"Clown Girl and Kisses" Painting Continued

"Clown Girl and Kisses" work in progress, oil, 20"h x 16"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

A very quick post today, at least until later. I was definitely having fun getting back to the doll painting that I started last week. The big addition today was painting in the color charts under and behind the doll. Weird, but I got a kick out of it.

Events
August 1 - September 21: "100 Faces in 100 Days" on exhibit at the Artists' Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. Open hours: Fridays and Saturdays, Noon-4pm. 

Thursday, September 8, 7:30pm: Demo for the Vienna Arts Society, Vienna, VA. More details to come.

My Still Life and Portrait Painting & Drawing One spot left in my Still Life class. See the Classes page on my web site for more information on those classes. Send me an email if you would like to receive notification of other class/workshop offerings -- what kind of courses you would be interested in, days of the week and times.

Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm: MPA McLean Artfest, juried outdoor arts festival, McLean Community Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 15&16, 10am-5pm: Great Falls Annual Studio Tour. Major weekend long event with 47 artists from Great Falls Studios participating in a self-guided tour. I'll be in the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls. Last year, the tour drew 7200+ visitors from throughout the DC area. Don't miss it!

To read more about the 100 Faces in 100 Days project on my web site (www.jillbanks.com), go to the 100 Faces Project Pages 1 and 2 where you can see all 100 of my volunteers. Click on the paintings, and go to my blog post for that person's sitting.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 1 (faces 1-54): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project.html
100 Faces in 100 Days Project Page 2 (faces 55-100): www.jillbanks.com/jillbanks/100_Faces_in_100_Days_Project_2.html
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

"All Dolled Up..." Painting Phases Two and Three

Just because I'm still up to my eyeballs in alligators (that look suspiciously like tons of cardboard boxes a la recent house move) ... I'm going to keep this short. A picture's worth a thousand words, right?

Here's my doll painting "All Dolled Up and No Place to Go" (I changed the title ... a little) phase two:

"All Dolled Up and No Place To Go" after day two

 And, here's phase three (after today's painting session):

I love her now very rosy cheeks. Read more about this painting ... and its inspiration in my previous post.

I have been doing lots of other stuff ... some donut paintings, commissions, etc. More on that soon. And, then, hopefully back to my color charts.

"All Dolled Up and No Place to Go" work in progress, 16"h x 20"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435

Doll Painting: Something New Today

"All Dolled Up and Nowhere To Go" demo painting

Today kicked off the new Fall term of classes with my "Still Life Painting in Oils" with returning and new students ... and I'm as excited as this very nice group is to be back in the classroom. A lot of fun and lots of new things taught and learned.

I've been immersed in Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting" book, and using it as a tool to teach many lessons ... balanced with everything I (as in me) know about painting. We started today discussing three of my color charts so they can start the process on their own. It's complicated ... but I believe they see the value in it.

Then I gave a demo ... resulting, after seven extra hours beyond class time in this painting, "All Dolled Up and Nowhere To Go" ... my first (I think) painting that included a doll. Normally, I go "shopping" all around my house ... with reinforcements from the grocery store ... for objects to use for the class still life setups. No such luck for this week, with the great majority of my household stuff still stored in a moving truck from two months ago. (It lands here tomorrow, along with hungry and thirsty movers waiting for guidance on where to put the twice-as-much furniture than we need.) So, my still life shopping trip took me to my mom and dad's condo ... which has layer upon layer of all this great stuff. My dad and I were both circling the place. Most (if not all) of the best picks were his. I must have rolled my eyes or made a face of some sort when he picked up the wooden screen -- that's used in the painting scene -- because he told me that it'd be great. Trust him. See, Dad ... you were right!

Even using the doll is a homage to Richard Schmid who paints them beautifully and often. I was lukewarm about the idea ... but I had a blast painting this. It pays to keep an open mind.

My portrait class starts next week. Looking forward to that, too. It's going to be a great Fall session. So glad so many people signed up and share my enthusiasm.

Be sure to check out my previous post about exhibits coming up ... and mark your calendars. All the best events are happening SOON.

"All Dolled Up and Nowhere to Go" work in progress, 16"h x 20"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2010.

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com
Email: jillbanks1@aol.com
Phone: 703.403.7435