Begona Morton Is Face #19 ... and Shopping

"Begona Morton: Face #19", oil on panel, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

Now I'm really pooped ... and for good reason. I'm also really on a high, loving my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. Every aspect of it.

This morning Begona Morton sat for me and became Face #19. We had a LOT of fun. She's good company, and we just had lots to talk about. Begona's taking my Still Life class for the second time and she's passionate about art ... and about learning everything she can. So, we certainly talked art. But, we also talked about Spain (where Begona grew up) and some about Brussels and raising kids.

Oh, and this was the first time I neglected to inform a sitter which location I was planning to paint him/her at ... so Begona was at one studio and I was at another. Oops. There's only about 10 minutes between the two. Begona called me about 15 minutes after we were supposed to start trying to figure out if she had the right day. So, if you're scheduled to sit for me ... make sure we've agreed to where I'm going to be (home studio or the Artists' Atelier). I'll know my schedule better the week of the sitting.

Begona checking out her painting

I took over my application for a Strauss Fellowship grant to the Arts Council of Fairfax County. Today was the deadline (at 5pm). I had won a Strauss Fellowship grant in 2008, and recipients are eligible to apply again after three years -- so I qualify. Preparing the grant requires a lot of paperwork, time and thought ... so I'm glad to have it behind me. I asked for funds to support the creation, exhibition and book publishing for my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. Hopefully, the panel that evaluates the applications gets as excited about the project as I am. I really think they should be!

After that I went on a much-needed five-hour shopping trip. (The primary reason I'm pooped.) My son Sam marries Michelle one month from today and I needed a mother of the groom dress. So, I think I got it. I'm supposed to put on a "fashion show" tonight to get the opinions of the young folks around here who have better taste in clothes. I hope I pass!!!

Begona photographing the finished painting

Thanks, Begona for being such a wonderful sitter.








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

Jonathan Fisher Becomes Face #18 Today

"Jonathan Fisher: Face #18", oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

Jon Fisher, a wood sculptor and the Communications chair guru of Great Falls Studios agreed to sit for me today. I canceled my still life class today, following suit with the Fairfax County School System deciding not to fight the icy roads and to catch up on a pile of "to dos" before my painting session this afternoon. What a relief unanticipated "free" time is! It takes away panic for a few hours and I had a whole lot more energy to paint and concentrate on Jon. This turned out to be one of those paintings that look just like the subject.

I was a member of the board of directors of Great Falls Studios with Jon. I graduated off the board a few years ago while Jon remained and continues to make remarkable things happen for the organization. One of my favorite perks of being a board member was to attend meetings with Jon with his continuous stream of wild ideas and hysterical one liners. He has a wonderful sense of humor and it strikes without his changing expression and the rest of us break out in irrepressible laughter. He's also somebody who questions everything ... and thinks of every possible scenario. What a great asset to keep us on our toes.

"Blue Quartz" wood sculpture by Jonathan Fisher

I learned more about Jon today and I'm glad to have had the opportunity. He was working to be a good model for me ... sitting still and talking a bit like a ventriloquist to keep his mouth from moving. No one's tried that before. Jon was talking about this being a bit like being in the dentist's office when they ask you questions knowing that there's no way you can answer at the moment. Perhaps.

There were some funny moments during the sitting ... but typing this made me think about another instance when Jon was up to no good. Part of our promotion of Great Falls Studios Annual Studio Tour (in mid-October of each year) is to put up blue balloons at our studio locations all around town. We are responsible for picking up signs and balloons from one of the member's studios and I arrived to pick up mine as Jon Fisher was finishing up. The hardware store in town lets us use their helium tank to blow up all the blue balloons ... but the tank was empty so balloons were dwindling down to nothing. Jon had his and I was getting mine and that was it. No more. So Jon walks out the door with his balloons and two seconds later we hear him say, "Oh, SH_T!" You know what we thought. Just kidding.

My wall of faces on day #18. Pretty cool, isn't it?

