Diane Scott Is Face #99; Happy Birthday Spencer; and a Strauss Fellowship Grant!

"Diane Scott: Face #99," oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

I'm hovering around on cloud nine. (The good one.) As I approach the end of this incredibly daunting, challenging, wonderful journey ... I'm thankful for the one hundred people who volunteered to become a part of OUR project to paint 100 Faces in 100 Days. I'm proud of myself for thinking up such a challenging and perfect-for-me quest ... and following through. I've been painting 100 Faces in 100 Days. Today, Diane Scott was my 99th "Face." I started on January 1, 2011 with Dorry, Face #1. Today is the 99th day of the year. Guess what happens tomorrow...

Diane Scott is a fellow student and follower of Rob Liberace and she's been on all those art historical trips of his that Randy and I have enjoyed. She's really a beautiful spirit. And, I could listen to her voice for a million years. It's soft, gentle, soothing.

Three cool women

My last two faces have been up in the air lately. I'd planned for Diane to be Face #99 and me to be Face #100. Remaining flexible is a lesson from Art 101. Diane called me two nights ago from the Fauquier County hospital ... where she'd been hanging out the last few days. She was going to be transferred to Fairfax hospital to undergo a procedure and she wasn't certain whether she could make it today. She went through hoops (lots of them) to call me. That's dedication to this volunteer job! She's also gone on almost no sleep for the past few nights (hospitals don't make good hotel rooms), so this took a huge effort ... which is much appreciated.

We had lots of wonderful conversations. We shared funny "horror" stories of trips with our young kids though hers definitely topped mine. I loved hearing Diane talk about taking classes with Rob quite awhile ago and how she loved preparing the paper for drawings. (I love that, too ... but never would  have thought to say that.)

Diane retired from nursing two years ago and now all she wants to do is art. I get that, as does it seem, everybody else I know who really tries their hand at it. It truly is a passion that grows. And grows. And grows.

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Face #87 turned eight today! Congratulations and I hope you had a wonderful day.

Strauss Fellowship Grant

Today, Randy handed me a "fat" envelope from the Arts Council of Fairfax County, received via mail. Chances are a fat envelope's better than a skinny one. I'd applied for a Strauss Fellowship grant  in January ... to help support my 100 Faces in 100 Day project and exhibit. (I won one in 2008 and awardees are eligible after three years to reapply.) I love letters that start with "Congratulations" versus "We received a record number of outstanding entries ...". I was awarded one of eleven individual artist grants for what I believe is a fantastic project to promote the arts in Fairfax County. Thank you to the Arts Council of Fairfax County!

Face #100 is not as planned. Not mine (although I may show up very soon). It's going to be a great day. Great post. You absolutely have to come back .

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

Here's a Repeat: You've Got to See the School! Register Now...

Wow! I went to see the classroom that I normally teach in ... now expanded to include my previous second downstairs studio at 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Wow again! I'm so excited about teaching there in May. The expansion made all the difference. It gets great light. There's plenty of room. Such a difference. I'll try to take a photo of the classroom soon and post it here. Yea!

Get info about the classes I'm offering on the Classes page on my web site. Portrait Painting and Drawing. Still Life Painting in Oils. A workshop on "Mastering the Business of Art" on May 25 & 26, 6:30-9:30pm. Sign up. Be happy!!!

Begona Morton Is Face #19 ... and Shopping

"Begona Morton: Face #19", oil on panel, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

Now I'm really pooped ... and for good reason. I'm also really on a high, loving my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. Every aspect of it.

This morning Begona Morton sat for me and became Face #19. We had a LOT of fun. She's good company, and we just had lots to talk about. Begona's taking my Still Life class for the second time and she's passionate about art ... and about learning everything she can. So, we certainly talked art. But, we also talked about Spain (where Begona grew up) and some about Brussels and raising kids.

Oh, and this was the first time I neglected to inform a sitter which location I was planning to paint him/her at ... so Begona was at one studio and I was at another. Oops. There's only about 10 minutes between the two. Begona called me about 15 minutes after we were supposed to start trying to figure out if she had the right day. So, if you're scheduled to sit for me ... make sure we've agreed to where I'm going to be (home studio or the Artists' Atelier). I'll know my schedule better the week of the sitting.

Begona checking out her painting

I took over my application for a Strauss Fellowship grant to the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Today was the deadline (at 5pm). I had won a Strauss Fellowship grant in 2008, and recipients are eligible to apply again after three years -- so I qualify. Preparing the grant requires a lot of paperwork, time and thought ... so I'm glad to have it behind me. I asked for funds to support the creation, exhibition and book publishing for my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. Hopefully, the panel that evaluates the applications gets as excited about the project as I am. I really think they should be!

After that I went on a much-needed five-hour shopping trip. (The primary reason I'm pooped.) My son Sam marries Michelle one month from today and I needed a mother of the groom dress. So, I think I got it. I'm supposed to put on a "fashion show" tonight to get the opinions of the young folks around here who have better taste in clothes. I hope I pass!!!

Begona photographing the finished painting

Thanks, Begona for being such a wonderful sitter.








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