Watercolours With Life: Glorious Summer

Friday 23 August 2013

Glorious Summer

Butterfly Inspiration

I am making the most of glorious summer sunshine by taking many photographs that I can work from when the sun has disappeared. My garden is full of stunning flowers planted as subjects to not only paint, but also to attract a variety of wildlife. Watching huge bumble bees has become an obsession of mine, as has taking photographs of butterflies. I am a keen photographer and the above shot appeals to me because of the colour harmony between the insect, the flower it is sat upon and background. This gives me a zillion ideas for future paintings and yet again I am learning from nature. By the way, isn't the blurred background divine and perfectly suitable for a gorgeous watercolour composition?

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I have had another busy week and the information for my 2014 UK workshops has been finalised with some exciting new sessions. Everyone on my email workshop contact list will be recieving the information before it is advertised on my web site so please ensure you have sent me an email on jeanhaines@hotmail.com to be notified as soon as the dates are released.

N.B. If you have never attended my workshops before there are some wonderful sessions especially for you to ensure new artists as well as returning artists are able to get places.

1 comment:

Angela Fehr said...: I'm so glad to hear that you do take reference photos - as much as I am learning to love to paint from life, our long northern Canadian winters limit how much I can do that. What I've been trying is to study my subject through photos, and then close the file and paint so I'm not enslaved to my reference photos. It seems to help me not be a slave to detail.; 23 August 2013 at 20:49

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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."