's lesson provided a real insight for our class.
Thank you!"

"Thanks for all your help today – especially with the critiques and all the perspective help. The printout on the colors is EXCELLENT.
Much appreciated"

Pretty wonderful feedback.

Wish me luck this week.

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

"Pumpkin Patch" Painting in Progress ... and Lots of Art Events

First, lots of special art happenings are well, happening in October ... and I want all the hard work organizing, thinking, etc. to pay off by seeing lots of people there.

So, this week...
Friday, October 2, 7-9pn
First Friday at the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 15 other artists)
1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA
We're hanging a new show in the gallery on Wednesday ... so it will be fresh and new.

Sunday, October 4, 10am-5pm
MPA Artfest
An outdoor juried art festival
McLean Central Park (corner of Old Dominion Drive and Route 123 - Dolley Madison Blvd.)
McLean, VA
I'll be in booth #25 with a mix of classical drawings and paintings. Hopefully, I'll post photos later of the shape my studio is in at the moment with piles of paintings and drawings I'll be choosing from for this event. It's an interesting process for someone who has to agonize over every decision.
I really, really hope you can come to this one.
(This event happens rain or shine -- it just moves indoors to 1234 Ingleside Drive, McLean, VA if it rains.) Get more info at www.mpaart.org.
Mastercard and Visa accepted.

Also in October:
I'll be participating in the 6th Annual Great Falls Art Studios Tour
Saturday & Sunday
October 17-18
10am-5pm, rain or shine
45 artists will be talking and creating art in our studios all around town. More on that later ... but be sure to register for the art bucks program -- a $2000 giveaway of forty $50 art bucks to be spent on the tour. Register and get more info at www.greatfallsstudios.com.

I came up with a tagline for a brochure that I'm pulling together for the Artists' Atelier. "Be Original. Buy Original." What do you think?

So "Pumpkin Patch" in progress is a painting I worked on last Tuesday -- one of the still lifes I set up for my class. It needs a good bit of work, but other pieces have needed me this week. All the setups are very calm, with toned down color, as an exploration of color subtleties. One set-up is of a bowl of eggs inspired by a beautiful painting of ... you guessed it ... a bowl of eggs that a Dutch contemporary painter created. His name is Henk Helmantel. Here's his website. Definitely quiet, maybe a little dark, but beautifully painted work.

One more quick note. I updated my website with a links page. I hope it's useful.

"Pumpkin Patch" work in progress, 24"h x 18"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Watercolor Wash Figure Painting Today

Finally ... a new blog post. Today, I worked on "Michelle I" a bit during open hours (it's looking good) and then went to the McLean Community Center for an open studio session late this afternoon. "Waiting" is the result. This is a watercolor wash done using burnt sienna artist's watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. hot press paper. See more of my drawings on this blog (keep viewing older posts) or my web site. I had gone to an open studio session last week (I'll post those results later) after a pretty extended break from live sessions. I miss painting people from life. If I miss something, I make sure I correct the problem. I'll catch all of these open life sessions I can, plus take part in planned modeling sessions at the Atelier that start in two weeks. So, I'll have at least two days a week working from live models. Yea!

I have been working despite not blogging. A portrait commission is in progress that is earning rave reviews. I'm enjoying it even though each portrait, and this one is no exception, comes loaded with challenges. I truly love "capturing" people. That's why I've returned to "Michelle I"; why I went to the open life session; why I'm bringing this latest commissioned piece to life on canvas. It totally fascinates me.

I've done some interesting things lately. Like spending Thursday in Reston Town Center drawing. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to catch up.

This coming Sunday, October 4 is the MPA Artfest, from 10am-4pm at McLean Central Park, McLean, VA. I will be under a tent with my (yet to be picked) work . I hope to see you there. I have one incredible boatload of work to do before then. Wish me luck.

Also... and I know this comes first ... First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA ... is this coming Friday, October 2, 7-9pm.

"Waiting", watercolor, copyright Jill Banks 2009. (This piece will be at MPA Artfest.)

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

Rooster Art: Cock-a-Doodle

I suppose this isn't quite a doodle ... those go a lot faster. But, here's my latest drawing, "Cock-a-Doodle". This drawing is of one of two ceramic roosters that reside in my kitchen. I guess it was about time it was captured, on paper.

In part, I created this drawing in preparation for my drawing class that started this past Monday. (For more information on classes, see my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes.) For all my (massive) trepidation in teaching that class, it went very, very well. Every time I do something new -- like teaching drawing -- I fret, study, prepare, and finally go for it. I was talking to friend and fellow artist (and studiomate) Francie Vecchi today saying that I'm always jumping off cliffs and hoping for the best. This Monday's class turned out for the best. Again. I assume that the fact that each time I do something out of my element, the results are better than expected has something to do with my willingness to go out on a limb again and again.

