"The Wedding Party" Gets a Visit

"The Wedding Party" Review

"There We Are"

Remember my telling you about painting during the wedding reception at the vineyard late June? My being there and the painting that resulted were a surprise gift from the bride's parents for the newlyweds. The couple, Lauren and Chad Martin, happened to pass through the DC area toward home from their honeymoon in South Africa yesterday. So they arrived at my doorstep, 28 hours into their journey back to Colorado -- to see the painting -- accompanied by her parents, the gift givers. Of my four visitors, I'd only met one. But it's funny, when you spend time painting someone and attend their wedding (sort of), you feel like you already know them.

I'd set a display easel up in the family room (well, you can see) -- and it's a straight line of view from the front door to the fireplace. It's always fun when suddenly someone realizes that the painting up ahead of them ... is of them.  Even if they know it's around there somewhere. I mean really fun.

Lauren's mom was the first to say "There We Are."

All four were excited about the painting, and "The Wedding Party" held plenty of surprises. Although one of the goals was to keep it impressionistic in style -- more a depiction of a wedding party in a vineyard setting -- versus a portrait of all the guests, Lauren and Chad were surprised to see how much they looked like them.

I so enjoyed getting to meet this very neat couple. Since they were rather busy during their big day, we hadn't even said hello -- and it could have easily been the case that the painting would be sent off and we'd never meet.  I loved Lauren's story of getting ready in the bridal suite and seeing me at my easel out on the lawn. She was wondering who that person was out there preparing to crash their party. 

Another funny anecdote. I don't hear well. (Okay, that is not the funny part.) Lauren and Chad were asking about how the painting gets packaged up to ship to them, how to care for it once there, etc.  I don't know what Lauren actually asked me, but my interpretation was unusual to say the least.  I answered that she didn't need to feed it.  They are probably still chuckling over that one.

I'm pretty sure they had just as much fun as I did yesterday. They are looking forward to "The Wedding Party" hanging in their new home. Sounds like their walls are a bit bare. I hope they let me help them with that through the years.

There's one small change left to make and soon it will head westward.  Cool project. Very happy reveal.

The Artists page at the new www.GreatFallsAtelier.com website.

Sign up for Fall Classes -- They start next week. One space left in my Still Life class (Tuesdays starting September 17, 10am-1pm, 8 weeks) and a few in my Plein Air Landscape class (Wednesdays starting September 18, 9:30am-1:30pm). See my website's Classes page for more info.

New Website for the Artists' Atelier: Yea! My studiomates and I have been working on this over the last few weeks and it's really terrific.  Take a look at www.GreatFallsAtelier.com and tell me what you think.

"Spanish Steps," oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

"Spanish Steps" gone to a new home.  Yesterday I received an email from a man who had seen "Spanish Steps" at Greenberry's Coffee and Tea in McLean. He was interested in purchasing it -- or having his wife purchase it for him as a birthday present. His wife agreed -- as long as the piece fit the spot he planned for it to hang. Could they try it out? Randy and I swapped out another piece for it at Greenberry's, took it to its new potential home. Down came a gold painting in a gold frame on a gold wall and up went "Spanish Steps" -- and seriously, it was a new room. The painting is gorgeous, and it looked it ... there in its new spot. So, the trial was about two minutes long. The verdict: I'll buy it.














Web: www.jillbanks.com

Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events
Lots -- see the events page on my website.  Thanks!

Through September 29: "Menagerie" - 5-Artist Exhibit of Animal Art

ArtSpace Herndon

750 Center Street

Herndon, VA

703.956.6590

13 original oils on view.

September 4 to October 5: Artomatic@Frederick

117 Church Street

Frederick, MD

13 original works on view on the 3rd floor, end of the hallway in this extreme pop-up gallery.

September 4 to October 5. Open Wednesdays through Sundays.

 

Coffee Break Solo Show at 

Greenberry's Coffee & Tea

6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Coffee or Tea?," "Cup of Tea," and "Not Picasso." Through September 15.

Working on "The Spanish Steps"

"The Spanish Steps" work in progress, oil on panel, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Quick post ... because it's time to rest. Although this one was proclaimed finished, I wanted to return to "The Spanish Steps" -- a view of Rome -- before including this one in my upcoming solo show. Despite efforts, today was not tremendously productive, thus, among other things, I'll have to return to this to REALLY finish it. (But it is prettier tonight than it was this morning. That's good, right?)

The best laid plans...

Exhibits and Events

April 14-May 4, Salon International 2012, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX.  “Contrapposto”

April 3-30, "Classical Painting Atelier" was accepted for the April All-Media Membership Exhibit at the Art League in Alexandria. "Torpedo Factory Dock" is in the Bin Gallery. Both can be seen this month at the Torpedo Factory, Art League Gallery, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA.

April 2 -30, "Sunflowers and Gladioli" and "Cup of Tea" are on exhibit as part of the Great Falls Studios group exhibit at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA throughout the month.

May 15-19, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA. Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art Center. 

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, Great Falls, VA. Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm.
 
Web: www.jillbanks.com
 Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Spanish Steps" Painting In Progress

"Spanish Steps" work in progress, oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

There were a lot of "highlight" days in Rome ... lots of favorites ... but one of them was when Randy and I made the trek to the Spanish Steps. Perhaps I should watch more movies because the trip there and the sight was brand new to me. There should have been a musical score as we walked down the avenue lined with shops catering to a group of people I've never encountered. We went into a gallery with astounding art, a fantastic figure painter. It seemed as if everyone was heading in one direction. Toward the Spanish Steps. A one-way street for pedestrians?

Once there, it was teeming with people. We walked to the top and went in a humble church to see one more Caravaggio. That's part of what I love about Italy. Works of art are everywhere. They envelop you ... no matter who you are.

I'm working here ... about a year and a half later from a photograph and a memory. I remember the glow and my joy at being there. Another reason why I love Italy is that people gather there. Public spaces overflow with life. The more the merrier.

I've been in Armand Cabrera's three-day workshop today and yesterday. Tomorrow's day three. I'm enjoying not being the teacher (although I like that, too). I've taken very few workshops in the last few years ... just because eventually you have a good base of knowledge and what you do need to learn can be gleaned in different ways. Today, Armand gave his second demo and it was great to see a beautiful landscape painting develop. In working plein air, this new adventure I embarked on this past year, I find I proceed in too rushed a manner. The paint gets crazy and I lose control over the cleanliness of my colors, edges, etc. Here we are in a studio/classroom setting with photos that aren't changing every second or two ... and it's less fun but a good base to build on for future outdoor endeavors.

You'll see more tomorrow.


On Exhibit:

"Dining Alfresco" Juried into the Art League January Show

On view at the Art League Gallery in the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA through February 6. Take a look!

"Drama Queens" and "Classical Painting Atelier" are on view at the Artists' Atelier "Wet Paint!" February Exhibit, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open Hours: Saturdays, noon-4pm or whenever an artist is in ... or by appointment. Contact info below.

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