Wash day Blues

 "Kingfisher in Blue"

(Copyright Jean Haines) 

I am now working with a series of wonderful washes that I created during the week. Some instantly let me know what subjects could work well on them whilst others are a complete mystery, but this is the magic of working in my style. I never know what tomorrow, or today, may bring.

On one blue wash that had beautiful texture effects from salt application I painted the above kingfisher. This will look  gorgeous framed. But the kingfisher painting put my mind  on birds as subjects and now I am seeing one in every new wash.

Below you can see why.

An owl seemed perfect for the salt pattern on this next wash. I have started with painting the eye working my way around it to the detail of the head outline.

Owl softly coming to life in a new painting

The fun in creating washes without aiming for a subject often leads us to paint subjects that we hadn't initially planned on painting. painting random colours, just for fun i often a great way to open up our imaginations when we have to later use the washes as bases for new work.

This is such a joyous way to paint. If you haven't already bought copies of my books please do, as the techniques described in them bring hours of endless pleasure in creating in a way that helps us reach unique results each time we pick up a brush.

Now I can't wait until tomorrow to start three new washes in the hope that they too will lead me to exciting new paintings.

My new saying?

"Three washes a day keeps boredom at bay!"

Don't forget to look out for my new DVDs with Artist Network.com! 

Kingfisher in Watercolour

 Kingfisher appearing in a new watercolour

Painted using my Jean Haines brush sets : Size 10 and Rigger 

I am so excited about filming a new DVD thsi week. I have so many subjects I can share and I have gone through all my favourites this afternoon selecting which would carry the most teaching value. I have a lot of requests to include my now popular kingfisher painting and it does seem like a very old friend to me now. I can't remember when I started painting these gorgeous birds but I know since childhood they have always fascinated me.

Years ago I only used one manufacturers watercolour product range. It wasn't until I started experimenting especially with Schmincke at first that I really felt I was getting somewhere with achieving the right colours to paint them. At least their orange chest. I think everyone who knows me or who has watched me demonstrate this little bird all over the world will know which orange it is. I should leave followers of my blog to guess its' name!

But then I fell in love with so many turquoise shades for their flash of blue feathers and of course Daniel Smith entered my art life and there was no looking back.  I was so in love with Daniel Smith Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Genuine that I told the whole world about it! It combined perfectly to create my favourite wild  bird and demonstrations. It didn't matter where I was holding workshops. 

The kingfisher soon became the most popular. Taking over from my favourite cockerels. Although if I don't demonstrate a cockerel or a rose on my  courses I am soon asked to! When " Jean Haines World of Watercolour" as a book was merely an idea the cover painting was almost already decided. As I had painted so many kingfishers at this point in my career that I knew it would be loved. At least I hoped it would.

So my favourite colours are on my latest books' cover. But what will be on the cover of my new DVD? 

Something different? 

Or another kingfisher? 

There isn't much time to choose!

 Kingfisher Passion!

The cover of my latest book, my brush set and a new kingfisher painting.

In my latest book " Jean Haines World of Watercolour" I show brushwork and how to paint a kingfisher. Starting with the eye  and gradually working away from it.

 Starting point, here, was the small eye

Once the eye is in place the head can be painted, working away from the starting point. After that the body can begin to be painted. And the hint of a beak then added.

Building up a painting by adding the body and the hint of a beak

You can use this technique on any bird or subject. For me painting these beautiful birds is so relaxing. And  I have so many tips I can share whilst I am creating a kingfisher in watercolour.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. I may paint yet another kingfisher or something completely new. We will see! But I will endeavour to make my new DVD as fascinating as possible!

Happy painting!

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My brush sets can be purchased from Jacksons Art Supplies as well as my previous two DVDs.

 http://www.jacksonsart.com/search.php?input_search=Jean+Haines&stock=0&x=0&y=0

Please note: I have just noticed that Jackson's Art Supplies are out of stock of my brushes again. This is due to their popularity so please have patience, new stock will be arriving soon. This is one of the reasons I closed my online sales web site page. I couldn't keep up with the demand for them! They are stunning brushes and perfect for working in watercolour. Easy to handle and a joy to paint with.

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"There is something infinitely magical about being an artist"

 Kingfisher work in progress, on my easel

The summer weather is wonderful  and it certainly is adding to my colour and subject inspiration. I am walking Bailey, my bearded collie,  regularly along a canal path and yes, I am seeing a stunning kingfisher. I am fascinated by its' sudden flash of turquoise. Mainly I see a blur of action rather than a beautifully coloured bird sitting still. The heron, too, is busy fishing but unfortunately he seems to prefer the fish in our pond to the canal.

There is something infinitely magical about being an artist. It is almost as though you have a legitimate excuse to observe beauty. I have taken so much time to study nature, rural landscapes and the wildlife I am lucky enough to see daily.  I am now thinking of ways to incorporate what I see in each  new painting. 

This week, I have returned to a favourite pose of the kingfisher with its' treasured catch. And I will be working on a few ideas for paintings in my next solo exhibition will take place in September in Surrey , UK.

For now I couldn't resist sharing this  painting as it is so peaceful to work on. It started with the eye and I worked gradually away from this starting point by adding the feathers. The wings of the kingfisher are spread as the bird leaves the water, taking flight after the perfect dive. Sunshine is  bringing is effecting its' shimmering plummage. This is a gorgeous piece that has a fabulous sense of movement , energy and life in it.

