Winter Painting: "Pink Tulips Plus" Continued

"Pink Tulips Plus," oil, 36" x 36," ©Jill Banks 2015

The season of snow. This winter has plagued lots of our schedules and plans. It's disrupted many of my portrait and still life classes. There haven't been those sudden bursts of unexpected Spring like weather that offers the treat of days outside at my easel.

My subject material isn't waiting for me just outside. I have to shop for it or schedule visitors to my studio. In the winter, I plan vs. see what the day holds.

I wrote last of my favorite painter Sorolla and how he viewed the studio as a place to store paintings, but not to create them.  While I long for some warm sunshine and new adventures, there's enjoyment to be had indoors ... with an interior that contrasts the coziness of inside vs. out or a beautiful still life with fresh flowers from somewhere else. What other indoor visual treats do you think I should paint? Suggestions are welcome.

My protagonists in "Pink Tulips Plus" sputtered for their last day as subjects in today's still life class. Time to move on.

"Italian Vines," oil, 8"h x 10"w, ©Jill Banks 2014 was painted in the Piemonte wine region

Events and Exhibits

• February-March: "The Art of Romance," Atelier Group Exhibition, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA.Open Wed. and Sat., noon to 4pm
• April 9 - May 1: Women Painters of the Southeast Annual Juried Exhibition, Blue Ridge, GA
• June 5-7: Rittenhouse Square: The Original Art Show, Philadelphia, PA. 
  June 29-July 5: Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO.  Juried as one of 32 artists who will spend the week painting this very cool town lined with Victorian houses, bustling street against a gorgeous mountainous backdrop.
  July 11-12: Wickford Art Festival, Wickford, RI.
   
• See the Events page for more info/updates
• Ongoing: Visit the studio I share with 14 other artists at the Artists’ Atelier, Great Falls, VA open Wed. and Sat.,
  12- 4pm

Thanks for reading!

Jill

Phone: 703.403.7435
Email: jill@jillbanks.com
Web: www.JillBanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com

Subscribe to my Email Newsletter: News from the Easel

"Pumpkin": Surrounded by Gourds

"Pumpkin," oil, 16"h x 12"w, ©Jill Banks 2014

Each shopping trip for my still life class -- for weeks -- has resulted in a growing collection of gourds. They are piled in the kitchen, in the back seat of my car, in my studio.  Obviously, at least one was meant to make it onto the canvas. And, other vestiges of still life class -- brilliant, curly-petaled orange tulips in a favorite vase (made by Laura Nichols of PigPen Pottery), purple grapes and an old school chair joined the scene. I'd mentioned to my students on Tuesday that they would probably find me there late that night, painting away, since this view called pretty loudly. They could have.

This is a painting that deserves a close-up, since a great deal of the action is in the brushstrokes.

Close-up of "Pumpkin," oil, ©Jill Banks 2014

A trip to the Chastain Park Art Festival in Atlanta lies ahead this week -- where my art makes its last appearance under a tent for 2014. 

Lots of paintings are underway and planned for my solo show at ArtSpace Herndon which opens mid-January.  Each solo show involves a countdown and checklist as I figure out the exhibit's story, what to show, what to paint, and then paint, contemplate, frame, present.  Sounds simple and straightforward. Nope. But each time I really think about where my art is presently, where I want it to go, contemplate my own personal story ... the work itself takes a giant leap forward. Worth every minute, hour, week, month.

Events and Exhibits

• November 1&2: Chastain Park Arts Festival, Atlanta GA
• November 3-December 1: Large Works Show, Art League, Alexandria, VA. "Garden Girl" chosen as one of 16 works for this exhibit (out of 80 entries)
• Ongoing: Visit the studio I share with 14 other artists at the Artists’ Atelier, Great Falls, VA open Wed. and Sat., 12- 4pm
• Jan.-Feb. 2015: Solo Exhibit, ArtSpace Herndon, Herndon, VA
• See the Events page for more info/updates

Thanks for reading!

Jill

Phone: 703.403.7435
Email: jill@jillbanks.com
Web: www.JillBanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com

Subscribe to my Email Newsletter: News from the Easel (This link takes you to the subscription page.)

"Hoot and Flowers" In Progress

"Hoot and Flowers" work in progress, oil, 24"h x 18"w, Jill Banks

I REAL-ly have no time to post -- but still had to share the setup that filled my afternoon of painting. So much fun!

I've been wanting to paint this owl that creeps some people out a bit in person but whose balls of fur were a delight to capture. He/she looks friendly here, right?

Off I go.

Go see "Here and There" exhibit at the Old Brogue, 760C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA through February 28, 2014. Many folks are enjoying it. Hope you can, too. (It's online on my web site as well.)

Check out my Paint In Italy workshop, held August 2-10 on my website's classes page: www.JillBanks.com.


Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com 
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435
Artists Atelier, Great Falls VA website: GreatFallsAtelier.com  
Paint in Italy Workshop: August 3 - 10, 2014: Info

EXHIBITS AND WORKSHOP 

February 1 - 28: "Here and There" Exhibit at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue
Check out my "Here and There" exhibit online or in person at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. 

February 1-28: Flowers, Chocolates and Romance, Gallery in the Artists Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066. One of our best exhibits of the year. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon-4pm.
   

"Drama Queens" Still Life Painting Today

"Drama Queens," oil on Senso linen, 20"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

This is a continuation of a painting I started early last year while I was in the throes of my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. I'd been given tulips as a peace offering from one of my reluctant sitters. Somebody in the house ate the bananas. The tulips died waiting for me to have enough extra energy to finish. But, I loved the reflection of the tulips in the kitchen window. So, here it is ... scene recreated ... painted at night with some very close cousins of the original subjects.

It was great fun. And, like an Alfred Hitchcock movie, I've let my own personal imprint somewhere. Did you find me?

Earlier today, I did a little bit of updating to my web site ... adding two of my recent animal paintings to the Animal, Birds and Wildlife Gallery.

This is my second post of the day. Be sure to check out the "Student Exhibit Makes the Cover of the Connection" post, too.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 1 (faces 1-54): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 2 (faces 55-100): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project_2.html
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