Life as an Artist- Jill Banks

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Goat Day at Wayne Plein Air

"Here's Looking At You, Kid II," oil, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

Today, the 30+ juried artists of Wayne Plein Air turned in our first three painting days' worth of work. Receiving was from 7 to 9pm. We got there at 7 and the first of my five paintings to be checked in was #57 ... indicating there were plenty of early birds with plenty of work each.

I had a whole lot of fun this morning, in the company of Belle, the goat. I returned to the farm where the kickoff/pig roast/pot luck party was hosted ... just to paint Belle. She' a beauty ... and apparently, a hungry one. I had to hold on to ... or more, accurately, retrieve a lot of my painting gear and accessories. Belle went after my name tag, the plastic sleeved sign that identified me as a Wayne Plein Air painter, and a trash bag. All had to be tug-a-warred out of her mouth's grasp.

"Goatyard," oil, 11"h x 14"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

Standing near her piece of land, I created two paintings. One a close-up when she happened to be visiting (hunting for more goodies) and then a more distant view ... munching on grass in the pen. I painted what I could see. Waited patiently for a view more like the ones on my canvas. Was rewarded often. Loved every minute painting Belle.

Oh, and lots of other potential paintings beckoned on this farm. It was very, very, very hard to head away.

But now, paintings of Belle, and three others are waiting to be hung at the Wayne Art Center. Tomorrow holds another painting day ... maybe in Philadelphia. Saturday morning is our last day of the competition ... with the morning spent in downtown Wayne. I know what I want to paint. That's what ... one-half of the battle. Not really. But, it's a start.

Goat Inspiration

Exhibits and Events

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Painting on site: Wednesday, May 9, 1-4pm and Wednesday, May 23, 1-4pm. Check back here before coming in case times change or dates/times are added. Thanks! Preview the exhibit here.

May 15-19, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA. Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art Center.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Rainy Day Strategies for Wayne Plein Air

"Main Line Station," oil, 20"h x 16"w, copyright Jill Banks 2012

This HAS to be a short post ... so I can go to sleep and rest up for a very full day tomorrow. Today was the first painting day for Wayne Plein Air ... and this morning it poured. All last night I was trying to think about the locations to visit today and even on the car en route, I was flip-flopping. The destination for the rainy morn turned out to be under cover outside at the Wayne Train Station ... looking in on the cafe. This painting is prettier than it looks here. That will probably be true all week as my photography set ups are haphazard. Tomorrow night there will be no time to post ... but that just means more to tell you about later in the week.

There was another destination for this afternoon. A rather breathtaking farm. And, rather doesn't apply. Again, more later on that.

Exhibits and Events

Saturday, May 12, 2012

"New York State of Mind" and "NYC Street" Go To New Home

"New York State Of Mind," 40"h x 30"w in its new home

Because last Wednesday was packed full, I postponed this post about a very special delivery. Two of my New York City paintings found their way to new walls that evening. Randy and I helped pick the spot, but my job was easier. "New York State of Mind" and "NYC Street" are both large paintings ... and with the frames, hard on Randy to hold up to try spot after spot.

Barbara and George treated us to drinks and hors d'oeuvres and a warm welcome before the heavy lifting got underway. With visiting, snacking, figuring out where to hang the pieces and actually hanging them, we were there for quite awhile. Our hosts must have been ready for us to get out of there so they could have dinner (I'd eaten right before with the poker club -- see Wednesday's post) ... but they were too kind to shoo us.

The reason two paintings were delivered is because we'd brought both of the pieces over a few months back to help make the choice between the two easier. It didn't. "New York State of Mind" and "NYC Street" both looked equally fantastic there ... and the decision was to purchase not one, but two.

"NYC Street," 30"h x 40"w in the family room

It was a fun night. They are terrific pieces that fit their new owners and new home to a "t."

Today, I'm still packing and actually did some shopping for the Wayne Pleir Air painting trip. Lots more to do.

Exhibits and Events

Friday, May 11, 2012

"Coffee or Tea?" Painting In Progess

"Coffee or Tea?" work in progress, oil on Raymar panel, 16"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

I did paint at Katie's Coffee in the Old Brogue (where my solo exhibit "Out and About" hangs this month) on Wednesday ... setting up my easel right about 12:59pm. Not exactly what I planned, but life decided it was it charge ... not me. Thank you to those of you who watched or talked with me. There's more to do on this one, I think primarily because my painting surface was not cooperating. I'll have to build the paint up ... much more.

