2012. A. New Years Challenge

Building up a background behind a petal

Art should not be boring. It should excite not just the viewer of a finished painting but the artist who is moving the brush while the piece is being created.

Over the last few weeks I have come across friends and colleagues who have mentioned the dreaded words to me that they are either bored or are finding it very hard to feel motivated to pick up their brushes.  Many of the artists have been painting the same subjects in exactly the same way for years. Other messages are flooding in from the beginner or amateur  who desperately wants to paint or make a huge breakthrough in their painting results this year.

I always feel sad when I hear of anyone struggling when they paint, whatever their reason may be for feeling so low and despondant. Because working in watercolour is such a freeing sensation. Possibly too much pressure is placed on their shoulders to succeed in whatever their goal is that they are aiming for.

Right now it is the beginning of a new year and there is so much to look forward to. As each season approaches we can enjoy what nature has to offer, adore painting landscapes and architecture in the many fascunating lights to come and capture the animals we love via  dynamic brushstrokes that bring them to life.

But not if a starting point comes from negative thinking or a despondant feeling of depression!

So my New Years challenge is for you to pick any subject, consider the true colours you see and then paint exactly the opposite. Especially in the background. Choose cheerful,vibrant pigments and place them as a backdrop allowing them to merge freely with each other. Next allow them to dry and  see what the results are. Avoid muddy messes and aim for clean, fresh, exciting effects.

I have been painting gorgeous Christmas roses from my garden. From life in reality I see beautiful colour behind these snow white flowers and yet my photograph of them indicates a dark section that could be flat and boring.

I am opting for purples and pinks to shine against Cadmium Yellow for my background.

Christmas Roses from my garden

An unusual colour combination for my floral background.

Thinking differently, having a positive approach to working in watercolour, observing the beauty in all that we see and loving life can have such a huge impact on our work. So if you are having problems painting  or picking up your brushes, consider why that is happening to you. Then throw all the negative thoughts out of your window and paint cheerful paintings full of vibrant colour and life.

Soon you won't be able to put your brushes down and if I have anything to do with it, you will be having a year ahead that is filled with fabulous paintings!

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Inspiration From Life

Inspiration From Life

Peony painted during my "Summer Flowers in Watercolour "  Workshop

As a demonstration this week.

I am often asked questions  during a workshop  session. These  queries are invaluable to me as an artist as they make me think about how I approach certain subjects or add textures and why. This week I hosted my annual " Summer Flowers in Watercolour " Workshop and the room was filled with wonderful blossoms to tempt artists attending.  Amongst the vases and arrangements of flowers were some beautiful peony that really were absolutely stunning in both form,delicacy and colour.

" How would you paint the centre of these ?" Lynne asked. 

 (Thank you Lynne as I have some wonderful paintings now thanks to your query! )

There were many ways to approach the gorgeous complex focal point  of the  flower but as I avoid using any products other than watercolour I started with tiny yellow and orange brushstrokes. Dropping in water now and then to form texture minus the use of salt or even masking fluid which is commonly used on subjects like this. I am beginning to look at many artists who work in  "watercolour" and realise they actually don't in the true sense of the medium as they depend on so many other materials to achieve finished paintings. From years of exploring watercolour as a medium I have found I can achieve absolutely any effect I wish to just by working with pigment and water. And it is so much fun!

There is no right way or wrong way to paint but when it comes to saying whether you are a watercolourist or not I think it depends on whether you work in watercolour traditionally or with other mediums. I still for example don't accept that acrylic is watercolour. If it was it wouldn't need to be called arcylic!

We all had so much fun this week working only in watercolour.The results in the room from such a magical medium were incredible. I know in my heart I would never feel the same excitement or thrill  of watching colours merge when faced with other products. The room behind me was silent when I painted this peony. The petals emerged like magic on paper with a softness that reminded me of my time in China. My Shanghainese mentor was stronglyl influencing my placement of brushmarks as I worked. I am so grateful to have had such expertise looking over my shoulder for so long as they gave me so much. Now I want to give the tips I was given to others.

