“I started this journey in 2003 with drawing and painting classes,” says artist Jill Banks, whose joyful, light-filled paintings have become beloved throughout Northern Virginia and beyond. “It took no time at all before painting was an all-in passion. My dream from almost the beginning was to travel, to capture life in oils, and to support a full, exciting life through my art. I’ve now been painting — almost every day — for 22 years.”
Her work radiates warmth, energy, and emotion — much like Jill herself. “Shifts in my painting have been both deliberate and natural,” she explains. “Moving from the controlled lighting of the studio to the wildness of plein air — painting outdoors — changed everything. Subjects move. Light and shadows shift. Clouds roll in. New subjects arrive. It's totally invigorating! Somehow, what the place and day feel like transfers to the canvas. I love that — it places you right by my side to enjoy the view. Now I’m painting the air and movement too. My emotion, imagination, ideas of what I want it to be make it so much better.”
Jill often describes her process as part magic, part choreography. “One of my solo shows was called Serendipity because magic happens all the time,” she laughs. “I couldn’t plan for it — but I recognize those amazing occurrences and go right to work on painting my sweet visitors into that spot that needs them.” That sense of wonder fuels her passion for painting outdoors. “At first, I said plein air was the one thing I’d never do — bugs, creepy crawly things, the loneliness of painting nature,” she admits. “Then I realized I could paint urban scenes with bustling life all around me. I could meet the characters in my paintings and share the pure joy of creating. I love everything about it — the challenge, the sights and sounds, capturing life as it happens, being in the middle of all the fun. No photo could ever replace the experience of being there.”
The Gift of Art
For Jill, art and giving are inseparable. “Like many artists, I put my heart and soul — all that hard work and training — into creating each piece for others to enjoy. I paint with a fully open heart and joy, and I know that my art brings that feeling to people. Helping them see the world through my grateful eyes is my gift.”
That gratitude flows naturally into her work. “I feel warmth, connection and joy all around me — and it translates naturally to the canvas,” she says. “The world’s full of generous people who make it better: the market vendors, shopkeepers, restaurateurs, gardeners, musicians, preservationists, dreamers. I love that people love my work and tell me how it affects them. They’re giving me a great gift. I love that people say “yes” when asked if I could set up my easel in their shop/restaurant/garden/etc. They are letting me capture something special I couldn’t do otherwise.”
One painting especially stands out as a memorable gift. “Early on, my dad came up with a series of large-scale still lives for me to paint. He and my mom once owned a flower shop called Holiday Florist — with the tagline ‘Make Every Day a Holiday.’ That’s how I grew up — joyful, fun, celebratory, memorable. My favorite setup was one Dad brought to my studio at Christmas in 2012. It was overflowing with flowers, fruit, and a favorite doll from my mom’s collection. I could barely pause the week it took me to paint it. Garden Girl was the result — and it hung proudly above their piano. Dad passed away in 2021, but he’s still out there rooting for me.”
A Grateful Heart
“My journey started in Great Falls and blossomed from there,” Jill shares. “Being part of the
Great Falls art community and the Washington Society of Landscape Painters has given me friendships and experiences I’ll cherish forever. When someone takes one of my pieces home, it’s amazing. They’re happy. I’m happy. It’s a shared joy. They tell me how the painting makes them feel, where it hangs, how it changes during the day. That connection — that’s everything.”
Looking ahead, her goals are clear: “Larger canvases! People say they feel like they can walk into my paintings — I want to amplify that feeling. And I want to dig deeper into relationships and individuals in my work.” She smiles. “And I couldn’t do any of this without my husband, Randy. He’s my engineer, framer, driver, packer, everything. We’re a team in life and art. That’s the greatest gift of all.”
As the holiday season approaches, Jill’s work reflects the spirit of giving, gratitude, and
connection. Through her paintings, she shares the joy she experiences every day — the magic of light, the beauty of human connection, and the generosity she sees all around her. Every brushstroke is a celebration of life, and every painting a gift she passes along to her collectors and the world.
Quick Brushstrokes
Favorite color to paint with: Quinacridone Red and King’s Blue
Favorite place you’ve painted: A calanque in Cassis, South of France
A scent that reminds you of creativity: Lavender
Best artistic advice received: “Paint like a pig eats. Joyfully.”
Grateful for today: “This amazing journey and the people who’ve supported me along the way.”
“Somebody out there is writing this marvelous script because subjects show up in just the right
spot when I’m ready for them.”