Autumn Riches 2018 Hips and Haws

"Hips and Haws"

Original watercolour by Jean Haines 2018

Where the time is going I have no idea. How often I have heard that said and yet I am saying the same words too now. I remember a professional artist of some standing telling me years ago that if I had time to write an art blog I wasn't working hard enough. They meant I should be painting not writing on line. At the time I dismissed their comment and happily continued to share regularly here but recently I now fully understand what they meant. 

I now have tours to organise. Galleries to paint for. My own workshops in UK to think about. And my next new book to complete. We actually start filming the demonstrations next week and I have been adamant that everything in it is absolutely new, as I am with all of my books.  So yes, I am busy. But I love my blog and when I paint something or discover something that makes me feel happy I want to share it with the world. And I am so very happy.

The countryside is laden with gorgeous Autumn subjects to paint so I have been naughty this past few days totally ignoring all emails and correspondence. Totally ignoring my workshop plans and tours and I have put my book on hold to paint and enjoy painting, and oh boy have I painted.

I have a fabulous new collection of autumnal scenes that are full of berries of every kind, glowing beautifully and each time I complete one I immediately want to start the next. Like eating the last delicious nutty chocolate in a box I want more! 

So please forgive my silence on line. I needed time to create just for me. However if you wish to purchase the above painting or paintings like it please contact me as they are going in a gallery very soon.

For now, happy painting.

Oh and Artist tip for the day?

Get OUT!

Go and see what is outside that could tempt your brushes to keep moving and find a treasure to paint when you do. Something beautiful!

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Rosehips in Watercolour 2016

Rose hips in Watercolour

2016

Started as a demonstration at one of my recent UK workshops.

There is no doubt that I adore teaching and sharing my passion for watercolour. I also adore nature and walking in the local countryside . So quite often my passions combine to create something quite magical from the ordinary, that when painted becomes the extraordinary.

Like simple rose hips. The countryside right now in UK is beautiful, Branches are laden with berries including hips, haws and blackberries not to mention the wonderful sloes. In sunlight they all look rather fabulous making them a stunning subject for the artist who loves capturing colour with their brushwork.

Last week on one of my courses I demonstrated how to create washes that glow with life using rose hips as a simple example. I didn't want to paint the subject directly. I just wanted to capture the essence of what I was seeing. For detail to be added later if I wished. This morning as I waited for a courier to collect my art for my solo exhibition this month I added a few brushstrokes to bring one or two of the rose hip berries to life. And now I want to go for a walk to find more of the real thing to paint.

Painting from life gives you such a powerful energy and connection with a subject that painting from a photo just cannot give you. It is this connection of observation that flows into your work bringing accuracy in colour, shape and form which can help make a painting work so well.

So perhaps here I will take a break from my blog and go out to gain some new ideas for future paintings.

Artists tip for the day?

Go out!

Don't always think that painting non stop will make you a better artist. You need inspiration from life too, so go out and see colour and real subjects. Sit and absorb what you are seeing. Only then can you capture it beautifully in watercolour.

So, treat yourself. 

Take a break!

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