This is a tardy report because yesterday took me to the Art League store, gallery to look at the exhibit, a short visit with Margaret Cerutti (friend and organizer of all those art historical tours Randy and I have been on) and another short visit with Danni Dawson - artist, teacher, mentor. In the afternoon, I worked (slightly) at touching up this painting before heading to the Spring fundraiser for the McLean Project for the Arts to celebrate 50 years connecting the community with the arts and help propel it for fifty more. What an extraordinary organization of volunteers, staff, sponsors and supporters! Pretty extraordinary.

And, today I was trying to get organized. That's not a one-day job, but soon it's off to a week for Wayne Plein Air. I'm not ready, yet here it comes.

Exhibits and Events

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

"Peaches And Cream Peonies" Painting Today

"Peaches and Cream Peonies," oil, 16"h x 8"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Francie Johnson brought in a profusion of peonies for Still Life class today. I love a lot of different flowers ... but peonies and sunflowers head the list. Peonies for their generosity of form, size, everything.

So in between teaching and working on the commissioned portrait, there were peonies.

Painting at the Brogue
Tomorrow, (Wednesday, May 9) from 1-4pm, I'll be painting somewhere in the Old Brogue, maybe in Katie's Coffee, maybe on the front patio. I scoped out some potential spots to set up the easel today. The Old Brogue is located at 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066. You're welcome to come watch ... whatever/whoever it is ... develop on my canvas.

Exhibits and Events

Monday, May 7, 2012

"Sunflowers In The Studio, Too" Work in Progress and More...

"Sunflowers In My Studio, Too" work in progress, oil, 30"h x 24"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Sunflowers have found their way into my studio many, many times. There is a "Sunflowers in the Studio" ... one of my paintings that I visited just last week in its new-ish home. That painting was the result of my Dad calling me up ... and telling me he had the most beautiful vase of sunflowers ... would I like him to bring them over? My answer was yes.

"Sunflowers In The Studio, Too" is of the flower arrangement Dad made for Sunday's reception for my "Out & About" exhibit. The title includes "Too" instead of "Two" because right behind this painting is a portrait commission that I'm working on now. You'll get a glimpse of the right side of it in it's early stage. On the floor behind it, leaning against the wall is one of the panels of my "100 Faces in 100 Days" project. The red table is a metal cart that my great aunt owned ... that now acts as the well-used taboret in my studio. The sunflowers have plenty of company.

"Sunflowers In My Studio," oil, 24"h x 18"w, private collection

I just started painting the final portrait after lots of preparatory work. What a relief it is to start. Until I put paint to canvas, portrait commission work is daunting. The preparations are incredibly important (sketching, color studies, conceptualizing, composing, determining the size, getting the canvas stretched, selecting source materials, and organizing) ... but also time-consuming ... and I get antsy to paint. It was a joy to have a chance to dig in ... with the initial sketch and then starting to develop one of the four subjects (three humans, one canine) in the painting. Yea!

The photo is poor (of "Sunflowers...") ... lots of reasons for that ... but maybe the photos will improve as the painting progresses.

Painting In the Old Brogue

Wednesday, May 9, 1-4pm
Wednesday, May 23, 1-4pm
Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue Irish Pub
760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066
You're welcome to look on or check in. I'm not sure exactly where my easel will be ... or what I'll be painting. Two days to figure out some of that. I hope to see you there!
Come see, and you'll be able to take a look at my "Out & About" exhibit, too. Lots of too's today.
See the exhibit online on my web site. "Out & About" continues through May 31.

Exhibits and Events

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Thanks for Coming to "Out & About"

The opening reception for my "Out & About" Solo Exhibit at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue was met with a steady stream of very nice people ... familiar and some unfamiliar but welcome faces. It was a fun day ... and I enjoyed sharing stories about this special selection of paintings.

Unusually, my Mom and Dad came ten minutes after the start of the reception. Had my Mom been there, the three young ladies who thought they could pass through the room where my paintings hung to enter the other side of the restaurant ... would have been stopped in their tracks and introduced to her daughter's (my) paintings lining the walls.

It was fun. I'm extremely lucky to have found people who have followed my work, love it, own it or would like to own it or help me in whatever way they can. That means so much to me.

During the reception, I was talking non-stop. When it's busy, there's no thought about cameras or capturing the action. Oh well. I promise that people were there.

The great thing about having an exhibit here, is that many, many, many people see it all month long, morning to night. "Out & About" -- my opinion -- looks its very best when the sun's gone down and the paintings just glow.