I cannot wait for my Autumn Workshops which take place later this year. For now my next demonstration will be at the SWA Society  For Women Artists 150th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries on  Thursday, 7th July.Everyone is welcome, you don't need a ticket to see me other than paying the gallery entrance fee. I really am looking forward to meeting old friends and new so please say Hello if you visit. I intend to make the day fantastic with  the sharing of as many subjects as I can fit into one day!

 The beautiful peony that inspired a lovely gentle painting .

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Tip: Paint from life as much as possible as  this is the best way to see  true colour and light effects. It also teaches you far more than simply  "copying  " from a photograph!

Beating the Blues

Initial Flower Wash

Mock Orange Blossom is the inspiration for this colourful wash.

Sunday. A day of rest. Time to relax, look at the week that has passed and consider the week ahead. Have I achieved all I aimed for last week? Have I paintings to look forward to in the next?

Today nothing matters. My studio is not the centre of my time as we have been catching up with friends all weekend. I have also taken time to enjoy the countryside with my young Bearded Collie, Bailey, who needed some extra attention from my having left him for almost three weeks while we travelled in Asia.

These walks always turn on the my artists' soul. I always without fail see so much that I want to paint. I gain unusual ideas for workshops, appealing compositions, intricate brushstrokes and imaginative colour combinations.

At the moment I am surrounded by woodland where the trees have long since lost all of their leaves. The ground is thick with shades of  fading golds from the Autumn. The sky seems empty,almost void of colour as the winter months in England roll by. Many people find the long grey days depressing. I find them inspirational. This is often the time of year that I paint my brightest  pieces. I allow vibrant pigments to flow across paper and  smile as they interact creating incredible patterns.

I cannot remember which art society I was demonstrating to last year when I shared how I would approach painting a simple branch of orange blossom. In the subject we could all see obvious shades of green, lemon and white. To the art groups amazement I selected Winsor and Newtons Opera Rose  for a first wash. Then French Ultramarine. Stronger  placement of colour  followed as the painting developed. I loved everyones stunned reaction as the colours really did work as the subject formed. 

The warm glow from that memorable day is still with me. So much so that this morning I looked at the cool scenery outside my studio window and  thought of that wonderful cluster of blossom.  I allowed  my imagination to run riot and decided to just play with colour. I don't use masking fluid to save sections of white paper as I find this is similar to having a restrictive  preliminay sketch which can form definite lines to work within. Instead I freely enjoyed a vibrant wash that is already coming alive with a sense of  movement.

In my imagination I can see where the blossoms will lay in the composition. There is a heady feeling of excitement and anticipation and  my brush is being heralded to add the next details.

But this is a day to relax so I will only be painting as my heart desires and dictates.

Peacefully.

As a Sunday should be.

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"Beating the Blues"

Watercolour Workshop

February 2011

Can I remind everyone looking forward to the " Beating the Blues" workshop in February to bring all of their favourite vibrant shades as we won't be working mainly in blue! It's going to be a fantastic session!

Primroses Galore!

It is incredible. At this time of year painting from life usually means trips to the florists to buy early Spring flowers but in my garden I have primroses already. In January!  I shouldn't be surprised as there were a few small flowers out in December also before the heavy snowfall. Determined to show their beauty they have wisely waited until the snow disappeared before attempting to show their faces again. Maybe they understood how desperately I wanted to paint them. And here they are

Primroses emerging after winter months.

It really is interesting how the colour of the season is affecting my palette. Usually I would paint primroses surRounded by soft light colours. But because these are out in winter the combination of shades I am selecting is completely different and to be honest I quite like it.

For now!

Many visitors to my studio or workshops  imagine my loose style means my work appears quickly. It can at times but great thought goes behind every single brushstroke especially with delicate flowers such as these.The soft hues are vital to creating a sense of the delicate petals.  The form for each flower has to be accurate or suggest that it is. This takes a lot of time and patience. There are no pencil lines to guide me so I ofren see new flowers appearing which I work on as the painting develops.

This is my style and my technique.

Each petal is carefully positioned and  brought to life with subtle colour combinations.  

Patience and a good understanding of the subject is necessary for good results.
Madame Blanch Odins work is influencing me yet again. Her influence is very apparent in this painting.