So today we had fun. Painting went well ... and #18 looks good up on the wall with the rest of my characters. It's starting to look like I'm doing something around here. I need to schedule some sittings for this upcoming weekend. Just haven't had time to do so yet. (It gets a bit complicated.)

For more info on my project, go to my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page on my web site and/or check out earlier posts on my blog to see faces #1 through #18.


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

Patti Chisholm is Face #17

"Patti Chisholm", Face #17, oil, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011

I'm sort of pooped ... so probably a short post today.

Portrait class was great today with some outstanding progress and bold steps. Patti Chisholm sat for me after class was over ... and the conversation was great ... but we were still both ready for a nap. I sent her sleepy eyes home and I finished up via photo. I've got a pretty clear picture of Patti, and she has one of those faces I was itching to paint. There is no way I could portray her hair as wild as it really is, but I had fun trying.

My description of Patti is what you see, is what you get. Always a lot of fun. Bold. Cool. Interesting. Thoughtful.

Patti's a professional artist who normally leans toward abstract, but she's a strong portrait painter, too. Check out her web site: www.pchisholmstudio.com to see her work.

One comment that perhaps I should leave out is that when I put my painting of her up on the wall, I realized I'd painted her on a slightly smaller scale than the rest of my faces. I'd been influenced (my guess) by painting little Bailey the day before. Except, I like this painting of Patti and its composition just the way it is.

You can check out all of my faces and more about my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project on earlier posts and on my web site, 100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page.

"Patti Chisholm", Face #17, oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.

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

Bailey Was Here: My Youngest Face is #16

"Sweet Bailey" is Face #16. The cloth flowers on her head were only there sometimes.

Whew! It worked.
Bailey and her mom came to sit for me today. Bailey's all of six-and-a-half months' old and is as cute as you see here ... or even cuter. I took over 100 photos today but painted only from life. No touchups here or there. The photos were just because Bailey looked so darn cute no matter where she was or what she was doing. It's amazing how big a space looks when a munchkin is sitting in it.

I was thinking before Bailey and mom showed up how large I wanted her face to be on the canvas. Did I want to scale her down so you had some sense for her littleness or did I want to zoom in and give you a closer look at her Bailey-ness? What happens is the size/scale just suggests itself ... and once put down you can't imagine it any other way.

Bailey and her mom check out progress. Note the flowers had fallen off.

Just to give you a picture of the process ... you can't direct a baby to sit any particular way. Mom held her and when I wanted her head to look up, toys would go a bit higher. Bailey's mouth was only visible sometimes. She was happy to be chewing on toys, mom's hand or sucking on her binky. Her head would turn, look up, look down (all of her face would disappear).  If I couldn't see her mouth, I couldn't see her chin and her cheeks would change shape. Mom stuck flowers on her head with "booger tape" (I think that's what she called it) and that would last for a little while and then fall off. So I painted them when they were on and painted other parts when they were available/visible. A "go with the flow" painting. I loved every minute of it.

I could have painted Bailey a thousand different ways.  It was hard to pick just one.

Modeling's hard work. I'm pooped.

As this painting progressed, I just found myself smiling at the painted Bailey. There's no way not to. (Try it.) This painting just makes me happy.

Bailey's mom is someone I love and the two of us were looking forward to just spending time together and enjoying ourselves. Which we did. She's unbelievable with kids ... and has always wanted them but had to wait a good long while before that happened. Seeing her as a mom is beautiful ... and she has two lucky daughters.


Bailey is an extraordinarily happy and peaceful baby. Supposedly, according to her mom, she was a little crankier than normal. We both agreed that if that was cranky, mom didn't have much to complain about.

I was so glad this worked. You never know. No angst. Just happy, peaceful, easygoing painting of a beautiful baby. Yea!

I will be painting Bailey's sister and mom and potentially her dad. (This will be news to him.) In my call for volunteers, I've had many families, many couples come forward. I'll have to ask  permission before posting some copies of emails that I've been sent ... but the reactions have been unbelievably positive ... and it's fun for people to share this experience with a spouse.

