Watercolours With Life: The Eyes Have it!

Wednesday, 27 January 2016

The Eyes Have it!

Young Owls in Watercolour

Work in Progress

As Simple as 1.2.3!

Owl Eyes

Stage 1

Ever since I started working in watercolour I have been mesmerised with painting eyes. Not just eyes as such but I want to bring them to life too. I have experimented with many different ways to paint eyes over the years and on my workshops they are now one of the most popular subjects of my demonstrations.

Having painted an owl this week I couldn't resist painting owlets. Fluffy baby owls. A friend of mine has wonderfully invited me to watch the young owls in her barn every year and I have yet to be around when they are peeking their heads out. But I have seen so many photographs from them and this is what I am working from today.

I started painting the baby owls by creating a pair of eyes as seen in the image above. I kept the highlight of the eyes by leaving white paper. I then began to form the beak.

As I had space on my paper I decided to add a second owl next to the first. Simply by repeating the eyes but I angled the head as this is how young owls are! Curious and really sweet too.

Two sets of eyes watching me as I work now!

Stage 2

As soon as the eyes were in place I began to add the fluffy back of the heads.

Young owls coming to life in watercolour

Stage 3

And at this stage I will leave this painting so that I have something beautiful on my easel to return to tomorrow!

Fun isn't it?

************************

4 comments:

Leona said...: thanks as always for your generous advice I think I put way too much of what I think eyes look like and less of what perhaps they would be beautiful LOOKING LIKE just like you do think I might give this a try when next I don't have a goanna outside my window to distract me - thanks again Jean I love your posts - have a great day and no more HATS please lol just roses and owls :); 27 January 2016 at 14:10
Anonymous said...: Wonderful Jean... I would love to give this a try :); 27 January 2016 at 14:22
Anonymous said...: And yes when are the next workshop. Ewa-Christine from Sweden...........tanks; 27 January 2016 at 16:17
Unknown said...: Lovely! I love your artworks... Great!; 27 January 2016 at 19:02

Post a Comment

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."