Watercolours With Life: Forsythia in Watercolour 2016

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Forsythia in Watercolour 2016

"Sunlight and Birdsong"

Work in Progress

Final detail to be added.

Right now my life is really busy with so much going on. I have so much to look forward to as it is the launch of my new book "Paint Yourself Calm" this month and to be very honest that is exactly what I have been doing this afternoon. Painting myself calm.

I started the day by gardening. I give myself a small planting challenge each day so one hour in the garden every morning is my physical workout. Today I planted foxgloves. Giant white, peach and pink blooms which will be sheer joy to paint when they flower later this year.

Next I tackled admin as I have workshop invitations to reply to, requests for places on my courses to respond to and on top of this I need to prepare for my demonstrations and marquee at Patchings Art Festival next month. And an exhibition to start framing for. So it is all go. But if I am not careful my time with administration will take over from my painting time and I cannot let that happen. In fact I refuse to!

So I set up my painting table and began working on capturing the glowing forsythia outside my studio, in watercolour. I know if we don't paint flowers when we can they easily go past their best and these flowers are such a joy to paint.

I have used Cadmium Yellow for the blooms and Perylene Maroon for the stems. Both colours by Daniel Smith.

The light I have caught today I feel is better than my previous work. My heart is light, I am listening to birdsong as I paint and feeling the sun on my shoulders. This is a heavenly way to spend time. Painting to feel calm, relaxed and stress free.

Capturing light and a feeling of calm in my work

The real forsythia has been flowering for weeks but is beginning to show signs of being beyond its best. So I need to paint it now before it withers !

Forsythia in my cottage garden

Below are some previous studies of forsythia, painted in my garden last year.

I think I am more light hearted this year. As my work today seems to be lighter and more glowing!

Last years forsythia paintings

Study 1

Study 2

Working from the real flower

A collection of studies on my easel

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Artist Tips for Today

1) Make time to paint, no matter how busy your life is!

2) Paint flowers whilst they are in season and from life as often as possible.

3) Don't waste sunshine. You can paint indoors on rainy days!

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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.

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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."