"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

"Pick-a-Peck Peppers" Painting in Progress

"Pick-a-Peck Peppers" work in progress, oil on linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010

I've been working on this for days. The photo isn't great ... and this (obviously) needs lots more work ... but, ta-da, here it is. A whole lot of peppers!!!!

This is another large-scale market painting. Most of my other market paintings went off to new homes, far and wide. (You can still view them on my web site, see the gallery page, market series gallery.)

I'll be updating my web site very soon ... so stay tuned. Classes start January 10&11. Check my classes page on my web site for info on my classes.

"Pick-a-Peck Peppers" work in progress, oil on linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Back to "The Produce Seller"

Quick post ... because I'm starving. Type ... then eat.

I've been working on this one the past two days, trying to finish it up. It's not easy.

I'll put it aside and see what I think tomorrow a.m. Actually, I swear it doesn't look that much different than two days ago's version. What's up with that? Hmmm.

"The Produce Seller" (it used to be named "Fresh Produce" ... which do you like better?, oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

"Rope of Garlic" Painting: Good Day Today

Whenever I run into "trying" days painting, I figure out a way to shake the bad painting demons loose. Returning to my "Rope of Garlic" painting was the cure I was looking for. It is just ridiculously fun to paint. No angst. Just happy. It's in the 99 to 100% done category, I believe. In any case I'll let it rest for a few days.

This painting is of a scene at the Campo dei Fiori market in Rome, Italy. I became fascinated with the equipment and inner workings of the market there. Loved the scales. Check out an earlier post for this painting as a work in progress.

With so few days left in this house, I hope to get around to finishing some of my interiors and perhaps getting through a few more new ones. We'll see. Could be just wishful thinking. Maybe I'll be up to going back to my dining room painting tonight.

I've re-expanded my palette of colors since taking the Sherrie McGraw workshop. Color restraint was okay for awhile ... but I really relish some favorites and love the possibilities that some of those tubes of Winsor & Newton (and Gamblin) paints hold. Life wasn't the same without them. Back on the palette are Permanent Rose and Perylene Red, Cobalt Turquoise Light, Cerulean Blue and Pthalo Green ... to name a subset of the add-back-ins.

A full palette of colors was first adopted in Danni Dawson's class ... then expanded at Studio Incamminati (the school founded by Nelson Shanks, Danni's teacher). The following years have seen little modification. I think that's a positive. It's allowed me to get to "know" my colors.

My regular palette, in order is:
Burnt Sienna
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Permanent Rose
Perylene Red
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Scarlet (sometimes)
Cadmium Orange or Cadmium Yellow Deep
Raw Sienna
Indian Yellow
Cadmium Yellow (Medium)
Cadmium Yellow Pale (or Light)
Cadmium Lemon (or Winsor Lemon) sometimes
Cadmium Green Pale
Permanent Green Light
Sap Green (sometimes)
Viridian
Pthalo Green (Gamblin)
Cobalt Turquoise Light
Cerulean Blue
French Ultramarine Blue
Pthalo Blue (sometimes)
Titanium White

"Rope of Garlic", oil on Raymar panel, 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

"Fresh Produce" Painting Continues

This painting was calling to me today... and I didn't want to stop, but have to pay attention to some other duties, too. Alas. I believe this is day three on this painting of a produce seller from Rome's Campo dei Fiori market. There's still more to do but I do like the way it's turning out.

In case you're looking at this photo of it and comparing it to day two's version -- you'll probably notice the change in color cast. The previous photo was warmer, more yellow and this one's cooler and more blue. The painting hasn't shifted. I photographed today's progress outside (cool light) and the earlier photo in my studio at night (yellow tungsten light).

Tomorrow's class day. I need to go gather my thoughts and my stuff.

Plus, I have some stiff, unhappy brushes that need a very good cleaning.

Life as an artist.

"Fresh Produce" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Plein Air Painting at the Farmer's Market This Morning

My single artistic goal for this year is to become a better painter. To do whatever it takes to make a gigantic leap forward. I've thought about this a ton and made lists of what steps I can take to make this leap happen.

What I know is that the glorious achievements happen when you're most alive and motivated -- painting what you're absolutely dying to paint. Something else I know is that I'm most alive when my subject is right there in front of me -- changing and moving, challenging me constantly. So, I decided that this year I was bringing my easel and sketchbook out of the studio -- to paint those things (and people) I love to paint -- live.

This is a bit scary. I want to paint all over town ... in DC, in Reston, in Great Falls, Herndon, Alexandria, Bethesda. I want to paint inside restaurants. Around cafes. You know I love market scenes. So, I'm going to markets to paint there. It's a lot more about planning, getting okays and lugging what I need around. But, I know it will be well worth the effort.

I'm taking baby steps. On Wednesday, I painted on my patio -- testing out my EasyL (portable easel -- it's great, by the way) and figuring out what I need to take this "show on the road." (I'll post a photo of my patio painting sometime soon.) On Thursday, I went to Lake Anne in Reston to sketch ... ending up with three. And today, I started the day at my easel at the Great Falls Farmer's Market (Great Falls, VA).

I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a challenge ... really windy, lots of people to talk to, and my "models" never stood still. One young girl chose to hang out with me while her mother shopped. Wrapped up in my painting is the whole experience of standing there at my easel as part of the market scene.  That's cool. Plus,  I'm proud of myself for taking these first steps toward my goal.

I'll try it again next week.

"Farmer's Market", oil on Raymar panel, copyright Jill Banks 2010. (I'm not sure what size it is.)

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