The Paintings Are In ... At Out & About Norfolk

"Chrysler Museum Memorial Garden," oil, 16"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

This morning, I turned in three of my paintings ... just under the wire for the Out & About Norfolk Plein Air Painting Competition. The 37 juried artists all had two (and a half -- if they had the energy) days to paint wherever we wanted within the Norfolk city limits. I painted in three spots. The first was outside of the Chrysler Museum (I'll talk about that amazing place later) in the Memorial Garden. That's where I froze my patootsies off and almost blew away for about five hours on Thursday. Because I'd painted there from 9:15am to 2:30pm on Thursday, I went back on Friday morning to reestablish lights and darks ... as they were when I'd started it the day before. The painting was too big for me to have clearly established those patterns for the entire painting the first morning... especially under such challenging conditions.

By the way, yesterday -- when Randy and I were out at Waterside -- we talked to another painter, Bill, who painted from inside his car on Thursday. Smart move. I'll be interested in how other pros handled the day when we meet up at the reception this (Saturday) evening. There is much that just comes from experience -- merging what you like to paint with what's best to paint in the current conditions.

On Thursday late afternoon, I started "Eat at Joe's at Waterside" which looked a lot like a jigsaw puzzle. I returned to give it another shot as my third entry yesterday. I'm not sure what I think about it -- but I did turn it in. You may see it later.

"Elephant at the Norfolk Zoo," oil, 10"h x 8"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

Yesterday afternoon I painted in the Norfolk Zoo ... a fantastic place that I wish we had in the DC area. I could have painted in a ton of spots there. They have a great train for tots and their adult companions that ran around the zoo. We ate lunch before heading for a space for me to set up my easel ... and I kept looking at families coming up the path with the sunlight on their backs ... up to the railroad crossing signs. I needed to paint there around noon, though, for the best light. When I returned to the spot mid-afternoon, its luster had been tamed a good bit.

What I thought I'd paint were the lions. They take long naps in the sunshine, right? It appears I was wrong. The two males and one female moved around a good bit. If they weren't moving, I couldn't get a good enough angle. If they were lying down and paintable, they'd roll around to scratch their backs. The result: I have a painting with hints of the many lion gestures of the day.

When they were no longer in view at all, I moved to the elephants and there I was able to capture what I think is a pretty great portrait of an elephant. I used two models for this ... as my first one decided to take on a different pose and spent the rest of my painting session swinging his trunk to and fro, performing a little dance ... for some reason. My second model was a good distance from me. I'd love to be at a safe, but closer, distance to get a better view. I didn't realize they had such long eyelashes and peach fuzz on the tops of their heads. They did have a huge contingent of admirers.

It did take a bit of convincing to get permission to paint in the zoo. I will say that people, especially the kids, really got a kick out of my being there. I was in my pthalo'ed, now a bit scary looking smock -- so I clearly was the token artist of the day. People took real interest ... and I was part of the educational package for parents. I  met many shorter (younger) artists who I think were heading home to paint some animals of their own.

After the zoo, we headed back toward Waterside ... for more painting on "Eat at Joe's at Waterside" and we were finally lured away (to call it a day) by some great music coming from the Waterside Fountain Garden. Two performers were playing & singing our kind of songs with the sun setting behind them over the Elizabeth River. We sat in deep cushioned chairs. Watched kids dancing. It was the first time I really relaxed in a few days. Pretty terrific end to the day.

So, this morning, I touched up and photographed my painting entries. Randy framed them and we dropped them off, just before the 11am deadline. Tonight, from 6-9pm is the reception and Wet Painting sale at the second floor at Waterside. In the meantime, we're hanging out and seeing a bit more of the city.

Next up, either a nap or the MacArthur Museum.

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC, Awards Reception, Friday, October 28

ON EXHIBIT

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

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

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

I Got Pthalo'd ... and Phew!

Holding on for dear life in the Chrysler Museum Memorial Garden. Crazy day!!!!