I did get a great email from Judith St. Ledger-Roty (Face #15) who has more than forgiven me for holding her hostage all day. She enjoyed it ... a lot!

So, now I need to regroup. Get ready for tomorrow's portrait class. Take care of some art business. Have dinner. All that stuff.

And pictures of Bailey will be dancing around in my head. Beautiful day.

Read more about my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project in earlier posts (every day since January 1) and two posts about the planning stages in late December ... and on my web site which I just updated tonight. On my 100 Faces in 100 Days project page, each of my first 16 sitters paintings is there along with a link back to their respective blog posts. Cool.

"Sweet Bailey", Face #16, oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.

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

Judith St. Ledger-Roty is Face #15: Perseverance Is Theme of The Day

"Judith St. Ledger-Roty", Face #15 ... FINALLY

While we decided to keep the length of today's sitting a secret, let's just say that today's painting didn't paint itself. My sitter: friend, fellow artist, former studiomate Judith St. Ledger-Roty did her part and then some. No problem there. I felt like I had some serious momentum going leading up to today being really pleased with the way each alla prima portrait sketch was turning out. Yet today was all about drawing issues and color issues and paintbrush issues.

My painting wasn't dreadful but it looked like a whole different person than Judith. I'd occasionally catch glimpses of Judith ... only to see them disappear. Judith was kind enough to tell me to take as long as I needed ... and she meant it.

At one point I said that this looks absolutely nothing like you and she came over to the easel and agreed with me. (Just the truth.) Then she carried it into the bathroom so we could look at her and the painting in the mirror. We were thinking it might be my first do-over, because there just seemed to be so much wrong with it. I still wanted to stick it out ... and one of the main problems I saw in the mirror was the relative height of her forehead. So that was fix-it job one. Judith also suggested we both be quiet and let me concentrate. (I was excited about having her sit to catch up on all she's learning and experience in her part-time program at Studio Incamminati -- so we'd done a lot of talking.)

I worked more. Things were improving. We returned to the mirror. Better, but I noted other changes I needed to make.

Judith is fair-skinned and that is an important part of making her look like her. She doesn't have an ounce of fat on her which makes her cheekbones stand out and I had recurring chin problems.

I moved her mouth four times.

Rough day at the office ... but still goodhearted fun and somehow I chose exactly the right person to share a rough day with. She couldn't have been more patient and helpful.

I admire Judith greatly. She's dedicated to becoming the best artist she can be. Four months ago she enrolled in Studio Incamminati's part-time atelier program, traveling to Philadelphia for what began as two days a week and immediately turned into four days a week ... to study art all day, year round, for three to seven years. In this program, students draw in charcoal for an entire year ... no painting and you return to square one in skills. Like starting to draw a sphere. They rebuild the skills from there.

So, to go from painting, having taken countless classes and workshops to starting in order to get better is an incredible, and admirable commitment. At the end of our marathon sitting session, Judith showed me some of her drawings on her iPhone and they were markedly better than any I had seen her create pre-Studio Incamminati. She can feel herself learning and is having a lot of a-ha moments. She is drawing from the model three days a week and drawing the still life one day a week ... and loving it.

I guess the patience that's being required of her at Studio Incamminati made sitting for me not quite so taxing. She knows how difficult the road is to get it right and she helped me along it today.

Today, I painted at the Artists' Atelier and so was lugging stuff there from my home studio. I forgot my cell phone, my purse, the card for my camera so I could take photos, and my brushes. So, no extra photos from my painting session. Just as well, considering the trauma of it. Tough day.

In the end it turned out just fine. This is Judith.

And, tomorrow I may have my biggest challenge so far with a very young model. Please cross your fingers for me.

"Judith St. Ledger-Roty", Face #15 of 100, oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.

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

Meet Face #14: Anne Guerin

"Anne Guerin", Face #14 of 100, 12"h x 12"w, oil on panel, Jill Banks 2011

Anne's a new student of mine -- in my portrait painting and drawing class I teach on Mondays. So, today we were getting to know each other, plus examining the process and  taking a look at my drawings and paintings spread out throughout the house... as well as putting face #14 on canvas (panel).

