"Francie's Peonies" Demo and Hanging the 100 Faces in 100 Days Exhibit

"Francie's Peonies" work in progress, oil on Raymar panel, 12"h x 16"w, by Jill Banks

Today was the start of my Still Life class which was ... wonderful. There are a couple of newcomers to the class, all well welcomed, and for the last two days all the "regulars" have walked through the classroom doors "oohing and aahing" the newly expanded, painted classroom. It really is great.

Francie Johnson, a member of the class, brought in these beautiful peonies to paint. To which, I added a vibrant green long pepper and plum. I had tons of stuff bought and brought to set up and another really exciting still life to paint (that sat lonely in the corner). But what could beat peonies, and lilacs from Francie's garden? So that was my demo. I hope to go back tomorrow to work on this some more. Don't know what shape the arrangement will be in ... but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

In art, and probably a whole lot of other areas, there's often a disconnect between expectations and one's ability to meet them. At this point my expectations are really, really, really high for my work. I want it to be almost painfully beautiful. For that to happen, I have to reach, stretch, work, think. There's a dilemma when the subject matter for a painting is gorgeous. How do you make it better than that? My work is cut out for me.

There's also a secret unveiling itself. Quick, immediate paintings rarely soar. With my 100 Faces, I wish I had more time with almost all because beauty doesn't often appear on schedule. I want to explore what's possible. Think about it. Try out other ideas. Consider everything.

Randy and I hung my 100 Faces in 100 Days show at the Great Falls Library. He did an incredible job designing the panels, putting them together, and showcasing all 100 people and paintings. I still need to put together signage, labels, etc. but today was filled enough. To the brim. I will rely on tomorrow.

Randy reading (emails) at the Great Falls Library with some of the 100 Faces in the background. Pretty cool.

While we were hanging half of the show yesterday ... one visitor mentioned that the panels (there are nine faces on each panel) reminded her of the Brady Bunch. She thought it would have been funny to have some of them looking up, down, diagonally, at one another. Now, why hadn't I thought of that?

It did make me think about what happens with all my faces when the library closes. There could be a ruckus in there. At least a fun party.

I will be hanging additional art ... and add names, info on my sitters ... by Friday. I'd be quicker if there were two of me.

More faces. Come see ... and visit at the reception this Saturday, May 7, 2:30-5:30pm

100 Faces in 100 Days Exhibits

Mark your calendars for the 100 Faces exhibit events. All 100 faces will be on view two times this Spring/Summer. These will be WONDERFUL, not to be missed exhibits. Come see everyone!

May 3-31 at the Great Falls Library, Great Falls, VA

Reception: Saturday, May 7, 2:30-5:30pm

Demo/Artist’s Talk: Saturday, May 21, 2-5pm

August at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA

Reception: Friday, August 12, 6-9pm

Ice Cream Social: Saturday, August 13, 2-4pm

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"Pumpkin Pie" Painting: Have a Slice

Just because I've been busy doing other things, here's a painting that's sitting near my home studio ... that reminded me of the pie that's currently sitting in my refrigerator.

"Sunday Morning", 12"h x 12"w, oil, copyright Jill Banks 2008. Sold.

I painted this in 2008 ... right before I created "Sunday Morning" ... a sold piece that's still a favorite of mine. Both are the same size (12"h x 12"w) and done from a similar angle.

A couple of days ago (husband) Randy brought up a tray of breakfast that looked just ripe for this same treatment. Only trouble ... we ate it. Oh well. A future painting. (It'll look great.)

See more of my paintings of food on this blog ... and my web site: www.JillBanks.com in the Still Life section of the gallery pages.

By the way, now's a great time to sign up for Winter classes that I teach in Still Life and Portrait Painting and Drawing through the Great Falls School of Art. Classes start January 10 & 11. Get more info on classes and how to register on my web site: www.JillBanks.com, click on Classes.