Pthalo blue, actually Pthalo any color, is the most infectious color ... that somehow, once out of the tube, gets on everything and won't come up. It reminds me of the Dr. Suess Cat in the Hat (or Cat in the Hat comes back) when pink invades everything ... thanks to Thing One and Thing Two.

I'm at Out & About Norfolk, a plein air event and painting competition, and things are not exactly going smoothly. Today it was mid-50 to low-60 degrees with 25 mph winds. Try painting outside in that! My easel held up fine, but I was partially frozen and slapped silly by the wind for five hours straight. It was tough to aim my brush as the painting wiggled.

I was painting at the Chrysler Museum's Memorial Garden. Randy had wrapped a towel around my shoulders and neck to keep me warmer. Therein lies the problem. The towel got loose and took a trip onto my palette... to pick up ... guess what? Pthalo blue. I didn't realize it.

Randy came out from the Museum cafe, inviting me to trade places with him for a few minutes so I could warm up. He'd ordered bruschetta and iced tea ... and I slipped in and took his spot. That's when I realized my hands were blue. My smock was blue. One whole half of me was blue. Surmising that I didn't belong in a very nice cafe in my current condition ... I left, snuck to the restroom, did what little I could to clean up ... and went back outside to paint.

My garden painting turned out pretty well, but I want to return to the spot again tomorrow and catch the morning light a bit better.

Painting at sunset at Waterside in Norfolk, VA

I took a big break ... a lunch and trip to Jerry's Artarama for some supplies ... before going out to the Waterside to paint the end of the day. There I painted "Eat at Joe's" that may or may not make it to primetime. It looks a bit crazed. Paintings reflect the painter.

I hope it's a bit easier tomorrow. I'm whupped.

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

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

"Eggplant, Tomatoes and Figs" Painting ... Plus Off to Norfolk

"Eggplant, Tomatoes and Figs," oil, 8"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

I squeezed this one in ... and now I have to go pack up canvases, paints, tools, tarps, hats, clothes, turpenoid, frames, and lots of other stuff for the rest of the week's plein air adventure at Out & About Norfolk. I'll be scoping out spots to paint tomorrow afternoon and have a welcome dinner in the evening. Then lots of painting ahead. I'm really looking forward to it ... just wish someone else could pack for me. What do you suppose I'll forget?

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

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

"Lemons and Black Figs" Painting Today

"Lemons and Black Figs," oil, 10"h x 8"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

"Lemons and Black Figs" was going to be my second "practice" for tonight's demo. Since that demo was canceled, (probably postponed until next week, hopefully on a drier day) it turned into my painting of the day. I'd gone to Trader Joe's to pick up lunch and painting objects, intent on finding fruit or veggies with a distinct shape ... versus distinctly round onions. Thus ... lemons and figs ... chosen too for their complementary colors. I bought the funkiest shaped lemons I could get, and then painted this view of them ... where you can't tell just how strange they are. Perhaps they'll appear again, more obviously bumpy.

All day it was hard to ignore the rain. I painted in the classroom instead of the Atelier ... since my "Clown Doll and Kisses" is taking up the room I have for a still life setup. She wasn't ready to move. I was painting next to a big picture window and the rain poured ... as hard as it possibly could ... all afternoon long.

I've done many (as in lots!) of painting of lemons. Check out some in the still life section of my site's gallery page. This, however, marks the first time painting figs. I can't wait to do more!

Classes Start Next Week

There's one spot left in my Still Life class that starts next Tuesday (the Portrait class is full).  Check out more info on the Classes page on my web site and email me if you are interested in registering.

"Lemon Yellow,"is on view at Market Cellars in the Reston Town Center

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!



October 20-22, Out & About Norfolk 2011: Juried Plein Air Event and Wet Paint Sale. I'll be spending three days in Norfolk for this 5th Annual Plein Air Competition ... painting away. I'm excited!

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