A Lemon and Wet NYC Street Paintings

I enjoyed just painting today. Spent a short time this morning painting in my home studio this lemon and mint plant. Those two items were just part of my nesting-instincts-on-overdrive grocery shopping trip. I didn't know they were going to be models, too. I was painting on a super-smooth Ampersand board. Hence, all the paint strokes show as they sit on top of the surface. No absorption. This is one of my mini paintings. Five inches by five inches. Perhaps I chose this subject and size because I have art-empty soffits in my kitchen that might look better with a lemon painting. (How do you spell soffit?)

This afternoon, I returned to "A New York State of Mind" ... one I've been wanting to get back to for awhile. Take a trip back through my older posts to see this as a work in progress and start. By the way, this one's a large canvas -- 40" x 30" to be exact. Quite a contrast from my painting from this morning.

I had a number of pieces that were works in progress during last weekend's Studio Tour. Tourgoers loved them and were curious how I was going to finish them. This one ("New York State of Mind") still needs a lot of work ... but I guess I'm trying to answer the question by painting. I'll be working on this some more tomorrow during open studio hours at the Artists' Atelier, noon to 4pm, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA 22066.

"Lemon Below", oil on Ampersand board, 5" x 5", copyright Jill Banks 2010
"A New York State of Mind" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 40" x 30", copyright Jill Banks 2010

See my web site: www.JillBanks.com for more still lifes and city street paintings on the gallery pages.

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

Back to "Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle"

I was back in the studio today for open studio hours ... finding plenty of my studiomates keeping me company. We all seem to be suffering from the same malady: cabin fever. It was nice to be back in there (at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 15 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA).

I only had a few hours, or at least that's what I thought. My plan was to go to the open life session at the McLean Community Center from 4-7:30pm. I made it there, along with other artists ready to paint and draw. Unfortunately, apparently, the open life session had been canceled. No monitor, no model. I think we kept eyeing each other to see who could be roped in to sit. That didn't work. I asked a nice young guy at the desk if he'd be interested in sitting for us. He had other plans. Imagine that on a Saturday night.

Oh well. So I was hoping for a new portrait or figure painting to post today.  Maybe next week.

Here's the latest rendition of my "Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" that I worked on today. Even though the time was short, I was really pleased with my progress. I love these lemons!!!

This one's been resting for awhile, awaiting final tweaks. I have final, final tweaks ... itsy-bitsy ones ... and then I'll call it a wrap.

This is happiness on linen.

"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle", oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

See other posts on this painting's development:
"Painting Lemons Today: "Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" Continues"
"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle" Painting and the Holiday Show
My Latest Lemon Painting

And some more posts on lemon paintings:
Another Lemon Painting
Lemons, Limoni Painting Finished

Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!

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

Painting Lemons Today ... "Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" Continues

Holiday celebrations continue ... but that didn't keep me from diving into paint today. I've worked on "Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" for a few additional days since last peek.

A few ideas have been running through my head while I've been painting it. Such as, why haven't I been painting the snow that's been piled up outside? Instead, I enjoyed a few snow days -- a reprieve from any thoughts of mall-shopping to get large, focused blocks of time to paint on two ongoing projects -- "Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" and a portrait commission.

My paintings have undergone a transformation lately. I see it in this, soon to be finished painting, and in "Tranquility" which I will also be finishing up shortly. There's a sense of calm, peacefulness, air about them. Funny how these canvases describe exactly my mindset while painting them. It affects the way I see what's right in front of me ... and all the choices that direct my brush.

Right in the midst of a bustling holiday season, I find some cherished quiet time. I hope you did, too.

Happy Holidays!

Jill

"Sunflowers, Lemons and the Blue Teakettle" work in progress, oil on linen, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle" Painting and the Holiday Show

 Ho! Ho! Ho!

