"Yellow Watermelon and Tamarillos" Painting Today

"Yellow Watermelons and Tamarillos," oil on linen, 16"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

I haven't posted for a couple of days ... just because the paintings in process weren't ready to be viewed. They still aren't ... but I worked on this one today ... and it's finished! Signed my name and all.

I had started it about a week ago and loved the subjects. I wasn't sure what the yellowish-orange and red fruits were ... but researched it on the Internet. Pretty amazing that you can do this. I now know that if you eat this gorgeous fruits skin, the aftertaste reminded one food blogger of soap. Sounds like peeling it is a good idea.

"Papaya and Friends," 16"h x 20"w, oil on linen, ©Jill Banks 2011

The market depicted was from the produce department at Harrod's from our recent London trip. That store is amazing -- a real feast for the eyes. Husband Randy was trying to get me to leave ... for more sightseeing. But I wanted to stay. What a place!

See more of my market paintings in the gallery section of my web site (www.jillbanks.com), click on Market Series.

This one reminds me of another favorite: "Papaya and Friends." It's just as bold and "real."

Framing Today

Actually, Randy's framing ... but I picked out and picked up frames, mats and glazing today from Framemaster's in Merrifield ... for the three drawings destined for the Salmagundi Club's Juried Non-Member Photography and Graphics Exhibition in New York City in August. They are going to be gorgeous! (Randy's putting them together now.) He'll also be framing a fourth piece, my ink wash and pen & ink of Parliament ... that will be available for purchase. Framing transforms these drawings. All four have slightly different mats and frames. They hold together but each piece is matted and framed to reflect differences in colors and textures of the paper and medium used. It seems to be a combination of art form and science to get it all right.

"Portrait of Zoe" Purchased

"Portrait of Zoe" was purchased yesterday as an anniversary gift for Zoe's owner. By posting the finished painting of her, I understand I simplified gift shopping. Having my work turn into a special gift ... is wonderful!

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

"Hunks of Watermelon" Painting and "Boats in Burano"

Today was the last day of my Fall Still Life class. What a great group. Tuesday's will feel a little funny until January classes start.

Watermelon appeared. (Strange season, I know.) Part to be eaten. Part to be painted. The real watermelon setup looked perhaps neater than the cutting board version I decided to paint. This is one of those odd top-down views. It's a little tricky. I may come back to this tomorrow. A sign is that I bothered to put saran wrap over my models and left my palette at the studio. The knife, I know needs work.

Last night, I finished up "Boats in Burano." This one's little (8"h x 10"w) considering the scale of the scene. That's a lot to pack into a little bit of canvas.

By the way, this is a lot of red considering that my principal reddish-orange color on my palette, Cadmium Red Light made from Gamblin has been misbehaving lately. It's got to be coaxed into the right consistency with the addition of Gamblin's Neomegilp and the tube has sprung a few leaks. Just imagine your two hands the color of the top side of each hunk of watermelon. I didn't think it would ever come off. Yikes.

Tomorrow night's the reception at the Great Falls Studios Exhibit at Life with Cancer in Fairfax. See my contributions in an earlier post.

Tomorrow a.m., I drop off my donations for Art Night Out 2010 being held Friday, November 19th at the River Bend Country Club in Great Falls, VA. I'll fill you in on those donations soon.

"Hunks of Watermelon", 12"h x 4"w, oil on canvas, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

"Boats in Burano", 8"h x 10"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

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