5th Annual Paint Great Falls Plein Air

"Farm Flock," oil, 24"x12" - won People's Choice and Second Place in the 2019 Paint Great Falls Plein Air competition. Available and on exhibit thru September 30.

"Garden Spirits," oil, 16"x20" - painted plein air over three days at the beautiful L'Auberge Chez Francois - 2019 Competition

"Station No. 12," oil, 12"x12" - won First Place in the 2018 Paint Great Falls Plein Air competition. Private collection.

Okay.  I'm not sure how it will be possible to "beat" last year's first place award and having two of my three entries snatched up by a happy collector ... so instead I'm just going to have a great time painting my heart out in Great Falls between Wednesday and Sunday this week. 

Did it. What a great week and "Farm Flock" won People's Choice and Second Place in the 2019 competition. Plus I was happy as a clam.

For collectors and art enthusiasts - there are three "events" to keep in mind.

1) Watch participants paint between Wednesday and Sunday.  Some of us will be hiding some of the time.  Others will list where on which days in advance or the day of.  I'll try to put up a posting on Instagram @jillbanks1 and my Facebook Fan Page @JillBanksStudio when I settle on a spot for the day. Hint: don't hang out with anyone of us all day, but check in and out, encourage, take a selfie and help us promote this cool event.

2) First Glance at First Friday Art Walk in the Arts of Great Falls Gallery, Friday, September 6, 6:00-8:00pm

Visit the Artists' Atelier, the studio I share with 10 other artists right across the hall from the Gallery/Studio.  Other studios are also open in the Village Centre that night. Come smell some fresh paint and get your first pick from the new arrivals into the gallery.  We keep painting until Sunday afternoon so there's more to see soon.  I am thinking about painting a nocturne on Friday ... right outside the Atelier or Gallery.  That would continue well past the 8pm hour.

3) The Artists and Collectors Hip-Hip-Hooray Party/Reception - Sunday, September 8, 6:30-8:30pm

Awards at 7pm.  So we turned in our final painting(s) by 3pm today. Hopefully we've cleaned up a bit and are ready to cheer along with you for this neat event.  If you haven't been to one of these event parties, boy, are you in for a treat.  As an artist, I still marvel at the transformation from blank canvas to my vision appearing and coming to fruition in front of me.  Now, think about being surrounded by up to 50 works that didn't exist just days ago - that capture places you know and love, where you sit and travel and hidden spots right around the corner. Please don't miss this. And while the exhibit continues through most of the month, the gallery transforms into classroom and access and the view will never be quite as good as on this night.

About the Competition
In the 5th Annual Paint Great Falls: Plein Air Competitio

 n sponsored by The Arts of Great Falls, artists (I'll be one of up to 25 of those) will be painting the beautiful scenery outdoors in Great Falls, VA start

ing Wednesday, September 4th to Sunday, September 8th.  Painters will be in popular locations such as Great Falls Park, Riverbend Park and Colvin Run Mill, as well as private gardens, a historic farm, Great Falls Village Centre and other places.  The community can look online for where artists are painting and stop by to see the art being created in “plein air” (outdoors).  Art collectors are welcome to attend the Awards Reception (Sunday, September 8th).

First Friday Art Walk, Sept. 6th 6-8pm see details 
Stroll through the Studios and Galleries in Great Falls Village Centre on Friday night. Attend a reception and see the art on display during the Paint Great Falls: Plein Air Competition in the Gallery. 

Sunday - Artists and Collectors Reception, Sept. 8th 6:30-8:30pm
Find out who Bethanne Kinsella Cople, this year's judge, awards the top prizes and vote for your favorite for the People's Choice honor.  Plus, here's your best opportunity to catch what sprung to life on canvas over the past few days and collect a piece of Great Falls for your home/office/gift for someone special in your life.  25% of proceeds support the Arts of Great Falls that brings art programming - classes, studios and events to you throughout the year.

Event Activities FREE and Open to the Public:
Watch Artists Paint throughout Great Falls  see where the Artists are painting
The community is welcome to come out and watch the art as it’s being made.  Find artists around Great Falls creating their original plein air paintings for prizes during the competition. This is a great opportunity to see the art and chat with the artists who make it.  click here during the event to see who’s painting & where