There is a moment in many a painting where the artists' brush touches the paper, in this case so very softly, and the subject begins to emerge. My heart always sings at this point.

Here is the image of that moment. The creative stage when I could see a kingfisher coming alive via colour alone. No preliminary sketch.

"The Moment" on my easel. 

The kingfisher  appearing in the first stages of a new painting in watercolour

I feel so much joy when I am painting. Joy and peace at being in that  incredible " zone" where there is only me, my paper, colours and brushes on the planet. And I love it.

My artists tip for today? Paint something that you absolutely love as a subject, and aim to bring that feeling into your work. Try to allow the viewer of your finished painting to feel the connection between you as the artist and what you have painted. 

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By the way, my new book which will be launched next year is so wonderful to work on that I will be very sad when it is completed. It is inspiring me in my own work  to improve my skills and making me race to paint each day. Heaven!

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New Greeting Cards : Kingfisher Blue

Kingfisher Blue

£595

Dogs in Art Gallery

Stockbridge

Summer Sensations

Solo Exhibition 

Opening July 13th, 2013

There will be a fabulous new collection of greeting cards exclusively selected for my solo exhibition at the Dogs in Art gallery in Stockbridge. I will be sharing the new designs throughout this week on my blog and explaining why I chose each painting for the limited card collection.

Kingfisher Blue, above was such a fabulous painting to work on. It is one of those paintings that carried a wonderfully magical feel about it. I live by water so I see a Kingfisher here almost daily and it has the most stunning colouring. Quite often when you walk alongside the canal near our home you will see a glimpse of turquoise. If the bird settles you can be lucky enough to observe its beauty. But these birds are so quick!  The colouring and movemnt suits my style and technique so I fell in love immeditaley with what I had seen as a new subject to paint. The watercolour above is intended to give the illusion of the kingfisher just settling onto a twig or it could be about to take flight.

Unfortunately my photograph does not do the colouring justice so an early visit to the gallery to see this piece is advised.

http://www.dogsinart.com/pages/Exhibitions.html

Kingfisher Blue, Dogs in Art Gallery

Kingfisher Blue

£595

From my new collection at the Dogs in Art Gallery, Stockbridge

This Kingfisher is part of my new collection of watercolours that will be on show at the gorgeous Dogs in Art Gallery in Stockbridge during my solo exhibition which opens on 13th July. Please view the exhibition early as favourite subjects have been sold very quickly in previous shows this year.

http://www.dogsinart.com/

Kingfisher Blues

 

My latest Kingfisher, work in progress

I have enjoyed painting in my studio in preparation for my next solo exhibition. I delivered  the first  selection of paintings to be framed for my show last week. It was wonderful seeing the fantastic reaction to my new collection, as painting after painting appeared from my portfolio.

The kingfisher series is obviously a firm favourite and the above painting is the latest to be added to this new show which will be at THE FRAME GALLERY in Odiham, Hampshire.

The sun is shining here today and the light on the greenery outside my studio window is delightful.  Many branches are still bare due to the cold weather slowing down the budding leaves this Spring. But from every single negative in life there is always a positive. Mine is that I can enjoy the  flash of turquoise more easily from the tiny kingfisher who visits our cottage.

This new painting will be in my solo exhibition "Essence" and already I have fallen in love with it, even though it really needs a few final touches.

Please contact The Frame Gallery directly for full information regarding the Private Preview of this new show. Many of my paintings had disappeared within three days from my last solo opening and  there are some really fabulous new subjects in this new collection!

http://www.theframe-gallery.co.uk/

The Opening Evening is strictly by invitation only due to the large amount of interest already shown in the new collection.  Invitations will be available from the gallery prior to the event but numbers will be limited.

Spring Excitement 2013

Kingfisher in a fantastic first wash

Every year at this time I begin to feel completely energised. Even though we have had terrible weather my heart tells me its Spring and that seasonal sense of exciting "Spring Fever" is hitting me giving me many ideas of subjects to paint for my new book, Summer Exhibitions and art events throughout the year.

At the moment I am working on a series of Kingfishers in watercolour with each new painting becoming even more vibrant than the last. The above is the first stage of a gorgeous painting that I love so much that it may have to stay in my cottage when its finished!

Artists Tip: Whatever you are painting do try to find new ways to work on a familiar subject with even more interesting results each time you pick up your brush!

Kingfisher in Watercolour

"Kingfisher Blue"

I have fallen in love. Please don't misunderstand me as I adore my husband and believe I am one of the luckiest women in the world to be married to such a great guy. But every now and then something will happen  in my studio that gives me the heady rush of what I can only describe as a teenager falling in love for the very first time or having their first kiss. Its' the most amazing of feelings.

This week I painted my first kingfisher and all of a sudden I can't stop painting them. They are so stunning. Of course, they suit me because they contain two of my favourite qualities for a magical composition. They have vibrant colour combinations including my favourite bright orange, and they move quickly. Finding the perfect blue has been interesting and today I settled on Scmincke "Helio Turquoise" which is gorgeous and now will be in all my horse racing scenes as well.

Working in my style, approaching new subjects all the time brings a happy energy into my life that is incredible. People ask me how I can do so much. I am almost like a child on a new adventure each and every day. I think that youthful energy flows into my studio and paintings.

I am so excited at the moment that I have to start a new painting straight away. My new collection of Kingfishers will be in a Summer Exhibition. More news on this later!

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