"Michelle I" Getting Better

Last night I worked more on this portrait of Michelle Anonick, my son Sam's girlfriend. Husband Randy asked me how Sam's latest critique went, and I had to hesitate and then laugh. My response was approximately this: "Let me start by saying that Sam thinks this is the best portrait I've ever done. But, he also thought I made her left eye look a tad bigger than her right. Which, we then agreed really was the case. So, he left me to work a while longer and I told him to take a look at it when I finished. Then I get the question, 'What did you do to her eye? Now it looks smaller than the other one.'" My conclusion, the kid's nuts. Nice, but nuts.

I will work on her hair, ear, background, clothing, and arms ... but not her face. In the words of Goldilocks, "This one's just right."

I have been really busy lately with some great goings on with more to come this week. I started a great new painting on Sunday that I'll show you in a post coming up, plus enjoyed the opening at ArtSpace Herndon of the "Still Life Poetry" exhibit I'm participating in. I'll also post photos of that fantastic show. It's beautiful! You have to see it. See ArtSpace Herndon's web site for open hours.

Tomorrow's the last day of my still life class for the summer session ... so I'll be spending all day teaching. Wednesday I'm being interviewed by Brian Trompeter from the Sun Gazette. Thursday, I'm giving a tour of the Artists' Atelier (the studio space I share with 15 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G) in the morning and my "On the Bright Side" exhibit at the Great Falls Library (9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA) in the afternoon. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday I'll be teaching a Portrait and Figure Painting in Oils workshop through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts. There's still a space or two in that workshop. If you're interested in signing up, email me at jillbanks1@aol.com or call 703.403.7435.

"Michelle I" work in progress day 4, oil on linen, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Peach" Painting and New Drawing Class Offered

Today's (better hurry typing) class was great. I teach a Still Life class through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts (www.greatfallsfoundationforarts.org) on Tuesday mornings -- and I love it. Peaches were part of the act in two of my still life setups and I didn't see students "get" the shadow/light patterns on the also-patterned peaches. So, I painted an example, albeit a little too late for class, but I hope it will help for next week. That happens to be the last day of class.

I'm still looking for two-three more students for my portrait painting workshop offered through the same organization August 14-16. Contact me for more info at jillbanks1@aol.com or 703.403.7435. This will be an extraordinary class!

Today we also came up with a brand new class offering. I will be teaching drawing on Monday nights, 7-10pm in the Fall (starting September 14), running for nine weeks. The location is 1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA. The cost will be $300 plus model and material fees (to be determined). Students are enlisting our models -- friends, spouses, people they'd love to draw. Students not ready for drawing people will have still life setups to choose from. I'm excited about offering this class. I've been influenced (a lot) by one of my teachers, Rob Liberace, in exploring drawing across many media -- and it's become part of my soul as an artist. Drawing materials can be with you anywhere ... so you can create while the rest of the family sits on the beach. I'll do multiple demos, especially when we're moving to a new medium. Classes are small -- maximum 9-10 due to space constraints -- so contact me if you'd like to be one of this special group. I think classes will fill up quickly!

I also worked today on one of my two Michelles, portraits of son Sam's girlfriend. Since Sam loves Michelle, he's one heck of a critic. But then again, I do enjoy a challenge.

"Peach"; oil; size: not sure, but little; copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"The Donut Line-Up" Painting and Summer Classes & Workshop Offered

I painted this during and after my still life class today. There's nothing like smelling fresh donuts all day. The donuts were a last-minute purchase last night at the Safeway checking out with grapes for an ongoing class set-up. $3.99 for a dozen, and I couldn't resist. It gave me a chance to try out this interestingly-sized canvas, 4"h x 12"w that I had bought a while back. Definitely fun. I will resist eating my models today (and tomorrow), and now I'm off to paint something else.

"The Donut Line-Up", oil, 4"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Registration is going on now for summer classes and workshops at the Great Falls School of Art. The School is located at 1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA 22066. I will be teaching a once a week class for six weeks on Tuesday morning, 9:30am-12:30pm, July 7-August 11. Cost: $200 (paid to Great Falls Foundation for the Arts) + $15 materials fee (for still life stuff -- paid to me). A supply list will be emailed to students.

Still Life Painting in Oils
Still life painting is the ultimate teacher -- learn how to achieve glorious color, draw with paint concentrating on simplifying forms into abstract shapes and how to construct compelling compositions. The instructor (that's me) will set up multiple still lifes for each class and teach student how to design their own incorporating some of their favorite objects. This is a great class for artists of all levels -- from beginners to advanced.
Tuesdays, 9:30-12:30, July 7-August 11

"Coconut Cake", oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

And, I'm offering a Summer Workshop in Portrait & Figure Painting:
Portrait & Figure Painting in Oils

Learn to see and capture the human form through direct observation. The instructor will demonstrate on Friday night, leaving students with plenty of painting time over the weekend to hone skills. Short poses each day help students increase the speed and accuracy of their paintings. A long pose will finish each day's painting session. Students are invited to bring one of their pieces to the workshop for a one-on-one critique during the session. Clothed models. A supply list will be posted on my web site (www.jillbanks.com).
Friday, August 14 demo, 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16: 10am-4pm
Cost: $195 + model's fees (paid to the instructor)
Level: Intermediate/Advanced. Some figure/portrait drawing and oil painting experience is recommended.

Go to www.GreatFallsFoundationforArts.org to download the school bulletin and registration form and mail to: Great Falls Foundation for the Arts, Inc. c/o Terri Parent, 325 Sinegar Place, Great Falls, VA 22066. Any questions, contact Terri, the school registrar at 703-433-5358 or terrikate@aol.com. Or contact me directly, jillbanks1@aol.com.

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