What I gather is that Anne's a strong, determined, hard-working soul. Born in Paris, she's participated in full and partial marathons and climbed Mont Blanc. Anne's just beginning her journey in art, but I have a sneaking suspicion that her other journeys up mountains and on the road will come to her aid.

I'm asked often ... as I was today ... about recommendations for training. i.e., should students take multiple classes at one time, what programs are good, should they work with multiple instructors, etc. I base my answers on my own experiences and the experience level of the particular student.  While I studied for many years with two primary teachers/mentors, I had a problem when I studied with two different ones simultaneously when I was first starting out. Reason: I hadn't yet adopted an approach to painting and those two competing approaches just left me confused because I didn't know how to pick and choose among the lessons taught by each. Later, I felt ready to study under multiple instructors and to cull guidance and advice that I wanted to apply. Since then, I have chosen instructors/classes/workshops specifically for what I desired to learn from them. Multiple classes by the same instructor, even in different genres are great, particularly if you need the motivation to paint (or draw, or sculpt, etc.).

An interesting coincidence is that Anne recently retired from running her own business for 30 years to turn to other pursuits ... as I did in 2001 after running a business for 16 years. Turns out her business started as Mothers' Aides. They helped place a wonderful sitter for my daughter Sarah when I first started my business in 1985. We figured that Anne is probably who I talked to, to find out the right person to come stay with Sarah at my workplace for her first year and a half. Small world.

Tomorrow I'm painting former fellow studiomate Judith St. Ledger-Roty, who has been studying in a part-time Atelier program at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia. Studio Incamminati was founded by Nelson Shanks ... and I took two summer 2-week long workshops there early in my painting training in 2004 and 2005. These workshops were instrumental in kicking my training and painting into full gear. (They are bootcamps for artists, and my lack of habits and newbie-ness was perfect for learning new skills.) Anyway, I'm anxious to hear all about her experiences.

I need to work on scheduling for next week with volunteers needed for Tuesday afternoon (2pm or after for three to four hours) and Saturday and Sunday (January 22 and 23, flexible times). I'll look to filling those slots with volunteers who already said they'd be willing to sit ... but let me know if you want to be the one for those spots. (Send me an email.) Unsure what this is all about? Look at earlier posts or my web site.

I'm a little less peppy today. Yesterday was a bit too jam-packed. I like a happy medium.

See you tomorrow!

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

Oscar Haynes is Face #13

"Oscar Haynes", Face #13 (of 100), 12"h x 12"w, by Jill Banks 2011

Oscar Haynes, the soon-to-be 95 year old super model who agreed to pose for my Portrait class last session ... also agreed (happily) to be one of my volunteer faces for my 100 Faces in 100 Days project. Oscar's wife, Joan Bell-Haynes  (Face #12) posed for me yesterday.

My Dad escorted Oscar to and from my home studio ... and we had a wonderful time between that to and from.

I enjoyed stories of Oscar being conscripted into the Air Force in 1941 on July 3; going home for the July 4th holiday; and getting assigned KP duty for unknowingly going AWOL.  Remarkable stories of his work in marketing and in and for the church. He talked about saying "Now, can't we just work together ... " and I just can't imagine anyone turning him down. He is a visionary, seeing what could be who evidently also knew how to make what could be ... happen. All of what he accomplished would be remarkable at any time, but when he did so, make it more extraordinary. He constantly strove to be better and better. To be the best.

Oscar Haynes checking out the newly finished painting of his Face #13.

With all that, what's most important to those who meet and love Oscar is his extraordinary kindness. The gentleness of his spirit. His sheer happiness at being alive. A beautiful attitude.

His motto: "My attitude is gratitude."

Pretty great lesson.

Fun day!

"Oscar Haynes", Face #13 in my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project, oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.

Check out more about my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project in earlier posts and on my web site.

