A Day at the Bar, the Old Brogue

"The Bar at the Old Brogue" work in progress, oil on linen, 18"h x 24"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

After having painted outside the Brogue, in Katie's Coffee, in the Snuggery ... old days, I finally made it to the side of this (extremely) popular Great Falls, VA restaurant that houses the bar. I've always wanted to paint there ... and today was the day.

I spent the entire afternoon, early evening hours glued to my spot. Figuratively, not literally. It was an intense, but REALLY fun day of painting. Not all of the patrons painted in were present at the same time. My painting developed like one of those slow motion videos ... as people came to sit, I added them in.

I was stationed toward the front door ... not the perfect placement if you came to watch me ... but great for people to glance at as they came in. I did feel a bit like I should act as hostess. That was probably a funny scene to happen upon.

What helped make the day special ... besides the challenge and excitement of painting something I've wanted to do for a long time ... were all the great conversations enjoyed with paintbrush in my hand. There is something magical about the ability to create something out of nothing. I love watching it happen -- and lots of others enjoyed it today, too.

One of the treats was meeting a woman who said that her 14-year-old grandson was a talented oil painter. Turns out her grandson is my amazingly talented student, Cormac. Pretty cool!

I'll return to finetune the painting some afternoon next week. This was a ton to accomplish today but it will be good to look at it again with fresh eyes. Hopefully, many of my subjects will return another day.

"Cars and Coffee," oil, 16"h x 20"w

Farmer's Market This Saturday
I'll be displaying my work this coming Saturday, May 26, 9am-1pm at the Great Falls Farmer's Market. So look for me under a tent.

"Cars and Coffee" and "The Olive Seller"

Two of my paintings, "Cars and Coffee" and "The Olive Seller" on view now at the Old Brogue will be going to a new home right after my "Out & About" Exhibit comes down on June 1. I can't believe the month's almost over. There are a few paintings in my "Out & About" exhibit that I know many people would like to take home with them. Someone's going to do it. I hope it's you.

"The Olive Seller," oil, 18"h x 24"w

Exhibits and Events

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Painting on site: to be announced (the Brogue's closed Monday, May 28).  Check back here before coming in case times change or dates/times are added. Thanks! Preview the exhibit here.
 

May 20-June 23, Wayne Plein Air Exhibition 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA (May 15-19). Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art Center.  Eight pieces for purchase/on exhibit.

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

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Painting at the Old Brogue, Day Three and Progress

Make sure you check out both of my posts from today. (This one and the one about winning Best in Show in the Art League's 'scapes show.)

My "Painting the Town" exhibit is now over. (I'm sad about that.) This post got lost in the shuffle of my disrupted life. (House renovations, move, camping out, picking out plumbing fixtures, etc.)  But, here it is.

I painted for three days at the Old Brogue while my "Painting the Town" show was up. On day one, I painted two women enjoying tea. On day two, I painted my mom and five of her Stratford House friends having lunch. While I was in there painting on day two, a fellow Old Brogue patron inquired about my painting her three sons in the same corner as my tea ladies. We decided to make it a date, and her sons showed up the next morning.

When I got there at around 9:30am, a group of people were sitting in the corner and fellow artists from Great Falls Studios were gathered from what I wanted to be my vantage point for their regular Thursday morning get-together. I was supposed to be painting at 10am. (That wasn't going to work.) Colleen and her sons showed up right before 10 and they grabbed the corner seat and I kept working on my setup. The scariest part was not having my bag with brushes and some of my supplies. If life wasn't in an uproar, I would have been better prepared. I managed to find one brush ... a little one. Still, a too-small-brush was a whole lot better than trying finger painting.

By the time I was set up, the guys had already eaten and now were left to hang out in the spot for me to capture them. I occasionally took photos -- but every time I pulled out my camera, they'd all pay attention to me instead of each other. Not what I wanted. The youngest was in constant motion. Really. When I pulled up the photos on my computer, it was hysterical. Like a mini motion picture. I honestly have no idea how I even attempted this. What's funny too is that I was only vaguely aware at the time of just how much activity was taking place. I was focusing on one part or person at a time, composing, getting a sense of the whole scene. The main evidence of difficulty is that the youngest son had a few heads on my canvas. I decided to wait until later to pick the right photo to retrofit him into the scene. I had to think about it.

All three days were so much fun. Each day was a painting start, with much more time to be put in later from photo references and memory in order to finish them. All were done without asking anyone to be still and when each "party" was over I would continue to paint in the spot, then concentrating on the walls, table, dishes, etc. The Brogue is such a pleasant place to be. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to other visitors and the Brogue staff about my show, this painting, the process, etc. I think it was good for their business, too. Certainly intriguing to customers. I was in there painting, while someone else is writing on their laptop, reading a newspaper, catching up with friends, taking a break.

Painting in this natural a setting and situation is a much different experience, too, than painting from a photo reference. It was less about getting the drawing down for one split second. I acted more slowly. Feeling my way and capturing the passage of time. So much more interesting.

I've included a series of shots here, from a sketch when the guys were still in their seats to one a few hours after they left to the painting after I'd worked on it more for a few days from photos and memories. I still have a lot of work to do -- and it's a poor photo, but wanted to post anyway. (Sometimes I can't help myself.) I hope you enjoy.

And, if you are a restaurant owner or know one who may be interested in having me paint on location there, email me. I'll try to bring my brushes next time.

"Untitled" work in progress, oil on Senso linen, 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

Painting at the Brogue

Last Wednesday I enjoyed the day painting inside Katie's Coffeehouse at the Old Brogue ... and managed to get a nice start on a painting of two women enjoying tea in my favorite corner. Perhaps like all painting days, this one was another experiment. This is my first time painting such a scene from life without hiring the models. I wasn't asking them to stay still ... I just wanted to capture a real scene ... so I didn't know what to expect. It worked! I'm positive I'll do more of this. It's perfect for me.

I'll go back to the Brogue to paint again ... probably next Wednesday and Thursday. I'll let you know the time.

Yesterday I was working on new house stuff and printing and packaging the art cards that all my guests get (while they last) at the reception for my "Painting the Town" exhibit this coming Sunday, July 25, 2-5pm at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue Irish Pub, 760 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. Bring your art-loving and art-collecting family or friends! See my web site for an online view of the 13 drawings and paintings you'll find in the exhibit.

By the way ... this has been my favorite exhibit opportunity so far. The response has been overwhelming. The Old Brogue and Katie's Coffeehouse are favorite neighborhood gathering places. I love having my artwork in this wonderful spot ... in front of so many friendly eyeballs. Thanks Carmelita for setting up such a great area to paint in Wednesday and thanks Mike Kearney for giving the artists of Great Falls a place to connect to the community.

Randy and I drove up to New York today ... and in a few minutes I'm getting changed to go to the closing reception and awards ceremony at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC. I'm receiving a Certificate of Merit in Oils tonight. Yea! Yea! Yea!

Note, I cropped part of myself out. That's easier than dieting. I'll give you a better view of this first day of painting as soon as I can.

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