On a Rooster Roll

"Rooster," oil, 12"h x 12"w, ©Jill Banks 2013. Private Collection

"Rooster" got a makeover this morning ...

Just in time to be the only wet painting early this afternoon among the houseful of dry and varnished ones for a special post-Open House guest.

Just in time to be seen from the main floor foyer peeking out the corner of an upstairs bedroom. This might be a first. Our guest went straight up the stairs to see and "Rooster" soon became hers. Well, sort of. It now has to dry before delivery.

More Recent Roosters: "The Kitchen Caper," oil, 24"h x 30"w, ©Jill Banks 2013

She also brought objects for a Christmas-themed still life commissioned painting that I can't wait to start. The set up has taken over a corner of my kitchen. 

It was a full day of painting. Hooray! Lots of good things happening in my spruced up (it's temporary, I'm sure) home studio.

Sign Up for Classes and Workshops that Start January

Mastering the Business of Art -- two-day workshop January 4 & 5
Still Life in Oils -- Tuesdays, 10am-1pm
Portrait Painting -- Sundays, 1:30pm-5:30pm
All taught through the Great Falls School of Art (1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA).  See the Classes page on my Web site: www.JillBanks.com. Don't wait! (Please. I don't want you to miss out.)

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com 
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435
Artists Atelier, Great Falls VA website: GreatFallsAtelier.com 

Events
See the events page on my website.  Thanks!

COMING UP Soon: Great Falls Studios Holiday Art Show and Sale Saturday and Sunday, December 14 & 15, 10am - 5pm both days. 35 artists exhibiting at a new location: Wolftrap's Education Hall, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182.  I'll be there! No refreshments this time ... but plenty of art and good cheer!  Please help spread the word!

Squares Show in the Gallery

See me at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm and whenever an artist is in. Squares is up until the end of December -- with work in a variety of mediums from members of Great Falls Studios. We had a great turn-out. Come see!

"The Kitchen Caper"

"The Kitchen Caper," oil, 24"h x 30"w, ©Jill Banks 2013

So this is the painting of the scene on my kitchen island this past week. It needed to be finished before all the Thanksgiving prep could begin. Thus, this past Monday, I painted on it in the morning as the man tiling an upstairs bath squeezed by my easel with supplies (over and over again) and as Greg Staley headed over to the house to photograph the 32 pieces gathering downstairs. Now it's hanging in my kitchen, close to its origins.  "The Kitchen Caper" reminds me of this week -- certainly Thanksgiving with all its bounty, the variety and colors that autumn brings, and the remnants of a party. Sort of like our kitchen last night.

The rooster in the lower right ... a beanie baby ... is making his second appearance in one of my paintings.  Anyone know his first?

Family is still gathered ... in the next room. There is so much to be thankful for ... family, friends, home, good cheer, food lovingly prepared and shared. And I'm thankful for you, for your interest and welcoming my work (and me) into your lives.

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sign Up for Classes and Workshops that Start January

Mastering the Business of Art -- two-day workshop January 4 & 5
Still Life in Oils -- Tuesdays, 10am-1pm
Portrait Painting -- Sundays, 1:30pm-5:30pm
All taught through the Great Falls School of Art (1144 Walker Road, Suite D, Great Falls, VA).  See the Classes page on my Web site: www.JillBanks.com. Don't wait! (Please. I don't want you to miss out.)

Web: www.jillbanks.com
Blog: jillbanks.blogspot.com 
Email
Phone: 703.403.7435
Artists Atelier, Great Falls VA website: GreatFallsAtelier.com 

Events
See the events page on my website.  Thanks!

"Garden Girl," oil, 42"h x 36"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Squares Show in the Gallery

See me at the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 14 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm and whenever an artist is in. Squares is up until the end of December -- with work in a variety of mediums from members of Great Falls Studios. We had a great turn-out. Come see!

Great Falls Studios Holiday Art Show and Sale

Saturday and Sunday, December 14 & 15, 10am - 5pm both days. 35 artists exhibiting at a new location: Wolftrap's Education Hall, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182.  I'll be there! No refreshments this time ... but plenty of art and good cheer!  Please help spread the word!

"He Started It!" Roosters and Hen Painting

"He Started It!," oil, 12"h x 9"w, ©Jill Banks 2012

Today was my first painting session back in the Artists' Atelier (the studio I share with 12 other artists at 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA) since the beginning of the Summer. That's hard to believe ... but it was great to be back!

