"Clown Girl and Kisses" Painting In Progress

"Clown Girl and Kisses" work in progress, oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

Today, my mom and dad came by ... and Dad delivered this still life as my current project. I've asked him for two still life setups, one small to medium sized, with a  doll and one large one, to come when I'm ready.
I'll be ready when this one's done, I've snuck in plenty of plein air studies/exercises and I have a few days in a row to work with live flowers and such.

My dad has setup many of my still life subjects -- having done a whole series of large-scale works, including "Sunflowers," "Home Again, Home Again," "The Toast," "Sunflowers II," "On the Chopping Block" and "Peppers and Leek." Plus, he's contributed to many more... notifying me that he just bought the most beautiful "xyz" and would I like him to bring them over to the studio. Flower arrangements he's created for receptions have often turned into my next subjects. Flowers have always been a part of my life and he creates the prettiest arrangements around.

He delivered this girl and grapes and kisses and I was slow to warm up to it. I always end up enthusiastic about the subject, just need to get the lighting right and other elements and figure out how I want to paint it. My mom has a wonderful, personal doll collection and this one's a favorite of hers. I was never a doll person, but when I painted "All Dolled Up and No Place To Go" last year -- I loved it. I guess I just needed to get coaxed into trying it. That's true often. I think that a subject matter doesn't appeal to me, but it turns out to be wonderful to paint.

Anyway, today I was glad to have a really good painting day. It was a long one, so I may be suffering tomorrow ... but, again, with a few recent struggles outside I'm glad I have a new painting in progress to post. Yea!

Sign Up For Fall Classes

There's only one space -- maybe -- left in my Still Life Class that starts on Tuesday, September 13, 10am-1pm for nine weeks. So, if you're thinking about it... take the plunge. There are some spaces left in my Portrait Painting & Drawing class on Mondays, starting September 12, 10am-1pm, also for nine weeks. Both are offered through the Great Falls School of Art and you can get more info about them on the Classes page on my web site. Come join us and bring along a friend. You must be preregistered to attend as class size is limited and I want to be ready for you. Contact me via email with any questions.  The Great Falls School of Art is also offering lots of other new classes. More info coming soon!

Events
August 31 - September 21: "100 Faces in 100 Days" on exhibit at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Open hours: Wednesday, August 31, 12:30 to 6:00pm, Saturdays, Noon-4pm. Additional hours will be posted on my blog.

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.


Thursday, September 8, 7:30pm: Demo for the Vienna Arts Society, Vienna, VA. More details to come.

Saturday, September 3, 9am-3:30pm: Plein Air Herndon painting event. I'll be out there in my purple smock returning to ArtSpace Herndon by 3:30pm with a wet painting in tow.

Registration Open Now for my Fall Portrait Drawing and Painting class and Still Life Painting Class. See the Classes page on my web site for more information.

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 

Tomorrow I'm probably back outside, prepping for Saturday's Paint Herndon Plein Air event. I need the practice. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

"Pumpkin Pie" Painting: Have a Slice

Just because I've been busy doing other things, here's a painting that's sitting near my home studio ... that reminded me of the pie that's currently sitting in my refrigerator.

"Sunday Morning", 12"h x 12"w, oil, copyright Jill Banks 2008. Sold.

I painted this in 2008 ... right before I created "Sunday Morning" ... a sold piece that's still a favorite of mine. Both are the same size (12"h x 12"w) and done from a similar angle.

A couple of days ago (husband) Randy brought up a tray of breakfast that looked just ripe for this same treatment. Only trouble ... we ate it. Oh well. A future painting. (It'll look great.)

See more of my paintings of food on this blog ... and my web site: www.JillBanks.com in the Still Life section of the gallery pages.

By the way, now's a great time to sign up for Winter classes that I teach in Still Life and Portrait Painting and Drawing through the Great Falls School of Art. Classes start January 10 & 11. Get more info on classes and how to register on my web site: www.JillBanks.com, click on Classes.

"Pumpkin Pie", oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2008. Available for purchase through the artist. (That's me.)

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

Still Life Painting and Portrait Painting and Drawing Classes

I just put up info on my Winter 2011 classes taught through the Great Falls School of Art on my web site: www.JillBanks.com. There's info on registration and a form there ... plus a newly revised supply list. Any questions, send me an email at jillbanks1@aol.com or contact Terri Parent, registrar for the school at parent.terri@gmail.com.

Come learn and create with me. Don't wait to sign up. Classes will fill. I'm not going to hold class in a snowstorm ... so don't worry about winter weather or travel.

I may add a workshop a bit later ... just trying to reserve time to enjoy getting ready for my son Sam's upcoming wedding (February) to his bride-to-be Michelle.

Some basic info:

Portrait Painting & Drawing – Jill Banks

This course covers the basic elements of painting and drawing the portrait: composition, mood, gesture, form, structure and features. Emphasis is placed on creating sound and compelling paintings (or drawings) as well as achieving a likeness. For real beginners (new to oil painting or with limited drawing experience), I suggest taking my still life painting class for a few sessions before taking this class.

Mondays, Jan. 10-Mar. 21 (No class Feb. 21), 10:00am-1:00pm  $300 plus model fee (model fee to be paid directly to the instructor)

Registration Form is on my web site and at www.GreatFallsFoundationForArts.org

Still Life Painting in Oils – Jill Banks

Still life provides a great tool to hone skills. Students of all levels welcome.  Beginners will learn the fundamentals including laying in lights/darks (grisaille), color, materials and form.  More advanced students will apply skills to increasingly complex subject matter (metals, textures, water, flowers), refine color and produce finished paintings, learn to see as artists, simplify forms into abstract shapes and how to construct compositions.  My supply list is on my web site, click on classes.

Tuesdays, Jan. 11-Mar. 22 (No class Feb. 22), 10:00am-1:00pm

$300 plus materials fee (materials fee paid directly to instructor)

Registration Form is on my web site and at www.GreatFallsFoundationForArts.org

"Robert", oil on linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks, sold.
"All Dolled Up with Nowhere To Go", oil on linen, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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