Welcome to 2015 : Belatedly!

Jean Haines

World of Watercolour

To be launched in June 2015

I can't believe it is a month since my last blog post. Where has the time gone? Thank you to everyone who has sent emails asking if I am okay. I am, but goodness life has been so very busy. 

I must  admit, several years ago a leading artist told me that if I had time to spend online then I wasn't busy enough in my art career or painting enough. I had no idea then that they were right. I have been so busy that I havent had time to add to my blog. Previously, I was online so much sharing my art on social media and I loved it. I still do, so this isn't going to be a time where I disappear completely but my life has changed dramatically over the last twelve months and I now realise that I have been juggling so much.

My New Years resolution was for me to take time out to think about what I want from my art. For the third year running I am unable to participate in art society exhibitions. Mainly because of working on publications and preparing for solo shows. My tours and workshops have also taken my time and I have absolutely loved each one.

But where does that leave me facing 2015?

Well. My latest new book will be launched this year and I will be celebrating by  demonstrating at Patchings in summer. I am also a guest artist in USA at the annual Plein Air Convention followed by workshops in Seattle at the Daniel Smith head office. I have workshops in UK and later this year I am on tour again in USA holding workshops and book signing events in New York, St Louis, West Virginia and California.  I'm working on tours in 2016/2017 at the moment. And receiving some fabulous invitations.

I am also leaping into a rather  unique book that is not related to my previous three. It is something that has come about  naturally and will see me totally engrossed working on it, but I am also needing to research behind each chapter. This will do me good as an artist. I need to stretch myself to grow and if readers are to love it I really need to spend time thinking about how I can make it magical.

But more than anything else. I want to paint. I want to simply paint just for me. For the sheer enjoyment of painting. And for artists who are desperately searching for a successful art career can I offer this little bit of advise. Think hard about what you really want from an art career. For me, I feel so lucky to be living such a wonderful life via my art but I am having to be careful not to let the workshops and teaching side of my career take over from my personal time painting.

Which is why this year I have limited my UK workshop courses. And avoided too many abroad. I apologise for none in Italy this year. But I simply needed more time to paint and write.

I am going to be popping on my blog, catching up on Facebook and yes, popping onto Twitter too.

But mostly, when I go very quiet , I am having a ball painting!

I hope you are too.

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