Watercolours With Life: Himba Girls

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Himba Girls

"Himba Girls " Morning Exercise

Inspired by a Photograph by Tom Ang

My daily studio routine is always a warm up exercise first usually aimed at the bin before I start painting my collections.The strange thing is these exercises often rarely reach the bin. Yesterday I mentioned how I fell in love with a wonderful photograph taken by the amazing Tom Ang.

http://www.tomang.com/

Having gained permission to paint this scene I am now playing with a selection of ideas for colour and composition. I have to bear in mind I was not there at the time Tom took the original image. I cannot see what he saw other than through his lens. As an artist I can create my own interpretation but there is something undefinable about Toms capture that keeps drawing me back to look at his photograph.

In a few minutes I have created the above small study to gain an insight into how the disntant figures can interact with a main girl in the foreground. There is absolutely no intention in this exercise to gain a likeness in features of faces. Just the sole purpose of playing with colour combinations and I am not quite there.

But a magical creative process step by step is leading me to where I want to be with this particular journey. In my mind. I can see the finished piece now so clearly.

A few more studies and I will be ready to enjoy painting the real large piece.

For now a few more exercises to start my day will not only thrill me but keep my artists spirit highly enthusiastic and motivated to race to pick up my brush each day.

I am very much in love with Toms capture.

I wish to feel that same strong emotion in my own when it is complete.

I am setting myself a challenge and I love that thought.

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The Artist Magazine : Book Review

Jean Haines' Atmospheric Watercolours

"The book is nothing less than a paean to the wet in wet technique. If that's your thing, prepare to be amazed. Jean Haines credits Jean Louis Morelle, and in many ways this book is the sequel to Morelle's remarkable, but very technical work, showing the wealth of creative possibilities the technique offers. A lot of the images are barely recognisable and yet you instinctively know what they are. I wish I knew how, because this is impressionism taken to its logical conclusion and reminiscent of some of the later work by JMW Turner. You will have to take it from me that "First signs of a face appearing magically from a first wash of watercolour" is pure alchemy. This is an extraordinary book."

"Amazing Ways With Watercolour:" Fastest Selling DVD!

"Amazing Ways With Watercolour" from Town House Films is the fastest selling DVD with the company to date! Record breaking pre-orders for this much awaited film saw requests for copies flooding in from all over the world. A wonderful introduction into working with watercolour minus the use of a preliminary sketch this DVD removes the fear, stress or pressure from worry about how to use watercolour. Instead the focus is on having fun, enjoying vibrant colour combinations and allowing the medium to create the subjects with just a little help from the artist. A really exciting new DVD to own. Whilst the DVD sold out in the first few months since its' release due to popularity it is now in stock and available directly from Town House Films.

http://www.townhousefilms.co.uk

How To Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour

"How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" Jeans first book was launched at the Mall Galleries in 2010 at the SWA Society for Women Artists Annual Exhibition. Many copies have been sold world wide. It is available on Amazon.com, Search Press, SAA Society for All Artists and Ken Bromley.

"This book is a wonderful introduction into Jeans' way of working and gives an insight into her way of thinking and approach to a large variety of subjects. All painted minus the use of a preliminary sketch."