Today at the Torpedo Factory

"Tools of the Trade" work in progress, oil, 30"h x 24"w, Jill Banks 2012

Today brought lots of visitors ... all day long. Two very enthusiastic young girls loved looking at my paints and painting ... one said she just loved the way I paint ... as mom looked on from afar. I think they would have stayed there forever.

Two of my visitors were here for the 70th Reunion of the Guadalcanal Campaign -- here with their fathers.

My foreign visitors came from Ukraine, France, Australia and Holland.

U.S. visitors came from Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Colorado, California.

Two interesting portrait demo prospects came at the end of the day. They would be great subjects ... but aren't local and will be gone before the demos. The young woman looked very Bohemian with a guitar by her side. Maybe I'll approach some of the street musicians.

I'm not getting much painting in ... but some. That's my "Hudson River Morn" painting in progress behind "Tools of the Trade."  I may move on to working on the NYC painting tomorrow ... as a break.

Tomorrow's a long day. 10am-5pm at the Torpedo Factory, then receiving for the Art League's 'Scapes show tomorrow night. It's doubtful that I'll be in a typing mood at the end of that.

I'm enjoying my days at the Torpedo Factory. I'm not sure that's getting across. The commute squeezes time away from reflection on the many great parts of the day. But, they are there.

Exhibits and Events (Now look at this on the Events page at www.JillBanks.com)

August, Visiting Resident Studio Artist, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA, Studio #333. See regular hours/days, reception, demo dates on the events page on my web site.  
Reception: Thursday, August 9, 6-9pm (2nd Thursday Art Night receptions throughout the Torpedo Factory).  
Portrait painting demos: Sunday, August 12 and August 19 and August 26, 1 to 5pm.
I'll be in my studio:
Mondays, 10am-5pm
Thursdays, 2-9pm
Friday, noon-6pm
Saturdays, noon to 6pm
Sundays, noon to 6pm
Other events/times will be listed on my event page on my new web site. I hope to see you there!

July 7- August 31, Artists' Atelier, "Water, Water, Everywhere" group exhibit, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA.  Open Saturdays, noon - 4pm. 

August 1-10, "Quiet" in Salmagundi Club's Annual Photography and Graphics Exhibition held at Denise Bibro Fine Art, Chelsea, NYC.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

Moving Day: Torpedo Factory

My side of Studio #333 at the Torpedo Factory -- seen through the window

Although my first planned painting day at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center isn't until this Thursday, August 2, Randy and I took the main load of paintings and some gear there today and hung the wall. Actually, Randy hung the wall(s) and I supervised.

The main workspace area is in the back -- toward the windows

If tiredness hadn't been a factor (just from a lack of sleep), I would have been reveling a lot more over how decidedly wonderful this place is. While paintings were going up, I kept peeking out to see a shower of art spirit right outside (and inside) my window. This morning, during load in -- it felt really conspicuous to be rolling in large art carts over tile floors while visitors roamed in and out of the galleries. There will be some of that tomorrow -- as the furniturish (made up word) items are left to be installed in the studio (like my own taboret, a sculpture stand, light stand, etc.)

Just like everything else, this is a lot of work -- and my stay at the Torpedo Factory is only one month long. I'm sure it will fly by. I hope all of you come to visit. There is so much to see there -- for me and you. One of my goals is to explore on my off (not already scheduled) hours and review some of my favorites here. There are 82 studios here!

Don't miss what's back in the workspace area... some favorites

Studio #333 at the Torpedo Factory (at 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA) is normally occupied by Beverly Ryan whose Summer travels have freed up the studio for Visiting Resident Studio Artists. Her work occupies the right side of the studio and my paintings are on the left. Our styles/work is completely different, but the proximity makes me worry that someone is going to think I have a split art personality. It is confusing. A dilemma to try to solve sometime soon.

The floors are concrete. Hard. I'll also have to work on that.

My official hours there on Thursday are from 2-9pm. Tomorrow I'll be in and out in the afternoon.

And there are five paintings and drawings in the studio right now -- of sights in London -- in honor of the Olympic games. They include "London Times," "Parliament," "Tower of London," "Buckingham Palace Fountain," and "Duck Pond at St. James Park." Come take a look.