My concerns about being able to teach this class are rooted in my not knowing how to "teach" drawing. When I teach painting, I'm teaching it based on a clear-cut understanding of how I learned painting myself. My painting instruction was recent and formalized. I could easily pass it on. But, with drawing, I've been drawing my entire life. While I've been trained in drawing (the focus was in learning to see more intensely and adapting to different mediums), I still needed to formulate a way to help students learn. Let's say I'm working on it and that I'll be studying my way through my nine-week class.

MPA Artfest (McLean Project for the Arts juried outdoor art festival) is a little more than two weeks away. I will be working on creating more drawings before that big day as well as organizing what I want to show, etc. The event is Sunday, October 4, 10am - 5pm in McLean Central Park (McLean, VA). Lots to do. Lots of fun. I hope to see you there.

I also posted "Rooster Ruminations", another piece of Rooster Art. It's not quite done ... note, no signature ... but almost. I made a new friend. A tube of yellow ochre, a color that's probably been on everyone else's palette, but not mine. It sure came in handy for the background. That is a Ty Beanie Baby.

"Cock-a-Doodle", 11.5"h x 8.5"w (inside mat), graphite, copyright Jill Banks 2009
"Rooster Ruminations" work in progress, 20"h x 16"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Email Subscriptions and Coloring and Cocktails at MPA

Now you can get the latest blog posts via email. See the Subscribe via Email section on the left at the top of the page? Enter your email address, a chance to confirm you really want to sign up will come to that address, confirm ... and voila! ... you won't have to wonder about whether I"ve posted anything new any more. (Actually we're testing whether this works over the next few days ... so, hopefully, voila! Sign up, check back, email me with feedback: jillbanks1@aol.com.) You can still check the blog (please do!) at jillbanks.blogspot.com to see the latest and older posts, but here's another way to keep up with me in painting land.

I went to the "Coloring and Cocktails" event at McLean Project of the Arts (MPA) tonight. I'll be participating in MPA's Artfest, a juried outdoor arts festival in McLean Central Park, McLean, VA on Sunday, October 4 and tonight's event was to get enthusiasm brewing. About 80 people were signed up to sip cocktails and color/create ... and bring out their inner child. No pictures. Sorry.

I colored outside the lines.

Other participating artists there tonight were Elaine Elinsky (buddy and fellow studiomate), Val Mahon, and Julie Lansaw. People were definitely enjoying themselves.
Great idea! Check out more about the MPA Artfest at www.mpaart.org.

It's almost over...
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.

"Rooster and Geraniums" shown above is one of the 24 paintings and drawings currently on view at my "On the Bright Side" exhibit ... but not for long. 14"h x 11"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Farmer's Market, "On the Bright Side" Solo Show, MPA Artfest

What I'm up to, basically, for the next few days and months...

First Friday, June 5, 7-9pm, The Artists' Atelier (the working studios and gallery space I share with 15 other artists), 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. Lots of new artwork is hung with a concentration on portrait and figure paintings and drawings. In the Great Falls School of Art space, Suite D, you'll get a chance to see some of my students' paintings from this session's Still Life class. The Artists' Atelier is open the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm and every Saturday, noon-4pm. (Note: I won't be there Saturday, June 6. See next item.)



My tent from the Farmer's Market in May. Come see me at this Saturday's market, June 6, 9am-1pm.


Great Falls Farmer's Market this Saturday, June 6, 9am-1pm, Great Falls Village Centre in parking lot near the Wachovia Bank (across from the Safeway on Walker Road). This will be my second (and probably last) appearance there for this year. Under the Great Falls Studios (a group of 85 artists of which I am a member) tent, I'll be showing my market paintings, still lifes and restaurant series. Hopefully, a slightly wet "Food and Wine" painting of a market in Burano will be hanging. Let's see how painting goes today.


July 2-August 31 "On the Bright Side" Solo Show at the Great Falls Library Meeting Room, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. Opening Reception, Saturday, July 18, 3-6pm. Painting Demonstration, Saturday, July 11, 1-4pm. This exhibit battles our trying times one canvas at a time. The world's full of silver linings. I found some. I'll set up a sneak preview on my web site (www.jillbanks.com) later in the month. Check back.


August 14-16 "Portrait & Figure Painting Workshop in Oils": I'll be teaching a weekend workshop through the Great Falls School of Art (a program of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts). Spaces are limited, register now by downloading a summer bulletin at www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org
. Click on School of Art. I'm also teaching a Tuesday morning, six week "Still Life in Oils" class that starts July 7. See my May 19 post for a course description.

Sunday, October 4 MPAartfest in McLean Central Park. I just found out I was accepted into this terrific outdoor arts festival put on by the McLean Project for the Arts.


Saturday and Sunday, October 17&18 Great Falls Studio Tour. I'll be one of 44 artists (members of Great Falls Studios) participating in the Studio Tour that takes place all around town. Visit me at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA.

"Corner Couple," oil on panel, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007.









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