Watercolours With Life: Jean Haines Portraits

Sunday, 30 August 2015

Paintings from my "World of Watercolour " Exhibition

The Market Seller

Page 131 " Jean Haines World of Watercolour"

Size : 58 x 44 cms

£395

Jean Haines World Of Watercolour Exhibition

The Frame Gallery

Odiham

Hampshire UK

September 11th - 27th, 2015.

It won't be long now before the opening of my solo exhibition at the Frame Gallery in Odiham.

In the collection are many original paintings from my new book " Jean Haines World of Watercolour". Pieces that hold very special memories to me.

I know I have friends and followers who can't make the show because they live abroad and I know often dates coincide meaning its' impossible to get to an opening night. Which is why I am making the decision to share some pieces from my new collection on my blog. Including prices and sizes in case anyone wishes to contact the gallery if interested in collecting an original memory from my new book.

I will start with this blog post by sharing a few favourite portraits and explain a little more about the stories behind them.

I lived in Dubai and fell in love with portraiture there. I studied at that time with artists who were so skilled in their techniques but they mainly worked in oils. I had to find my own way painting portraits in watercolour and then adapt what I had learnt to my technique as I evolved to working minus a preliminary sketch.

I would take ages studying and taking photographs of characters with fascinating faces. I loved visiting market places to buy fresh food, haggle and of course see even more fantastic subjects to paint. I was so lucky as I felt a passion for portraiture ignite within me at this time in my art life, purely from where I was living and the environment I was being exposed to. I absorbed every single piece of information and sight like a child at Christmas. It was wonderful.

My portraits then became highly collectible in galleries in Dubai and I was often contacted to see if or when I would have new work available. These faces would be the first to sell in my early exhibitions. Red dots would appear almost as soon as the doors opened and I became known for painting " Magic Faces". because faces did seem to appear as if by magic when I worked on them. Strangely enough I finished a few workshops in Australia with small portraits and everyone loved them. And I loved the reaction as the " magic faces" appeared.

"The Market Seller" above is a firm favourite with me as his profile was just too wonderful to resist for an artist. In my new book I show how I paint this profile and how I have grown by using techniques to learn from my previous work. This finished painting will be in my new show. As will the Arab Study shown below.

I have opted to have these paintings placed in gold frames, but floating forward to show off the medium they are painted in. They look amazing. Now I am unwrapping the collection and imagining how these two paintings would look on my cottage walls. And I have to say it is very tempting to keep them as a memory of my book!

I must confess, have never been great at selling my work as I always want to keep my favourite pieces. Which would mean a gallery could end up with an opening of an exhibition full of red dots to mark sold paintings and they would all be mine! Not wise Apart from that I have little wall space left in my home.

So these two portraits are in my exhibition and a wonderful memory for me of my time living in Dubai but also they were so magical to work on in my book. Sharing my passionf for painting faces.

Arab Study

Soft watercolour bringing the subject to life with little detial yet capturing character.

Page 19 " Jean Haines World of Watercolour"

38 x 50 cms.

£195

If you are interested in any of the original paintings from my new book o rpieces I share on my blog please contact Jan at the Frame Gallery and let her know. Please do not contact me directly as the Gallery will be solely handling the sales of the exhibition paintings.

You can find details on the exhibition and how to contact Jan via the following link

http://www.theframe-gallery.co.uk/explore-a-world-of-watercolour-with-international-artist-jean-haines/

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Monday, 18 February 2013

Spanish Siesta

Siesta Time

I am enjoying a wonderful break in Spain and will admit that I needed a quiet period to start 2013. With so much going on that is exciting in my art career, switching off to relax has become almost impossible. I say that, but to be honest, I am relaxed all of the time because I enjoy what I do so much. But I am always busy. I am either working on exhibitions, preparing for my workshops or writing for my new book or magazine interviews. Not a day passes where I am not working on a new project.

With a year ahead of travelling for my International Watercolour Workshops and a major solo show coming up it seemed like a brilliant idea to wind down and totally relax in Spain for a break. However after a few wonderful weeks of taking it easy, my brain kicked in this morning. I couldn't wait to get up and start writing and painting. Last night I had worked on two beautiful portraits and my imagination was working over time allnight on how to continue when I started my painting sessions today.

There was no choice, I had to wake this morning and paint while the mood hit me, regardless of how early it was. But there is another factor that led to my being wide awake. I have gotten used to the Spanish Siesta which is wonderful at the time allowing me to paint later in the evening. But the draw back is I am just not tired enough to sleep late the next day. I am up with the larks!

My batteries are being beautifully recharged and I almost pity anyone booked on my UK workshops because I am raring to go!

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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."