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 I am learning so much from nature. In the garden these  pretty flowers were planted deliberately in rows. They look beautiful but planned. This doesn't suit them or me! As a keen gardener I often combine spring flowers in beds so that the colours create a feeling of excitement and continual interest. So my previous painting of primroses with muscari is a good example of garden design affecting the artists eye and vice versa. I plant for my art, I plant for inspiration and  to allow me always to have colour in my life.

    Primroses and Muscari . a Spring Combination.

For me the most magical way to see primroses in in the wild. Along country lanes, footpaths and  nearby woodland when walks turn into exciting  treats for the eyes as the very first buds appear.They grow in random clumps,unplanned with no deliberate design. Just flowers growing wherever they wish splattering colour  all over the place brightening up the world in a way that only nature can.

Seeds carried by the wind just like pigment carried by water settle at will.

So why as artists do we set out to plan our paintings?

Why do we spend  too much time deliberately working out which colour goes where for the best results? When nature seems to do everything naturally having gorgeous happy accidents of colour combinations that are often unexpected.

Watercolour is a medium with magical qualities so working in a spontaneous  technique allows it to shine in its full glory.

Maybe I have answered the question to why I adore watercolour so much. I am a free spirit. I adore surprises and  working with watercolour minus the use of that word "control". I throw rules out of the window and enjoy the sheer pleasure in witnessing subjects come to life in my paintings as if my magic.

Exploring  new wonderful colour combinations daily often leaves me almost breathless with excitement.

Beautiful primroses growing wild and free forming a wonderful flow of colour.

This last primrose painting sings to me. I have  caught the flowers in their natural habitat surrounded by the debris of Autumn leaves with a hint of the future spring skies to come in the bright blue background.

I am happy, my mood is light and this is flowing into my work.

This painting holds so much in the way of hope for a wonderful year ahead, a year full of amazing paintings and hope for all around me to feel  great happniess.

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Blanche Odin

Blanche ODIN,

"La grande dame de l'aquarelle"

1865-1957

When I left Dubai  I moved to France before  my next destination which was returning to Hong Kong at that time in my life. Only a pet owner would understand my fear of placing two beloved pets in quarantine due to a move from one country to another. My decision meant I would be living in rural France with just my dogs for company in an area in  Le Gers for six months until they could  travel to China.

   Spring Posy.

Watercolour Study by Jean Haines.

Here I met many amazing new friends and artists. It was here I was given a book by Jean Louis Morelle but that is another story yet to be told. And here I fell in love with painting flowers. Roses surrounded my wonderful farmhouse and I painted them in oils mainly as that was my passion then.

Whispers of Spring

A gentle first wash capturing the essence of these  sweet small flowers.

A part of me will always remain in France. My spirit feels at one there and my life became  so blissful as I  embraced the French way of life.

A friend  and fellow aquarelliste  introduced me to the work of  Blanche Odin. I fell in love immediately with her beautiful technique and obvious knowledge of each subject she captured in  brilliantly gorgeous watercolours.

She has effected my artists soul as well as my work.

Spring Bouquet

An original watercolour by Jean Haines.

All artists are inspired by masters. The story of Blanche Odins life is one worth taking time to discover.For inspiration and an insight into an artists life at that time please click on the following link.

http://www.museesbagneres.fr/blanche_odin_013.htm

Here you will find  the history of a remarkable artist. And here you will find the true inspiration behind my floral work.We may be worlds apart in style and technique.But our passion for the beauty of flowers and watercolour are in harmony.

My heroine......and true inspiration.

Madame Blanche Odin.

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Further Link

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2009/09/26/680912-Bagneres-Les-aquarelles-de-Blanche-Odin.html

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As an artist giving credit to those who have inspired you goes hand in hand with holding a brush. A kind word,a gesture of goodwill may just inspire others in their art journey.  Giving back as well as taking the gift of inspiration is a sign of respect shown by many honourable artists. I choose to pass on this incredible  heroine in my art life.  I hope she inspires you too.

On this note I would like to take a minute to thank everyone who has sent me cards,emails and messages letting me know how much I am inspiring them. 

These kind words encourage me to share more...............thank you so much and may your own art journey always be  wonderful.

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Leopard in Watercolour, Latest Stage.

  Leopard in Watercolour : Early stages with no preliminary sketch.

