Watercolours With Life: The Creative Journey.

Sunday 16 January 2011

The Creative Journey.

Inspired by frangipani, watercolour painting from yesteryear.

I always think a new year is a great time to reflect on paintings from previous years to see how far you have come. Unless we know where we are going to we have no hope of getting there. In life we often make plans when we travel of where we are heading, how to get there and what we will see along the way.

When we paint many pick up a brush, briefly think about what they wish to achieve and literally "set off" with little throught to the importance of the creative journey.

So while all my friends have been making wonderful New Years resolutions mine has simply been to enjoy every step of the way in 2011. I am going to look back at the highlights of 2010 and build on those to make my next year even more exciting. Many of those highlights have been donating favourite paintings for charity and I start in the next two months by doing just that. I will share more details about the events later on but for now I really am so eager to get my brush moving.

While travelling in Thailand I saw the most beautiful frangipani tree and the scent from the heavenly blossoms was absolute bliss. I may start my week with simple brushwork to aim to capture their beauty and keep their image alive in my mind. In a heartbeat I will be sat once again in the incredibleThai garden with sunshine on my shoulders and beauty around me in every direction that I look.

A far cry from the English scenery that at the moment is looking very grey from my studio window!

Happy Painting

.....and don't forget to plan your creative journey whether it is for a painting, a year or a lifetime!

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I am working through many messages since my return from Asia so please bear with me if you are waiting for a reply. News on 2011 workshops and projects will follow soon.

1 comment:

Cheryl said...: wonderful pearls of wisdom as ever Jean.I so love reading your thought's,inspirational is the word every time for me.I hope your away time has been invigorating and refreshing for you it sound's
like you have had an amazing time.So pleased you are back full of wonderful images to paint can't wait to see the result's.Here's to this year.; 16 January 2011 at 00:54

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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."