"Tranquility" Wins Honorable Mention at Salon International and More Cool Stuff!

Salon International 2011

Jill Banks' "Tranquility" wins Honorable Mention at Salon International 2011

My painting "Tranquility" won an Honorable Mention at Salon International 2011, one of the very best juried competitions in the oil painting/contemporary realism art world. Salon International is hosted by Greenhouse Gallery (a top-notch gallery) in San Antonio, Texas. This was my second time being juried into this prestigious show ("Bellydancer III" and "Sunday Morning" were accepted in 2009). Jurying for acceptance is done by the gallery owners. 415 stunning paintings were accepted. Jurying for awards was done by Daniel Greene.

This is an Honorable Mention versus one of the very top awards but getting one of these is indeed honorable. I'm in there with a bunch of very talented people painting their hearts out. These top artists present their best work in this show.

Please visit the Greenhouse Gallery site to see the winners and the show.

"Tranquility" in American Art Collector Magazine, April 2011

Two years ago, when I was accepted for the first time, Randy and I traveled to San Antonio for the awards banquet and show opening. This year ... with my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project ... and oodles of other stuff ... we didn't.

I get excited about all this. Just having the opportunity to paint is a joy. Getting kudos for what you've created is also a joy.

I keep working away at improving as a painter and building a career and name recognition on a (now) national level. That's exactly what all of those painters you see winning top awards did. No one "arrives" overnight. They just keep doing what they love and striving to make the next painting better than the last. I'm enjoying absolutely all of the journey.

"Tranquility" has appeared in conjunction with this show in the catalogue sent out en masse for Salon International by Greenhouse Gallery and on spreads in Fine Art Connoisseur and American Art Collector April editions.

April Cover of elan Magazine!

"Dining Al Fresco" on the cover of elan Magazine, April 2011

So cool. Come see the painting at the Artists' Atelier show at the Candy Factory in Manassas in May 2011.

My painting of "Alan" was on the cover of elan Magazine in May 2006 which accompanied an article about me as a featured artist. This magazine focuses on the arts and having an article in there was a real dream of mine.


Lots of dreams come true.

And today, I painted Face #92  on the 92nd day in my 100 Faces in 100 Days Project. Think I'll make it?

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