I went tonight to the Art League (in Alexandria, VA) for the awards reception for the All-Media Membership Exhibit. I received an Honorable Mention for "Sunflowers in My Studio."

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

Joan Bell-Haynes is Face #12

"Joan Bell-Haynes" Sat for Me Today, Face #12 of 100.

First comment ... my Internet is down, thus email is down. So, I'll be slow on replies and it'll be trickier to post for a day and a half.

Joan Bell-Haynes, Face #12
I spent a wonderful morning and early afternoon today with Joan Bell-Haynes. Joan is my parents' pastor and also the wife of Oscar (the famous model from last Fall's portrait class and my model for tomorrow's face).  Both are beautiful people and it was most enjoyable to just "meet" Joan as Joan ... versus Joan as wife and pastor.

We don't have "isn't the weather blustery outside" conversations. There's a lot to learn, understand ... a lot of common ground, both ways. Perhaps sometimes we don't think that someone else is interested in what we have to say, or we're never in the right time/place to be ourselves and share what's important to us. But, when we're open to listening and revealing what we're about, it's just easy, comfortable and helpful!

I took this shot in the mirror. (Backwards and there's a streak. Oops.)

I'm having these conversations while painting and I never want to stop either. Today was certainly no exception. What's being revealed isn't what my sitter looks like but who they are. While I care whether two eyes are aligned and a likeness exists, these "Faces" are far more in tune with the person's soul than surface.

In Joan, I felt, saw, heard her spirit. She is wise and full of love.

These "Faces" aren't snapshots of people. These "Faces" are who they are as seen through someone else's eyes.

I think that's what is surprising when each one of my sitters sees his or her painting. They are used to seeing a photograph and just accept that the camera (or the mirror) must be an accurate reflection of what they "look" like to someone else. But, I don't think that's true. (At least I hope not, in my own case -- since photos of me look pretty dreadful.) I know that this painting of Joan looks like her to me in a way a photo never could.

My 100 Faces in 100 Days Project
While we were together for a bit longer, this sitting was probably three-and-a-half to four hours long. (They aren't getting shorter.) To find out more about my project, read earlier posts on my blog ... each day from January 1 to today and the two posts in late December when I revealed my 2011 plans. Or go to my web site to my 100 Faces in 100 Days project page. I'll be updating that ... again ... when Verizon gets our Internet back in business. Sitters volunteer to come sit for me from anywhere to two-and-a-half to four hours ... to help me out, enjoy and learn about the process and be part of a project that I envision as a future exhibit and book about the project ... featuring them.

Tomorrow's "Face" is Oscar and I will get a post up on his sitting ... somehow ... tomorrow night.

I'm actually overloaded with technical issues at the moment. Boo hiss.

"Joan", Face #12 in my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project, oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.

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

Face #11 is Dad! Great Day Today

Today was the first day of my Still Life class ... more on that later.

"Dad" is Face #11. Yea!

Today was also my Dad's day to sit for my 100 Faces in 100 Days project ... and I wouldn't trade in today's four hours for the world. Sometimes, you realize (or recognize) just how lucky you are. I know it always, but it comes right smack dab and hits you over the head other times. Like today.

I heard some stories I hadn't heard before and some I had that were fun to hear again. Our conversation crossed all paths, wound around, filled the space with good cheer and laughter. We rarely get a chance to just spend time like that together. One on one. Today was one of those memories I'll hold onto for a lifetime.

My painting of Dad is just like Dad. He's wearing his Swedish hat and his head is cocked and thoughtful. He's always telling me that someone else has an interesting face to paint ... or that someone else would be more interesting to paint than him. So he's not wise in this one area.

Looks are deceiving here. My painting is only 12"h x 12"w

I showed it to him in a number of stages, and just like the rest of my sitters, he was surprised to recognize himself on canvas. He really liked it, and was wondering if that was an okay reaction. That's a great reaction. How sad for me if someone didn't like my painting of them.

My paintings express just what I like (or love) about the people in front of me.