Exhibits and Events (Now look at this on the Events page at www.JillBanks.com)

August, Visiting Resident Studio Artist, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA, Studio #333. See regular hours/days, reception, demo dates on the events page on my web site.  
Reception: Thursday, August 9, 6-9pm (2nd Thursday Art Night receptions throughout the Torpedo Factory).  
Portrait painting demos: Sunday, August 12 and August 19, 1 to 5pm with a great model.
I'll be in my studio:
Mondays, 10am-5pm
Thursdays, 2-9pm
Friday, noon-6pm
Saturdays, noon to 6pm
Sundays, noon to 6pm
Other events/times will be listed on my event page on my new web site. I hope to see you there!

July 7- August 31, Artists' Atelier, "Water, Water, Everywhere" group exhibit, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA.  Open Saturdays, noon - 4pm. 

August 1-10, "Quiet" in Salmagundi Club's Annual Photography and Graphics Exhibition held at Denise Bibro Fine Art, Chelsea, NYC.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

Web: www.jillbanks.com
 Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Harbourside Burgers and Brew" Painting in Harbour Town, Hilton Head

"Harbourside Burgers And Brew" work in progress, oil, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

Two bits of news today.

One, I painted in Harbour Town in Sea Pines, Hilton Head this afternoon. This is a spot filled with memories of visits when our kids were little. Directly to the left from where I set up my easel, son Sam and daughter Sarah listened to Greg Russell (a Hilton Head singing institution) under the live oak ... in front of yachts in the harbor. We remember Greg warning the kids to only, only, only volunteer to come up there if/when they were ready to sing. Then he asked who wanted to come up. Sam's hand shot up ... and Greg chose him from the audience ... and all I can remember thinking is ... what song does Sam know?

Turns out ... none. Nope. Sam was not going to sing.

"Rainy Day in NYC," Best in Show, Art League's 'Scapes Exhibit, August 2010

Today, plenty of people stopped at my easel to visit. That was due in part to my being set up a few feet from the public restroom.  Kids are usually my biggest fans, but I think in general, people get a kick out of seeing how a painting develops. One woman took her son to the rest room and when they came out, she prompted him to tell me what he wanted to say. He wasn't quite ready to tell me himself, but his mom said he'd told her, "She's really good!" I'm glad one of them spilled the beans.

"Harbourside Burgers and Brew" is as much about the beautiful live oaks that populate Harbour Town as the cafe and bar. They are kid-climbable trees whose limbs wander all over, to and fro into the sky and back to earth again.

"Great Falls Farmers Market," oil, 11"h x 14"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010

With each of these outings, I find myself wanting to show passerbys and visitors what my finished work looks like. While I'm actively trying to learn how to start and finish plein air pieces in one day (for plein air/quick draw competitions), there's a difference between what's possible under those circumstances versus pushing the painting as far as it can go in the studio ... or in multiple sessions. So, I'm replaying some of those more-time-at-the-easel paintings here. If you'd like to see more, go the Gallery page on my web site, click on Places.

Torpedo Factory Visiting Resident Studio Artist: August 2012

"Torpedo Factory Dock," painted plein air last Fall, 8"h x 10"w

My second bit of news is that I was juried in as a resident studio artist at the Torpedo Factory for August. I had submitted a selection of my work and application a month and a half ago ... to spend a month there painting and exhibiting my work in one of the studios there. Every time I go to Old Town Alexandria, I'm inspired to paint and capture the special nature of the place (and people). You'll certainly hear more about my studio hours and activities there closer to August. Just know you'll have somewhere else to come visit me ... and my work.

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

Register for Spring 2012 Classes

Portrait Painting and Drawing, Mondays, 10am-1pm, starting April 2
Still Life Painting, Tuesdays, 10am-1pm, starting April 3
See Jill's Web Site, Classes page for more information, supply list and registration form.

Exhibits and Events

March 2-31, “Black and White” Exhibit in the Artists’ Atelier Gallery, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Visit Saturdays, noon-4pm or by appointment or whenever an artist is in the studio. My entries: “Oscar,” “Quiet”  and “Carpeaux’s Napolitano Fisherboy” charcoal, and “Market Street Bar & Grill” ink wash/pen and ink drawings. Come visit. Reception, Saturday, March 17, noon to 4pm.

March 17-30, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club’s Member Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC. Award and opening reception, Friday, March 23, 6-8pm. “Hog Wild” and “Dining Alfresco” on exhibit.

April 14-May 4, Salon International 2012, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX. Opening Reception: Saturday, April 14, 10am-8pm. “Contrapposto”

May 1-31, Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, Great Falls, VA. More information to come (when I figure it out).

August 1-31, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Visiting Resident Studio Artist, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA.