Painting at the Town Center: "Uncle Julio's and Mighty Fine"

"Uncle Julio's and Mighty Fine" work in progress, oil, 12"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2013

The afternoon was spent on a shady spot on the sidewalk of the Reston Town Center (Reston, VA) painting Uncle Julio's and the Jackson's sign and corner.  Lots of company ... even though this is a little quieter block than the rest of the area.  I guess not everyone agreed. Beautiful day.

Two of my previous Reston Town Center plein air paintings are part of my "Serendipity" solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA.  See them in Great Falls (during normal library hours) or online on my web site.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events
Serendipity
Solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. July 1 through August 31. Over 20 original oils. Painting Demonstration (Painting ballerinas!!!): Saturday, August 10, 1-4pm. RSVP -- yeses only -- to the painting demonstration through my web site.
 

Solo Show at Greenberry's Coffee & Tea

6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Spanish Steps," "Second & Pine Streets," and "Sunlight, Sunflowers and Orange." Through August 15.

All-Media Membership Exhibit
The Art League Gallery, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA. "Artemis" won an Honorable Mention from juror Jerry Coulter. Also on view is "Peony and Rose" through August 5.

Tech and Treats Day

"Early Evening at the Town Center," oil, 22"h x 28"w, ©Jill Banks 2013

Today's mail brought 30 eagerly-awaited photos of recent paintings taken by master art photographer Greg Staley.  Yea! Now, I do have photos of all the paintings currently in my "Serendipity" show. Not all of them are up yet on my web site -- but two new ones are: "Early Evening in the Town Center" and "Notre Dame." Both have been added to the "Serendipity" exhibit preview that you can see here.  Plus, I replaced many of my not-so-great versions with new versions.

Just cataloging images takes time -- getting rid of the poor versions, setting up folders for each image in the correct categories, etc.

Since that was going well -- I finally created a full LinkedIn profile for me as artist and art educator/teacher. The next problem to solve is how to link you to my LinkedIn page.

That's a lot of technological stuff for a technologically-challenged individual.

A little test batch of what will be Orange-Chocolate Macaron sandwich cookies

Plus, today I am learning how to make French macarons -- those pretty little treats we saw all over Paris.  Assuming success, those will serve as some of the refreshments for my "Serendipity" exhibit reception this coming Saturday, July 20, 1-4pm at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. My idea is to include some culinary fun that complements the signs of adventure that is hanging up on the walls. Keep your fingers crossed.

My tutor for cooking macarons is Ann Reardon who explains the process brilliantly online.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events
Serendipity
Solo show at the Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA. July 1 through August 31. Over 20 original oils. Reception: Saturday, July 20, 1-4pm. Painting Demonstration (Painting ballerinas!!!): Saturday, August 10, 1-4pm. RSVP -- yeses only -- to the painting demonstration through my web site.
 

Solo Show at Greenberry's Coffee & Tea

6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Spanish Steps," "Second & Pine Streets," and "Sunlight, Sunflowers and Orange." Through June 30.

All-Media Membership Exhibit
The Art League Gallery, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA. "Artemis" won an Honorable Mention from juror Jerry Coulter. Also on view is "Peony and Rose" through August 5.

Painting the Reston Town Center

"Early Evening at the Reston Town Center" work in progress day 2, oil on linen, 22"h x 28"w, copyright Jill Banks 2013

Today was a blustery Spring day -- so I followed up my plein air painting of the Reston Town Center with a day in the studio.  "Early Evening at the Reston Town Center" is still a work in progress -- with decisions being made as I go along.  A big change today was to get rid of many of the details I'd painted during the plein air session that distracted from the scene.  There's more thinking to do, and more painting.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events

Mountain Maryland Plein Air
Participating as one of 30 juried artists from around the country to paint Allegheny and Garrett Counties in Maryland, May 29 to June 1. Quick Draw on Saturday, June 1, 10am-Noon.  Reception: Saturday, June 1, 6-8pm, Saville Gallery, Cumberland, MD. Exhibit of Artwork from Mountain Maryland Plein Air continues June 1 through June 16 at Saville Gallery

"New Works" Exhibit: the Artists' Atelier Gallery, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm through May 31. On view in the gallery: "Ballerinas I," "Ballerinas II" and "Red Pillow." 

Solo Show at Greenberry's Coffee & Tea
6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Spanish Steps," "Second & Pine Streets," and "Sunlight, Sunflowers and Orange." Through June 30.

Plein Air Painting at the Reston Town Center

"Early Evening at the Reston Town Center" work in progress, oil on linen, 22"h x 28"w, copyright Jill Banks 2013

The whole afternoon into early evening was spent on two different scenes around the Reston Town Center -- with my easel set up at least close to the thick of things. While both pieces need more work (I'll return there next week and maybe beyond), "Early Evening at the Reston Town Center" is the most promising. (Translation: I really like it.)

Paint. Visit. Paint.

I started it about 3pm today -- after already having painted for awhile ... and then worked, waiting for sunset to play out its magic or the lamp posts to come on. The challenge is ... they come on when the canvas in front of me is getting tougher to see.

All day long I was covered in paint, too.  I managed to keep it just on me, though.  Scary looking Pthalo Blue and then, Pthalo Green hands ... with some red, yellow, white thrown in for good measure.

Tomorrow -- Saturday, May 11, from noon to 4pm we're having a reception at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other studiomates at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Come out and see the new show.  I'm hoping some of today's easel visitors come by for a visit.

You can take a look at more of my street/urban paintings on my web site: www.JillBanks.com, click on Works and go to the Places Collection.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435

Events

Women Painters of the Southeast Juried Members Exhibit and Sale
Imagine Gallery, 230 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37064
"Sunflowers in the Studio II" juried into the exhibit that runs April 19 to May 20.

"New Works" Exhibit: the Artists' Atelier Gallery, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm through May 31. On view in the gallery: "Ballerinas I," "Ballerinas II" and "Red Pillow." 

Solo Show at Greenberry's Coffee & Tea
6839 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 821-9501
Exhibit of six paintings including "Two Kittens," "Traffic Patterns," "Primary Colors," "Spanish Steps," "Second & Pine Streets," and "Sunlight, Sunflowers and Orange." Through June 30.