Sometimes I look back at stages of a painting and feel so blessed to be an artist. A few friends know how much I am enjoying painting this leopard. I have had tears in my eyes feeling for the future of this majestic creature because it is so very beautiful. I cannot do it justice with my brushstrokes but I am beginning to feel as though I could touch the soft fur.

Isn't it incredible that with no sketch at all and simply from working with colour and brushstrokes alone an animal can come to life almost on a blank piece of paper?

Here is the tsgae I am at at the moment. I  have been working on the fur nearest to me and the furthest away ear.The image I have been given to work from is old and almost green in colour so I am having to  place a collection of images from friends together to  work out which colours would be  true and those which will tell my story in the final result better.

 Leopard in Watercolour nearing its half completion stage.

Believe it or not I haven't decided which way this wonderful animal is looking yet hence the delay in adding detail to the eyes. That will be my last  touch when the painting is almost complete.

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A Host of Daffodils in Watercolour

Already beautiful bunches of sweet scented narcissi are appearing in the florists. They fill my head with amazing perfume that transports me to Spring  gardens full of glorious blooms. With joy I held my brush and laid a whispery wash trying to capture their delicate forms. They are so light to touch and this feeling I need to embrace  with not only colour but my brushstrokes as well. I am thrilled with this first wash as it has that magic and life I so love  trying to achieve.

Narcissi coming to life on paper as if my magic!

Very little detail says so much in this small study. I was in love with my subject and it showed.

N.B. I avoid working from photographs as I feel it can sometimes lead to " flat" and lifeless paintings.

Tip: Paint from life as often as possible and learn how to really see a subject each time you do!

Quote: "Put joy into every brushstroke and love what you are doing" Jean Haines.

This to me is the key to success because when we walk around galleries we are drawn to paintings that seem to speak to us. Those with that extra magic.

Think about the colours you use also......my whispery use of  Cadmiun Yellow and Cadmium Orange lends itself to Spring flowers. A little challenge for you.

What is this purple shade?

Colour Swatches : W&N Shades

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January 2010 Challenge Followers.

1) Subject

2) Colour

3) Imagination! I will share the next step soon!

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Leopard in Watercolour Stages

I should call this section "A day in my studio". Visiting artists often remark on how many paintings I may have on the go at any given time. I work freely as my spirit takes me so I often jump from subject to subject never tiring or feeling I have lost my enthusiasm to pick up my brush.

Am artist who chooses watercolour often does so because they love the spontaneity of the medium.There is excitement in how the colours interact and merge with water.The effects are unique and often addictive in that we find ourselves wanting to recapture the magic we have just witnessed on paper again and again.

From playing with the flower exercise and washes I finally came to the quiet place in my mind I needed to be to  add to my leopard.

I am working on the nearest ear and this side of the face. Believe it or not the washes from the Christmas Roses have given me some wonderful ideas on how to paint the background in this piece but my imagination will probably be  working towards a very different outcome to yours!

I have to say it again, I have read emails  today  from readers of my blog and I am so touched that you have taken the time to tell me personally how much you are enjoying it..........thank you so much. Can I suggest we all work together to make this the best year for our watercolours ever.

Christmas Roses in Watercolour

Christmas Roses First Wash . W& N Watercolours.

Amazingly that little scrap  of paper I used for a warm up exercise from my imagination yesterday led me to thinking what could happen if I set out to deliberately paint Christmas Roses. Rather than just play with colour how about  using the snow from outside my window as inspiration for these beautiful flowers with their heads appearing from the  snowflake crystals? But as always I want far more than just a painting. I want life in my work and a sense of movement. Maybe even a feeling of seeing the flowers as if in a dream?

Working with Indian Rag paper I have literally dropped colour on saturated paper. The extremely wet sections allowed the colour to spread at will.

And looking closely the negative shape of the flower  minus the use of masking fluid has wonderful soft and hard edges. We can almost feel the flower appearing already.

 

This is my treat to me. A first wash to work on tomorrow morning.One that has me eager to continue with and enjoy. A painting that may lead to a million others.

All from one tiny exercise which has inspired me to explore further.

Tip: Experiment often to discover original ideas and  try new subjects as often as possible!