Thank you to all who came this afternoon. If you haven't made it in there yet, I hope you get the chance to come take a good look.

I will be painting somewhere in the Brogue on Wednesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 23 ... and perhaps more. Times will be posted here ... hopefully, by tomorrow night.

Exhibits and Events

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm. Preview the exhibit here.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

"Grazing on Buttercups" Painting on the Farm

Today's treat was a field trip (I was in a field) to Francie's farm ... and invitation extended to my Still Life and Portrait class. We were there armed with Cadmium yellow paint to capture the buttercups ... and I followed three horses (two shown) wherever the grass was greener.

They'd go away ... to stand in the cool of their lower level stalls ... and I'd concentrate on the grass, or trees or sky.

Painting outdoors is still a messy, challenging business. Inevitably, a gnat flies in your eye. Bugs land on the painting. Stuff happens.

Yet it was a wonderful day ... enjoying the company of horses. After painting, Francie and I watched her husband sail his model boat in the swimming pool while the dogs relaxed on the lawn.

There is so much to paint there. Lots to inspire.

Dinner was in the Snuggery (what Katie's Coffee becomes at night) at the Old Brogue. That's the third dinner there this week ... and the second time with the paintings from my "Out & About" solo exhibit surrounding me. It's fun to be in there with the paintings on display. Pretty cool. See details about the exhibit below.

Exhibits and Events

April 14-May 4, Salon International 2012, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX. “Contrapposto”

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm. Preview the exhibit here.

May 15-19, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA. Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art
Center.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Dinner With the Poker Club Times Two

My Dad's poker club buddies (and me, to the left) in front of "The Poker Club"

Tonight, my Dad's poker club buddies came to the Old Brogue to see the painting of them "The Poker Club" for the first time finished ... and to have dinner where it's being displayed all month. It was fun watching them stream in the room with big smiles on their faces. In the painting, they are all pretty animated. Same is true in real life. What intrigued me was the interaction between all of them. A sign of friendship is giving each other a hard time. There always seems to be plenty of that.

My "Out & About" exhibit of twelve paintings, is on display in Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, May 1-31 at 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066.

Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm ... plus I'll be painting there on Wednesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 23. Check back here or my web site for those times.

There were other special parts of the day ... including delivery and installation of two of my NYC paintings to a collector. They look gorgeous there. Photos and text to come some time soon. It's been a long day... and another adventure awaits tomorrow.

Exhibits and Events

April 14-May 4, Salon International 2012, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX. “Contrapposto”

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm.

May 15-19, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA. Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art
Center.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Jill Banks "Out & About" Exhibit Is Up!

Six of my twelve paintings hanging at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue

This afternoon, Randy and I hung twelve pieces at Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue. It took two hours ... one every 10 minutes. Not exactly mach speed.

Some of my photos need re-taking, but here's a shot of the main wall you see walking in. "Sunset in NYC" (the NYC skyline painted in my hotel shower) is hung back behind the bar/counter ... "Stepping Out" (my painting of horses) is near the door.

We hung "Two for Tea," the painting created almost two years ago inside the Brogue of two women enjoying tea ... at the table we've sat at many, many times. Also in the show is "Cars and Coffee," painted on the hill in front of the Brogue. One of the wait staff was so glad that was in the show as she was working the day I was painting it.

The Brogue feels like home. It's a lot like the sitcom "Cheers." The dining rooms are filled with friends. The wait staff know what you're going to order. The Brogue is a big part of the community. The place to gather for all of us who don't spend too much time in the kitchen.

It's a coffee house in the morning to early afternoon. Takes a two-hour break. Then, it's an extension of the Brogue restaurant for dinner. I love having my work there.

Tomorrow ... early evening ... I'll be having dinner in there with the members of "The Poker Club" who will be looking at the finished painting for the first time ... live. That will be fun!

Take a look at the exhibit online ... or better yet, come!

Exhibits and Events

April 14-May 4, Salon International 2012, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX. “Contrapposto”

May 1-31, "Out and About" Solo Show, Katie's Coffee at the Old Brogue, 760-C Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Reception: Sunday, May 6, 2-5pm.

May 15-19, Wayne Plein Air Festival 2012, one of 34 artists juried to participate in a plein air competition and exhibit in and around Wayne, PA. Gala Preview and Artists' Reception, Saturday, May 19, 6-10pm at the Wayne Art Center. Exhibition to follow May 20-June 23 at the Wayne Art
Center.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project

Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Pages

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Friday, May 11, 2012

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Monday, May 7, 2012

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Tuesday, May 1, 2012