So, at the end of today with freezing rain and snow falling outside the studio, I had a hard time leaving my wall of faces behind. (I bet Dad likes it because he gets to share the row with Mom.) It's getting somehow more powerful by the day.

Day #11. Face #11. "Dad" (Ken Johnson), oil on Raphael linen-lined board, 12"h x 12"w, copyright Jill Banks 2011.






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

"Granddaddy" is Face #10, Only 90 More of You To Go

"Granddaddy" is Face #10, Day 10 of 100 Faces in 100 Days Project

My father-in-law, Granddaddy to my kids, Drate Banks was the model for the first day of my portrait class today. And because I'm really not crazy, my demo painting fulfills my "face" for the day.
All went well. When class was over, Drate, Randy (my husband) and I went off for a nice lunch and break. Drate then sat for me for another half hour or so (time flies faster for me) allowing me to finish up. Face #10 is complete and up on the wall. Yea! That's a milestone of sorts.

Second Appearance
This is my first time painting my father-in-law ... but he has appeared before in one of my favorite drawings. The red-chalk drawing "Granddaddy" had been juried into the Salmagundi Club's Graphic and Photography Exhibition in 2009 ... which was my first time being accepted into that prestigious show. This drawing now hangs happily in our dining room. Nice company.

"Granddaddy", red&white chalk on treated paper

Coming Up
Now I'm working at catching up on emails and mulling over setups for my still life class that starts tomorrow. After that, my dad's sitting for me as Face #11. I guess this is family week. (Mom sat on Saturday as Face #8.) This is an exciting week ... lots of fun challenges. I don't know what to expect ... particularly this coming Sunday when I may be painting my youngest face to date. On Thursday, I'm painting Oscar (the 94 year old super model from last semester's portrait class) and on Wednesday, Oscar's wife and my parents' minister, Joan.

I guess I shouldn't give away too much. Lots of other exciting people to paint coming up. Maybe I'll just leave the rest in suspense.

By the way ... keeping up with emails is SOOO much tougher during this project. Yikes. I don't actually know how many volunteers I have lined up, but it sure seems like a lot. I'll try to get a handle on that tonight and attach dates/times to everyone who has said yes they'd do it.

My wall of faces on day #10. This is hanging in my downstairs studio in Great Falls.

100 Faces in 100 Days
If you're just finding out about this project now ... I'm painting 100 Faces in 100 Days. Alla prima (meaning all at once). Volunteers agree to sit for 2-1/2 to 4 hours for me. No pay. I keep the painting for future exhibit(s) and publishing in a book. The sittings are actually fun and we get to know each other -- lots of conversation -- and you get to learn more about the painting process. This is a tremendous exercise for me that will inevitably help me grow as an artist and let me understand and enjoy capturing my favorite subjects: all of you! In addition to putting up a post each day on my face of the day, I also have a 100 Faces project page on my web site: www.JillBanks.com that you can visit with links back to each blog post. Pretty fancy.

Great Email from Face #7 (Will Tuthill) on the Joys of Sitting

I got this note yesterday from Will and can't resist sharing it. (With his permission.)

Hello Jill,

Just got a chance to take a look at "my" post on your blog. You definitely captured something of my likeness, my spirit. I'll never forget that moment when I looked at your painting of me on Friday after you said something to the effect of, "You should come take a look. Something interesting is happening." When I looked, there was a moment of surprise bordering on shock. There on the canvas was ME, not just a picture of me, but some essence of me captured there. You are gifted.

Thank you for your kind comments about me on your blog. And I like the part about the shadowed side and the bit of mystery.  :-)  We certainly covered much fascinating ground in our conversation! It's always a pleasure to feel at ease enough to share thoughts and stories at the level we did on Friday. I thoroughly enjoyed your company as well and appreciated the opportunity to see you at work, to understand a bit about how you perform your magic.

After I left on Friday I realized I forgot to give you my card. I'll try to remember to hand you one next time I see you.

Great project! I'll be following this one on your blog. Nice post on your mom. Keep up the inspiring work.

-Will

Now to get organized...

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