Whenever moving from place to place, studio to studio, the first decision to be made is what to paint there. With a show of animal paintings to be hung this coming Thursday in a new exhibit, I decided to work more on a sketch of the central rooster -- done live last year at Herndon's Kidwell Farm in Frying Pan Park. I'd been searching around for that quick sketch in my home studio -- that has plenty of stacks of unfinished works -- to no avail. Then when I got to the Atelier, where there are few unfinished pieces, guess what I found...

Most of the day was spent just painting the rooster from some photo references -- adding detail to that original painting. Next, I played with the background adding dots. In the last hour, two "friends" for the rooster showed up.

It's called "He Started It" because at first there was only one. Plus, with all the posturing and antics witnessed in the coop -- these characters never seem to be getting along too well.

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

Events and Exhibits
September 8-30, Visiting Artist Program Exhibit, Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. "Rainy Morning Breakfast" and "Dining Alfresco" are on view.

Sunday, October 14, MPA Artfest Outdoor Juried Arts Festival, McLean Central Park, McLean, VA

Saturday and Sunday, October 20&21, Great Falls Annual Studio Tour, 10am-5pm, visit artists in their studios throughout Great Falls on a self-guided tour. I’ll be at the Artists’ Atelier, 1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA 22066

More October and November events are listed on my web site: www.JillBanks.com

Roosters Painting Finished Today and Time in the Atelier

"Barn Dance," oil, 24"h x 20"w, ©Jill Banks 2011

This painting got finished and renamed today. "Barn Dance" used to be "Whatcha' Doing?" but thinking about my time with the roosters and hens at Kidwell Farm in Frying Pan Park. They careened around the pen ... sort of interacting ... and posturing.

One of my favorite parts of painting today was when I added in the blues to the tail feathers. I just loved the color but it also gave a good sense of iridescence. They are handsome critters.

"Barn Dance" is the first larger piece from my developing Feathered and Furry Friends series. Sooner or later, I'll get to many more. It will be in my tent for next Sunday's MPA McLean Artfest outdoor arts festival.

Time in the Atelier

I painted at the Artists' Atelier (1144 Walker Road, Suite G, Great Falls, VA) today for open hours. Laurie Bell, owner of Great Falls Tea Garden, was holding a tea tasting seminar in the gallery for a number of new visitors to our space. I painted while learning a good bit about Darjeeling tea.

Bobbie (Roberta) Beasley and Walt Lawrence, two of my studiomates, were in ...and after they were gone, Mollie Vardell came in to spend some time painting and also packing up for a week-long plein air painting adventure/paint-out. Walt helped Bobbie out with advice on framing and frame shops. Mollie talked about packing for her trip and we walked down together to her car so I could see how she organized her supplies for the trip. We'd talked about travel easels up in the studio and she set up her latest (and greatest) one for me to see in the parking lot. Before that, we talked about Vasari paint and her new box of colors.

One of the great parts of sharing studio space with other professional artists is that we learn from each other ... all the time, whether the topic is framing or products or techniques. Mollie and I are both tackling plein air painting and it's a whole new ballgame. It's nice to have someone else to lean on/swap ideas with/share what we discover. That's pretty great.

Coming Up
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!

October 20-22, Out & About Norfolk 2011: Juried Plein Air Event and Wet Paint Sale. I'll be spending three days in Norfolk for this 5th Annual Plein Air Competition ... painting away. I'm excited!

November 1-11, 83rd Grand National Exhibition 2011: "Alan" will be on exhibit at the American Artists Professional League Grand National at the Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, NYC. Reception" Sunday, November 6, 2-5pm.

My Still Life and Portrait Painting & Drawing Both classes are full for Fall sessions. 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.  

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

Rooster Art: Cock-a-Doodle

I suppose this isn't quite a doodle ... those go a lot faster. But, here's my latest drawing, "Cock-a-Doodle". This drawing is of one of two ceramic roosters that reside in my kitchen. I guess it was about time it was captured, on paper.

In part, I created this drawing in preparation for my drawing class that started this past Monday. (For more information on classes, see my web site: www.jillbanks.com, click on classes.) For all my (massive) trepidation in teaching that class, it went very, very well. Every time I do something new -- like teaching drawing -- I fret, study, prepare, and finally go for it. I was talking to friend and fellow artist (and studiomate) Francie Vecchi today saying that I'm always jumping off cliffs and hoping for the best. This Monday's class turned out for the best. Again. I assume that the fact that each time I do something out of my element, the results are better than expected has something to do with my willingness to go out on a limb again and again.

