Face #50: Barbara Marhoefer

Excerpt from my blog (jillbanks.blogspot.com)

100 Faces in 100 Days: Day Fifty

2/21/11

Today was a wonderful day! Perhaps my most leisurely day of 2011 -- the only "real" thing to do on my agenda was to paint face #50 ... who happens to be Barbara Marhoefer, Ben's (Face #49) grandmother, my diligent and quick learning painting student and my parent's (Faces #8 and #11) neighbor. One of my sitters suggested that when I do exhibit all of these paintings together ... that I should run string from one painting to another to show all the ways (that I know of...) these people interconnect. I love being around Barbara. She's one of those great spirits. I'd be willing to pay for one of her grins.

There's a whole lot to her.

Having her as one of my students is a learning experience for me. She regularly writes me notes/emails after a class to tell me what she learned that day. It's nice to have a recap and often I didn't even realize that what she learned was something I was "teaching." 

Last semester, it was Barbara who brought in the magnolia leaves, pods and gourds ... that I also painted to become one of my favorite still lifes. Barbara would go "find" some magnolia leaves and pods each week to replenish their withered friends. This semester she brought in all this citrus including Meyer lemons back from Florida with her ... along with a painted bowl with tropical motif (fish) ... that's turning into this powerfully happy painting for her and fellow student Francie.

Barbara Marhoefer, Face #50 with her painting

Barbara was (a little) worried what we'd talk about during the sitting. If you are one of my future sitters ... and you're worried about this ... quit thinking about it. It's a piece of cake. There's just lots to talk about and it's easy, comfortable, fun.

Barbara's an accomplished writer and researcher ... among a host of other things. She wrote a book about her town on the Eastern Shore (MD) and we talked today about her fascination with pioneers of all kinds. I feel another book percolating ... bubbling up ...

Today was wonderful. It felt as good to get back to my faces project as it did to step away from it this weekend to concentrate on (son) Sam and (now daughter-in-law) Michelle's wedding. I've accomplished a great deal already this year and February's not even over. I have 50 faces ... now painted ... to look at, ponder and enjoy.

Barbara mentioned that having now painted 50 faces, I would know that I could complete this project. I actually never doubted that. I just embarked on this project knowing I'd reach the end but didn't know the "journey." It's been absolutely wonderful so far. Such a treat for me ... and such a treat for a whole bunch of other people including readers, sitters and friends of my "faces."

I am not caught up on a painting a day ... but will accomplish 100 faces in 100 days. If something ... like a very, very special wedding, or snow or the flu, etc. mean I can't paint (a face) one day ... I will catch up another. I'm two faces behind but not for too long.