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.

"Rialto Market" Painting Almost Done!

This one hasn't been easy ... but it's been fun. More to do, but I couldn't wait to post it.

"Rialto Market" Work in Progress, oil on Senso linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Patrons' Show at the Art League Entries

Once a year, the Art League (in Alexandria, VA) puts on a major fundraiser ... the Patrons' Show. Members (like me) donate artwork and ticket-holding patrons get the opportunity to choose from the hundreds of pieces of donated artwork when their number is called. Last I heard, there were still tickets available for the Patrons' Show event being held February 15. Each ticket ($175) allows the patron to select from the artwork not yet chosen when his/her number is called. Contact the Art League for more information.

My donations are shown above. "Poised" is a grisaille painting, 24"h x 18"w, oil. "The Conversation", oil on Raymar panel, 14"h x 11"w. Copyright Jill Banks 2007.

I hope you join me in supporting the fund-raising activities of this terrific organization.

"Rialto Market" Painting: Day 3

I'll continue to work on this tonight with the goal of just getting some paint on the whole surface. I snapped this photo before it was too dark to get a decent shot. Tomorrow a.m. I teach my still life class in Great Falls -- but hopefully I'll get a chance to continue on with this one after that.

"Rialto Market" Work in Progress (Day 3), oil on Senso linen, 24"h x 36"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

"Rialto Market" On the Easel

I'm working larger now. This canvas is 24"h x 36"w and continues with the market theme I started with "Limoni". I still wanted the scale of the fruits & vegetables to be generous -- something I found appealing in "Limoni" as well -- so that meant working on a large-scale canvas.

I'd like to set up vegetable stands in my studio to work from ... with crates, baskets, real vegetables, etc. Buying all of these would be prohibitive, but I'd love to work with a market, farmer or enthusiastic gardener in the Washington DC area who had produce to spare who could "loan" me some. Just a thought. Any ideas are welcome.

"Rialto Market" Work in Progress (Day 2), oil on Senso linen, 24"h x 36"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.

"Dining Al Fresco" Painting

This one's just about done ... it might get a few tweaks tomorrow. It's another painting in my restaurant or "Place Settings" series. I wanted you to feel the sunshine on the pavement.

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

"Sweet Talk Sweethearts" Painting of the Day

Today's painting of the day is in honor of Valentine's Day ... coming up soon. These are two of the sweethearts candies. It was tough to keep the yellow heart standing up on end. Sort of like building a house of cards. Oh, that's an idea for some paintings to come.

Come see it on our First Friday opening this Friday, February 6, from 7 to 9pm at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066.

"Sweet Talk Sweethearts", oil on stretched canvas, 6"h x 4"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009

Accepted into Salon International Exhibit

Two of my paintings, "Bellydancer III" and "Sunday Morning", were accepted into Salon International 2009. This juried International exhibit runs from April 11 to May 1 at the Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art in San Antonio, Texas. Salon International was founded and is sponsored by Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art and is a Project of The International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art. I'm ecstatic to have my work accepted and look forward to making a trip down to San Antonio to check out the exhibit and enjoy the Riverwalk. This really should be an outstanding assembly of great art.

If you are a collector or art enthusiast, I hope you can see the exhibit in person or at least look at it online. It opens in the gallery and on the web site on April 11. On April 11, there is an opening reception for artists, collectors and press from 10am-5pm and "Meet the Artists" and event celebration from 5-8pm.

I'm excited.

"Bellydancer III", oil on Senso linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2008.
"Sunday Morning", oil, 12" x 12", copyright Jill Banks 2008.

More Lemons and First Friday at the Atelier

Today was the first day of my Great Falls Still Life class, taught through the Great Falls School of Art ... and I started this painting as a pretty quick demo. After class ended, I kept on painting ... and here it is.

"Yellow and Blue", oil on Senso linen, 14" x 11", copyright Jill Banks 2009.

Also, this coming Friday (February 6) is First Friday at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with now 14 other artists. We are welcoming two new artist members: Walt Lawrence and Jenna Klimchak. Join us from 7-9 pm to enjoy the art and sip some wine or sparkling water ... or both! Valentine's Day would be even sweeter with a gift of art. I have a miniature painting of a Hershey's Kiss and may even paint some sweethearts candies for the occasion. We shall see. The address is 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066. Our regular open hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm plus the First Friday night of every month. Come visit, often!