Progress Report Etc.

You know, I painted today ... and had a GREAT painting day ... and I can't show you what was so great about it.  Well, that's no fun.

I've been working on a really, really big portrait commission and loving it. It's one of those projects that you work your tail off on, and still end up only making a dent each day. I know what it's going to look like finished (unbelievable!!!), yet I have ten gadzillion brushstrokes left until the rest of you (and my clients) see it, too.

For this portrait commission I'm relying on a huge array of photos and images stuck in my head. I've found having multiple, non-specific sources interesting, because it keeps me thinking from start to finish ... just as I do when I work from life.

See my web site for information on commissioning a portrait: www.jillbanks.com. My pricing will be increasing shortly (probably January 31). If you've been thinking about commissioning a piece, now just might be the best time to do so.

One of my breakthroughs was a compositional solution I came up with. (Yet to be implemented.) I don't like to leave long, unbroken expanses of lines or curves. One piece of the painting needs to lure the eye to another part and any unbroken lines tend to divide the canvas. I know how to break the curve.

This will make a whole lot more sense when the portrait's finished and you can see it revealed. My target date is by March 1. As usual, stay tuned.

Since I couldn't show you what I painted today, here's "Orange and Orchid" work in progress day 2 (worked on last Wednesday).

"Orange and Orchid" painting in progress Day 2, oil on Senso linen, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010. This is a pretty rough photo -- taken at night, wet paint, yellow light. Not perfect conditions, by a long shot.

For those following my Dad's progress: He's in Hilton Head resting comfortably and happily. My son Sam and his girlfriend Michelle have left to head to Richmond and then back to VA Tech. Dad has tests coming up the next two weeks and then I think will come back home to Virginia for some other procedures. I don't get that many comments on my blog but I have about my hero blog. (Emails, too.) There are a LOT of people who love him. No surprise there.

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

"Orange and Orchid" Painting: Fresh Paint

The last two days have been class days ... Monday was the first day of my portrait and figure class and today the first for still life. (I teach through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts. Find out more about classes on my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes.) Since a few people were missing from today's class, I had a chance to paint this still life ... definitely a work in progress. It keeps me from watching every brushstroke and is an ongoing demonstration. Plus, as usual, I continued to work on it after class.

My shoulder's about to fall off. Getting back into full-schedule painting after a brief or long reprieve will do that for you. Nothing like having your arm up in the air for 7, 8, 9 hours straight.

My feet aren't faring much better. Nothing like standing for the same period of time.

Time to clean up, pack up and head home.

"Orange and Orchid" is of the second still life I set up in class. The one no one wanted to tackle. Orchids are tough to paint. No wonder.

"Orange and Orchid" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010. See more of my still life paintings of flowers and fruit (and more) on my web site: www.jillbanks.com in the gallery pages.

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

"Orange Peeled, Junior" Painting

This peeled orange was a minor player in one of my Still Life class setups. It's a return to my miniature paintings at just 5" x 5". I decided on a little one because I didn't have much time to paint today and I had a spare 5" x 5" frame ready for it once it dries.

A previous painting of an orange, "Orange Peeled" won Best of Show at the Art League in November 2008. Read about it in an earlier post.

"Orange Peeled, Junior", oil on canvas, 5"h x 5"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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