My concerns about being able to teach this class are rooted in my not knowing how to "teach" drawing. When I teach painting, I'm teaching it based on a clear-cut understanding of how I learned painting myself. My painting instruction was recent and formalized. I could easily pass it on. But, with drawing, I've been drawing my entire life. While I've been trained in drawing (the focus was in learning to see more intensely and adapting to different mediums), I still needed to formulate a way to help students learn. Let's say I'm working on it and that I'll be studying my way through my nine-week class.

MPA Artfest (McLean Project for the Arts juried outdoor art festival) is a little more than two weeks away. I will be working on creating more drawings before that big day as well as organizing what I want to show, etc. The event is Sunday, October 4, 10am - 5pm in McLean Central Park (McLean, VA). Lots to do. Lots of fun. I hope to see you there.

I also posted "Rooster Ruminations", another piece of Rooster Art. It's not quite done ... note, no signature ... but almost. I made a new friend. A tube of yellow ochre, a color that's probably been on everyone else's palette, but not mine. It sure came in handy for the background. That is a Ty Beanie Baby.

"Cock-a-Doodle", 11.5"h x 8.5"w (inside mat), graphite, copyright Jill Banks 2009
"Rooster Ruminations" work in progress, 20"h x 16"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

Painting of a Stuffed Rooster in Progress

I bet you're asking why I'm painting a stuffed rooster. I set this scene up for last Tuesday's demo for my "Oil Painting from Life" class (taught through the Great Falls Foundation for the Arts) because I was looking to go beyond a still life -- more like an interior -- one that would fit in a small classroom. Since my students aren't ready to transition to people, a rooster seemed to do the trick. Perhaps it's mixing my figurative restaurant, interior and still life themes into one package. It's certainly a little quirky; but it is a rich space, warm atmosphere, just with an unusual diner.

I didn't have this setup in mind when I started laying out the three class still lifes. Each week I pack up lots of extra things hoping for on the spot inspiration. The rooster (I think it's a Ty beanie baby) was potentially going to be part of a three rooster setup -- one stuffed, one a copper jello mold and the third a ceramic pitcher I bought long ago at an Italian restaurant in Bermuda. Maybe later.

And I've been on a rooster roll of sorts. "Rooster and Geraniums" is back in my studio gallery after taking down my "On the Bright Side" solo show. That's rooster one. "Rooster Ruminations" (the one shown here) is one of the paintings for this week. That's rooster two. And, the last couple of nights I've been doing a graphite drawing of a large ceramic rooster that resides in my kitchen. That's rooster three. See what I mean?

That graphite drawing is one of quite a few I hope to complete in the next three weeks in preparation for MPA Artfest, a juried outdoor arts festival sponsored by McLean Project for the Arts. I will be under a tent in McLean Central Park on Sunday, October 4, 10am-5pm with both drawings and paintings. My guess is that "Rooster Ruminations" will also be there.

"Rooster Ruminations" work in progress, 20"h x 16"w, oil on Senso linen, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

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

"Rooster and Geraniums" Painting, Chelsea 32 Gallery and More

"Rooster and Geraniums" is today's painting. In a way, this is a "street series" painting since I spotted this rooster when walking along the streets of Carmel. Both roosters and geraniums make me happy ... so this seemed like a natural scene to capture in paint. Teeny, tiny touches are left ... which I'll take care of tomorrow.

"Rooster and Geraniums", oil on Senso linen, 14"h x 11"w, copyright Jill Banks 2009.

As to my Bethesda Painting Awards entries, I finally decided on submitting "Dining Al Fresco," "Randy and Me", "Italian Men", "Cabaret", and "Bellydancer II". Based on previous years' winners, it seems that my work is unlikely to be recognized in this particular competition -- but you never know.

Galleries Representing my work:
See Chasen Galleries at 3554 West Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia 23221 for many of my restaurant scenes and still life painints. Phone is (800) 524-2736. Please visit!

I'm one of 16 artists represented by Chelsea 32 gallery in NYC. Address: 2 W 32nd Street, New York, NY 10001. Phone is (646) 548-7991. Check out their newly update web site to see my donut paintings, Canal watercolor, "Boscs and Business Cards", "Cupcake" and "The Celebration". Fellow artists (and friends) represented by Chelsea 32 include fellow Atelier artists Elaine Elinsky and Jennifer Duncan; Karen Bateman, Tricia Ratliff and Trisha Adams.