A Quick Post ... before I pack up paintings/drawings et al for this weekend's Great Falls Studios Annual Holiday Sale being held at the Colvin Run Historic Schoolhouse, 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, VA 22066, 10am-5pm both Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13. I'm joining 19 other artists in this quaint, time-capsule-like space for what has become a true Great Falls VA tradition. Come visit. It's where I do the majority of my Christmas shopping. I have clients, too, that have bought paintings, their major gifts for close family members from me... at this show.

I'm making some good progress on my "Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle" painting. I have five paintings I'd like to finish, put final touches on before a major art event next week. I do realize that's totally unrealistic. Priorities, priorities.

I'm in the Christmas spirit ... probably because I'm planning on doing my shopping this weekend at the schoolhouse. It's low-key, low-stress, merry, fun.

"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle" work in progress, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

My Latest Lemon Painting

 Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, the Thanksgiving feast was at our house but cooking the turkey and sweet potatoes  and anticipating guests didn't stop me from continuing work on the latest of paintings of lemons. My Dad stopped by earlier in the day to drop off flower arrangements and I think he was surprised to find the kitchen still a mess ... with an easel blocking the walkway ... and me happily painting away. Dinner was ready on time and the "hostess" (me) was much cheerier since the day wasn't all about cooking.

I did think about writing the blog yesterday with a photo of my kitchen setup and a title of "What's Cooking in My Kitchen" -- but I didn't really have time to spare.

This is a work in progress. It will be a challenge to tackle the granite countertops. Hmmm.

I'd like to do a series of interiors inside my house (first) and then other interesting places where I can setup and paint onsite. This still life was going to be my first interior but the flowers and lemons just didn't seem comfortable playing second fiddle to a room.

I've created plenty of paintings of lemons and sunflowers. (See my web site gallery pages: still life section for more examples.) Not sure they've ever appeared together before. Now the sunflower season has truly ended.

Registration for my January workshop (Mastering the Business of Art) and classes (Portrait and Figure Painting in Oils, Still Life Painting in Oils) at the Great Falls School of Art is going on now. See my earlier blog post about classes or go to my web site www.jillbanks.com and click on classes for more information.

Be sure to see my solo exhibit at Maison du Vin in Great Falls, VA and Market Cellars in Reston, VA. The Maison du Vin show comes down December 14.

"Lemons, Sunflowers and the Blue Teakettle" work in progress, 30"h x 24"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Another Lemon Painting

"Lemon Yellow", one more painting of a lemon, was one of the five still life setups from my Still Life class today. I set this one up in my studio and painted it this afternoon. I will be submitting it on Friday for the Great Falls Studios group show at the Old Brogue that runs the month of August.

For this painting, and recent work done on "Sunflowers and Gladioli" I added Winsor Lemon by Winsor & Newton to my palette. (See post on my "Sunflowers and Gladioli" painting here.) It's nice added to my three cadmium yellows (deep, medium and pale).

There are two more classes in the Summer session, and registration is still going on for my portrait painting weekend workshop held on August 14, 15, and 16. Go to the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts web site, Great Falls School of Art page to download the Summer bulletin and registration form.

On Sunday, Randy and I spent the day in Annapolis. It was hot! So, that left more time for sketching in an air-conditioned space. Some drawings from that trip will be shown as soon as I get a chance to photograph them. While getting ready for our Annapolis jaunt, I also re-discovered many more drawings from my Venice trip last year, including many done from statues and paintings in Venetian museums. My notes weren't overly helpful ... sort of staccato. I guess I was just more interested in looking than writing.

"Lemon Yellow", oil on linen, 8"h x 10"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Ongoing and Upcoming Shows:
"On the Bright Side" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066 through August 31. See web site for preview and open hours.

"Still Life Poetry" group invitational show at ArtSpace Herndon, August 4-30. Reception: August 8, 7-9pm, 750 Center Street, Herndon, VA.
MPA Artfest, juried outdoor show, Sunday, October 4, 10am-5pm.

And, my studio at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, open Saturdays, noon-4pm and the First Friday of every month, 7-9pm ... plus any time I'm in there working or by appointment. Call 703.403.7435.

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