"Pumpkin Pie", oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2008. Available for purchase through the artist. (That's me.)

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

Sketching Around Williamsburg: My Parents' 60th Anniversary

Sorry for the long absence. I have plenty of reasonable excuses.

For the last few days, we've been enjoying an extraordinary weekend in celebration of a banner year for my parents (Ken and Shonnie Johnson) in honor of their 60th anniversary (on September 3) ... the the whole family in attendance. It's not an easy thing to pull four generations together ... but if anyone could do it ... my mom and dad could. And did. I met my neice's two beautiful kids, Maya and Maddox and some of the family met my son's fiance Michelle -- for the first time. All three of the new M's were a big hit. All easy to love and welcome.

The weekend was full of "happy" tears, great stories, and gratefulness ... that we have had a chance to witness a lifetime of a very special love that at 60 years is going stronger than ever. Despite a very funny string of technical glitches, my mom (who has trouble hearing) sang "Through the Years" (I think that's the name of it ... at least that's the refrain) to my Dad with the faint accompaniment of a poor rendition played on my brother's laptop. The words were perfect. Just in tune with their lives together. Good thing they didn't look at the rest of us crying our eyes out. To say it was touching ... would be quite an understatement.

I have had a chance to sketch ... since I don't golf, shop, or go to the spa. My parents sent around a survey in advance to check out individual interests to balance out the family together time ... and apparently I was the only taker on sketching/painting as a leisure activity.

So, here's one of them. Done today at Merchants' Square in Williamsburg. On a bench with a variety of visitors hanging out from time to time on a bench next to me. This one's started with General's layout pencil, then I added a watercolor sepia wash finished with line work using a sepia Faber-Castelli pen.

There are just a couple spots left in my "Portrait Drawing and Painting" and "Still Life in Oils" classes that start in one week (September 13 and September 14, respectively). Go to my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on Classes for more information, supply list, and registration info. Let me know that you're signing up, too -- since there's so little time left -- by emailing me at jillbanks1@aol.com.

"Scene from Williamsburg's Merchant's Square", pencil/watercolor wash/ink pen on Zecchi's paper, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435
For info on Fall classes: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/Classes_3.html
Great Falls School of Art registration form: www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/Registration_Form.html

"A Dozen Roses" Get Another Day

 Today was the sixth day of my Winter Term Still Life class ... and day two with the three setups. Mostly I taught today, painting only toward the end of class and then for a few hours after everyone left.  Since today's roses are "cousins" of last week's now dead version ... I adjusted those a bit.

The next session of classes start the week of April 11. I'll be teaching on Tuesdays with more details to come. Classes are taught through the Great Falls School of Art, part of the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts. I'll post information here and on my web site: www.jillbanks.com.

I also added Terra Rosa to my palette today. What a great color!!! Two reasons for the addition. I've been rereading parts of Richard Schmid's Alla Prima book (my favorite, information-packed book) and he used Terra Rosa and Venetian Red in a wash-like grisaille portrait that I loved. It reminds me of the effects I've gotten with my burnt sienna watercolor washes. Reason two is that when I peeked at fellow artist's Adrienne Kralick's palette she had a beautiful purplish fairly deep red that she mixed with Alizarin Crimson and Terra Rosa. It was just what I needed and used for the top surface of the velvet cloth (where the light shines on it). Love it!

So, today my life as an artist consisted of:
Arranging the roses "cousins" in the vase looking at photos of their predecessors on my laptop
Fixing lunch since my class runs from 11am-3pm
Teaching, critiquing, painting
Assembling easel number seven of the new, highly cherished easels for the Great Falls School of Art (purchased on sale from Plaza, Mabef lyre easels made in Italy)
Photographing this painting and the setups from today so that I can get stuff back in place next week
 (Now) blogging
(Next) marking the setups with masking tape and cleaning up
Heading home

"A Dozen Roses", oil on linen, 12"h x 9"w, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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