Classes, A New Still Life Start and Open Life

"Mandarins" work in progress, oil, 36"h x 24"w, ©2017 Jill Banks

Classes will soon begin with my Painting or  Drawing the Portrait starting January 29 and Tuesdays' Still Life Plus and Evening Paint starting January 31. If you've been thinking about taking a class, please take a look at my web site: www.JillBanks.com, Classes page for more info and to sign up.  Spaces available in the Portrait and Evening Paint class and I hope you sign up! (Classes are held weekly in the Arts of Great Falls School at 756 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA.

"Mandarins" is one of the first paintings of 2017. I've been working on starts for a few portrait commissions ... but need to take care of a couple of other steps before I can proceed with those. Thus ... I HAD to take advantage of a flower arrangement put together for a neat family gathering this past weekend, right?

I also had the pleasure of attending an open life in the Great Falls School last Friday afternoon. The two-and-a-half hour session was filled with short gestures and then a bit longer, then longer poses to finish out the day.  "Open Life Standing Pose" was the second to last

"Open Life Standing Pose," oil, about 18"h x 9"w, ©2017 Jill Banks

longer gesture. I painted instead of sketched because for me that's faster and more forgiving. For this piece I used Centurion Oil-Primed Deluxe Linen sheet, with a quick "wash" of yellow ochre, and then French Ultramarine Blue and Transparent Earth Red for my darks. There are a few other colors thrown in as well.

There's more to write ... but I'm out of time.

"The Road Show" Solo Exhibit Up Until January 31 at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA
View the exhibit online at www.JillBanks.com

Get info about library hours here. (The library is closed on Sundays and January 16, January 20)

The meeting room -- where the exhibit is on view -- is frequently being used so don't be too surprised if there's a group inside.  Generally weekday afternoons are the safest bet but if you are planning a trip, please feel free to ask me about the schedule and I might just meet you over there as well. Email me at jill@jillbanks.com.

Thank you for reading and your support... Hope to see you soon!

Happy New Year!

Jill
 

Please sign up -- classes start the end of January

Painting or Drawing the Portrait -- January 29-March 5

Sundays, 1:30-5:30pm

 

Evening Paint

January 31-March 7

Tuesdays, 6:30 to 9:30pm

 

Still Life Plus (Personal Painting Projects Also) (Full)

January 31-March 7

Tuesdays, 10:30am to 1:30 pm

Click on links for more info and to register.

More of "The Road Show"

www.JillBanks.com

More of "The Road Show" with Emma ... just cuz

Best in Show -- BoldBrush Painting Competition September 2016 for "Daily Special" -- Hip Hooray! More info here.  

Blog: For my latest news and works, visit or subscribe to my blog Life as an Artist at jillbanks.blogspot.com

Email: jill@jillbanks.com

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Open Life Figure Painting Last Night

Yesterday (as in 19 minutes ago) was a marathon. After my Farmer's Market plein air painting session (see previous post), I attended the open life session at the McLean Community Center. Most Saturdays, there's a long pose open life session from 4-7:30 pm to paint/draw from the model. Guess what? My EasyL easel ... and I suppose my wrist and arm ... continued today's workout.

So, here's the result. I like it.

Paint from life. Paint from life. Paint from life. Repeat.

Be sure to read my previous two posts. I went a little post "happy" in the last couple of hours.

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day! 


"Reclining Nude with Irises", oil on Raymar panel, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.


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

New Figure Study Today and "Rooster Ruminations" Sold

A good day. This afternoon during open hours at the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 15 other artists in Great Falls, VA), I sold "Rooster Ruminations". Actually, I think "Rooster Ruminations" sold itself to a regular Atelier visitor who had seen it, and then not seen it, off and on on my studio gallery walls. (I move art around constantly.) According to my new client, she kept talking about it to her husband since seeing it during Studio Tour last Fall ... and he finally told her that she must want to own it. She agreed. Hence, the sale.

"Rooster Ruminations" is a tough painting to forget.

Late afternoon, I headed over to the McLean Community Center  for the Open Life session. I will make this a regular part of my routine. If I'm in town, I'll be there. It's such a tremendous treat.

"Viridian Throne" is the result. I may touch this up, too ... as I did with the portrait last week, but I'm pretty pleased with it as it is.  Each week we have a new model for one long pose. This painting is named after the color of paint used for the model's seat. I "grayed" it using an orange and white.

The photo is off in color and exposure because I took it just a few minutes ago under Tungsten light. I'll try again soon in natural light and replace it.

"Rooster Ruminations", oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009. Sold.
"Viridian Throne", oil on Senso linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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

Face Painting Today

Today, I decided to continue working on "Tranquility" -- a figure painting that I've been working on "live" up until today's session. I worked exclusively on the model's face ... well, almost exclusively ... since I had to rework the background a little to achieve better edges on her hair and cheek. I'm not completely satisfied yet, but I did make some good progress. The photo I took doesn't do it justice. It's tough to get a decent photo with sopping wet paint.

Check out my progress on this painting with these earlier posts:
 Sooo... Much Fun Painting Today (Day 1)
Painting a Model at the Artists' Atelier, Day 3
Day 4 for "Tranquility"
Day 5: Wet Paint and Model Day at the Atelier

Lots to do. Lots to do.

Close-up of "Tranquility" work in progress, 30"h x 24"w, oil on linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

First Friday and the "Go Figure" Exhibit

We hung the "Go Figure" show at the Artists' Atelier (working studios and gallery spaces I share with 15 other artists in Great Falls, VA) ... in time for some tweaking before Friday's "First Friday" 7-9 opening. We could have put up a show about three times this size -- it seems we share a passion for portrait and figure paintings. After much deliberating, rearranging, measuring and pounding, all of us in the hanging crew kept patting each other on the back for a job well done. Come join us this Friday, June 5, 7-9pm for art, refreshments and some fun -- and tell me what you think. 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA (behind Dante Ristorante near the corner of Walker Road and Colvin Run Rd.).


In addition to changing the exhibit in the gallery, many of us have plenty of new pieces to see throughout the Atelier. My area looks like my obsession with food is calming a bit. More people; less frosting.

There will be an exhibit in the school gallery, Suite D, of work created by students of the Great Falls School of Art. The work is impressive... showing what can be accomplished with small classes, good instruction and dedicated students. Registration is going on now for Summer classes. Download the summer bulletin at the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site or pick one up on Friday night.

See you then!

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

Sepia-Toned Watercolor Figure Painting

Yesterday morning, in Robert Liberace's figure drawing class, I had a chance to revisit one of my favorite media: watercolor wash, and rendered this piece. It's an unforgiving media, which is part of its charms for me. There's a great sense of emotion that it elicits. I used burnt sienna artists' watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper. This will be framed and in the Atelier soon.

Fresh Paint

This is last Friday's painting of two young girls reading. Copyright Jill Banks 2008. Oil on linen, 16"h x 20"w.