"The Olive Seller" from Portabello Road

"The Olive Seller," oil on linen, 18"h x 24"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

This is the result of two more days ... or at least another day and a half on "The Olive Seller," depicting a busy vendor at the Portabello Road Market in London this Spring.

Come see it -- along with my "100 Faces in 100 Days" exhibit -- if you have a chance during open hours at the Artists' Atelier, Wednesdays through Saturdays, 12:30 to 6:00 pm through August 31. I'm getting a few visitors, but more would be merrier. I'm not sure my studio space has ever looked this good -- and considering I keep pretty busy, a.k.a. messy, come before it returns to chaos. The Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066.

"Coconut Cake," oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2010

Tomorrow's son Sam's Birthday! We're celebrating with dinner on Saturday ... with some sort of home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, our oven "blew" last week -- it's now on the floor in our kitchen with a new one hopefully arriving soon ... but not in time for making Lemonade Pie. It's kitchen borrowing time.

Events
August 3 - 31: "100 Faces in 100 Days" on exhibit at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Open hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 12:30-6:00pm.

August 8 to August 19: Three of my drawings will be on exhibit as part of the Salmagundi Club's Annual Photography and Graphics Non-Members Exhibit in NYC. This prestigious, 140-year-old arts club is located in a beautiful brownstone at 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. Through the years, the Salmagundi Club has been the gathering spot of such luminaries as Childe Hassam, William Merrit Chase, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and many others. It's a pretty incredible spot. So ... if you're in NYC any time soon ...

"W&OD BBQ" won 1st Place in the Reston Century T-Shirt Art Competition

August 3-September 5: 'Scapes Exhibit at the Art League, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA. My entry, "A New York State of Mind," won Honorable Mention.

Sunday, August 21: At the Registration Pavilion for the Reston Century Ride, Reston Town Center, Reston, VA -- with prints of "W&OD BBQ", the first place winner in the T-Shirt competition that will be given to the 1200 riders in the race this day.

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

Another Day on "The Olive Seller"

"The Olive Seller" work in progress, 18"h x 24"w, oil on linen, ©Jill Banks 2011

I'm not done ... but it's getting closer. This is from the Portobello Road Market in London. The crowds were a huge part of the scene and I'm working to convey that. I have quite a bit more to do, really working on edges and getting the glow of the light.

Reception, Friday, July 22 from 7 to pm for "Signs of Summer"
You are invited to the reception for the Artists' Atelier "Signs of Summer" show this coming Friday, July 22, 7-9 pm at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls.  My paintings "Lots of Peppers" and "Yellow Watermelon and Tamarillos" are hanging in the gallery.

And ... as an ongoing reminder:
August Exhibit of the 100 Faces in 100 Days Project at the Artists' Atelier
I'll soon be hanging the second exhibit of these 100 Faces (or 101) at the Artists' Atelier to be on view from August 1-31. You are cordially invited to visit (I'll establish open hours and post those on my web site and here on the blog) and especially invited for the two main events.

Jill Banks' 100 Faces in 100 Days Exhibit -- August 1-31, 2011
Reception: Friday, August 12, 6-9pm

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, August 13, 2-4pm
At the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

Read more about the 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

"The Olive Seller" Painting Continues

Day two on "The Olive Seller" work in progress, oil on linen, 18"h x 24"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

This one ("The Olive Seller" from the Portabello Road Market in London) will take a bit ... but I enjoyed spending the day painting olives and spoons. I could think of worse ways to spend the afternoon. There's more detail in the foreground than I normally put in, but it's subtle. I added in a few pimentos. First time for that.

The real news of the day ... for me ... is that Mary Beth Gaiarin, one of my star students, moved to Italy and started a blog about paintings and other adventures in a small vineyard in Italy. My whole class, including me, have separation anxiety, and while this isn't as good as having Mary Beth right in front of us ... it's great to have a chance to keep up with her through her writing and art. You can follow along with me at www.gaiarin.com.

 She wrote to me that she wishes I was there. Well, I wish I was there. (Who wouldn't?)

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435