The Figure Show and a Bit of a Snag

The Figure Show at the Artists' Atelier was hung today ... with the official opening this Friday, March 5 from 7-9pm. Come visit the gallery and studio spaces I share with 15 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. And, this is unusual ... I won't be there this First Friday or April's First Friday ... but enjoy the show and great company for me! The studio is also open on Saturdays, noon to 4pm for open hours or whenever an artist is in.

My contributions to the show are "Caffe Bar" and "Corner Couple". They join 20 other pieces in the show. Plus, because the First Friday opening for last month's show was canceled due to our mammoth DC snowstorm ... we held over the Still Life show in the gallery ... so BONUS! Two shows in one.

See more of my street and restaurant scenes in the gallery section of my web site: www.jillbanks.com.

The Snag: My camera's dead. Amazing how critical that particular tool is to me. So far, (as in since yesterday afternoon) I haven't been able to:

• photograph a still life set-up so that I can put it back together for class next week.
• photograph a little new painting I started yesterday.
• photograph the new show at the Artists' Atelier to post here -- as an enticement to come to First Friday this Friday, March 5, 7-9pm at 1144 Walker Road, Suites D&G, Great Falls, VA. (I won't be there this First Friday or next month -- but my paintings and fellow artists will be -- so come!)
• you get the idea.

Randy's researching the camera purchase online so I should be back in business soon.

P.S. I'll be posting info about Spring classes at the Great Falls School of Art in the next day or two.

"Caffe Bar", oil on linen, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.
"Corner Couple", oil on Raymar panel, 24"h x 18"w, copyright Jill Banks 2007.

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

"L'Auberge Chez Francois" Restaurant Painting Finished

Today I revisited a painting of the Great Falls restaurant, L'Auberge Chez Francois. I'm glad I did. This isn't the greatest photo because the camera caught some of the glare from the medium I used (Gamblin's Neomegilp), but I think you can tell the difference between this version and the one shown in an earlier post. As mentioned in that post, this is the third painting I've done of the interior of this restaurant.

"L'Auberge Chez Francois", oil on Senso linen, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

web: www.jillbanks.com
blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
email: jillbanks1@aol.com

Love Is In the Air!

"L'Auberge Chez Francois" is the third painting of this Great Falls restaurant I've created. L'Auberge Chez Francois is rated as one of the most romantic restaurants in the DC area, and I agree! I still need to sign it ... but I think it's done. Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

"L'Auberge Chez Francois", oil on Senso linen, 16"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

"Dining Al Fresco" Finished

Here's the final for "Dining Al Fresco". As soon as I post this, it's on to the next painting.

By the way, First Friday at the Artists' Atelier was great last night. I know that I had a great time visiting with our visitors.

"Dining Al Fresco", oil on Senso linen, 24"h x 20"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

L'Auberge Chez Francois Paintings

Yesterday, Randy and I went to L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA to celebrate my birthday. We had a great dinner as usual, finished with a chocolate souffle. I collected plenty of ideas for new restaurant paintings -- but thought I'd share two I've already painted of this spot. The first, "The Celebration", 30"h x 40"w, depicts friends and fellow artist (photographer) Walt Lawrence, his wife Maria and sister-in-law Bernie enjoying an anniversary and birthday celebration themselves. This painting is in Walt and Maria's collection (so not for sale), but it is a good example of the non-traditional portraits I'm doing. The second painting is another scene from L'Auberge. It will be included in my display this weekend at the Great Falls Studios Annual Holiday Art Show and Sale at 10201 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls, VA. The Show is on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 & 14, 10am-5pm both days.