Watercolours With Life: Manatee

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

Manatee

"Gentle Giant "

Manatee

I have so much I want to share from my recent travels to USA which closed with my workshops in Florida. While there I desperately wanted to see manatee. I had heard so much about them. But I was working so hard that the little free time I had didn't really give me much of an opportunity to see these gentle giants.

As time passed by my longing to see them grew. I knew there was a chance to see one in captivity but that is something I cannot do. Pay to see a living thing with a prison sentence. To me the best place to see wildlife is in the wild. But the days continued to race by and soon it would be time for me to return home to UK. Minus having seen this mysterious creature from the deep.

Luckily for me, I am married to one of the most wonderful men in the world. While I was busy teaching my husband looked for where and when we could definitely see manatee. And so, on one of my last days in Florida I found myself on a boat heading out to where manatee were supposed to be.

And we saw them!

I was so thrilled. I felt like a child at Christmas when the gift they thought they would never have is their right in front of them. I watched them mesmerised and I haven't been able to get them out of my head. Hence this watercolour painting of one. I had a blue wash at hand that a manatee , as a subject, worked perfectly on.

These creatures I am told are called "sea cows" because of their size and grazing habits. But to me they remind me of mermaids, albeit perhaps without the most beautiful of faces. But having said that. I do think they are beautiful!

I am already looking forward to not only returning to Florida but sharing my new colour combinations, wash uses and subject experiments minus the use of a preliminary sketch. Oh my, there is as always so much more to share. And I am so inspired.

Roll on my next workshops.

And the next time I see manatee!

N.B I will be teaching in Florida next year !

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

No comments:

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."