Wey Gallery Solo Exhibition and Demonstration

Leading by Light

WIP for my solo exhibition at the Wey Gallery

I am completing my collection for my solo exhibition at the Wey Gallery in Godalming, Surrey which opens in March. This afternoon in strong sunlight I painted a horse racing scene that sprang to life, mainly because of the vibrant colours and the passion for my subject. I am loving working on this new collection. Not a day passes where I am not thinking of what I can add to it next, to make the show an exhibition that fascinates as you walk around the gallery. Each new piece seems to become my new " favourite" and the above really is eye catching offline.

Dates for my exhibitions can be seen on my web site

www.jeanhaines.com

I will be demonstrating at the gallery on Saturday March 23rd, it is advisable to contact the gallery to let them know if you are attending.

Details of the Private Preview, exhibition dates and opening and closing times can be found on the gallery web site.

http://www.theweygallery.com/

They Call It Hump Day!

Camel from my latest book

"Atmospheric Watercolours"

What a great start to 2013! Yesterday I had  the very first meeting with my publisher to discuss my next book.  It was such a fabulous day and as my book is in its infancy stage there are so many incredible options I could include as my next publication. 

Since writing "Atmospheric Watercolours" I have grown so much as an artist. By writing it I felt as though I was on an art course with myself on an exclusive one to one workshop. I could explore all the techniques I love so much and discover new ways of working with each. My watercolour workshops have helped so much in that  I was, and still am, constantly meeting artists with problems I hadn't come across before or even considered. For example I took it for granted that everyone knew how to use salt but I was wrong and there are many ways of creating  a  huge number of effects with its application. I also took it for granted that using cling film was an easy thing to do as the idea has been around  for years. But simple subtle changes in how we apply it with a little thought beforehand can bring enormous benefits. I love the questions that have come my way even down to asking me what water I prefer to use when painting,which as a question at first had me stumped. But there are artists  who don't like me, simply work with tap water.

In the last year while I haven't been working on a book I have travelled and had time to work on my exhibition collection. Many paintings I have kept under wraps until my major solo opens later this year because I want them to be a surprise when they are first seen. As my technique has evolved yet again with new colour combinations and ways of working. This is natural in an enthusiastic artists life and everyone who has met me knows how passionate I am about working in watercolour.

The good news is  I have a lot of  fabulous subjects to include in my next book which are completely new to me and seriously exciting. I will use some of the techniques that have been included in my last book but they will be very tempting to follow in new ways with new colour ideas! My journey from my first book has seen me move from one  amazing event in my art career to the next. I would love everyone who adores watercolour, or has goals of being a professional artist, or for professional artists who are tired in their career to read my next new book and feel exhilarated in a way they have never been before. The bad news is I will be working on this new publication for some time to come as it is a massive project but its going to be so worth waiting for!

So please experiment and practise with the techniques from my current book because my art life is an adventure that just keeps getting more and more exciting and I would love your art journey to be thrilling too.

There are currently only twelve copies of "Atmospheric Watercolour " available on Amazon.com but it has gone into reprint again and more will be available soon! Please order now if you want one quickly!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745

Signed copies are currently still available on my web site

www.jeanhaines.com

Last days Of Summer 2012

Delphinium picked from my garden this morning for a wonderful relaxing day painting in blues.

Over the last week I have witnessed the wind and rain knocking down all the beautiful delphiniums in our garden. Normally I leave these flowers  rather than pick them for flower arrangements as their beauty and vibrant blue shades add such drama to our cottage flower beds. But as the wind had knocked them down my husband had gathered them and given them to me while he worked outside in the sunshine yesterday. I do so love this part of my life, being given armfuls of gorgeous flowesr from our own garden to decorate our cottage with. It feels like something I have yearned for over the years of constant travelling from country to country while we lived abroad,to finally have a place that I know I will be living in for the rest of my life.  Initially I made a wonderful flower arrangement with the delphiniums for our home but I kept looking at it last night and dreamt about the flowers as I slept. So I knew this morning I would just have to get the majestic blooms

 out of my system and paint them!

Cerulean Blue as a pigment has sat in my palette almost ignored all summer and finally it created a basic wash which I merged Winsor Violet in places for the petals. Inside each centre I used Indgo added with my own personalised rigger brush which is perfect for adding fine detail or smaller amounts of neat pigment which I often use as a technique.. I have also used my rigger for working around individual petals adding touches that seperate blocks of colour. I am thrilled with the feedback I am receiving from buyers of my personalised brush sets and love the words " sensual to use" that keep cropping up. They do glide across paper beautifully and help with my work so much. But the finest of Kolinsky brushes always will be a delight to use!

My tip to anyone aware that  a season is coming to an end, is to make time to paint what you love before it disappears until next year. I often say life isn't a rehearsal and we should never put off until tomorrow what we could paint today while we feel so enthusiastic about it.  During my demonstrations and at art events I am meeting so many artists who tell me they never have enough time to paint. Well today there are many things that I need to do including plant foxglove seedlings so that I have lots of them to enjoy painting next year but my heart and mood feels so much more energised and happier because I painted what I wanted to paint first!

So my artists tips this Sunday.........

1) Do something just for you even if it is just once a week

2) Find time to paint! Even if its a ten minute play with colour, paint!

3) Don't put off until tomorrow what you know you could paint today!

Have fun!

Close up of the delphinium I am working on.

A Taste of Summer : Phlox in Watercolour August 2012

A Taste of Summer

The weather is glorious! It has been such a busy week delivering work for framing and to galleries. In fact I have been out  almost every day with brilliant appointments and exciting meetings all connected with showing my art. I took time out to paint flowers in my garden this afternoon. I have been reading my own book and strangely learning so much from each chapter which sounds really peculiar as I am the author! But I am going through each section and it seems as though "light bulb" moments occur each time something triggers an exciting idea I wish to put on paper. When I wrote my book I was hoping to inspire other artists. I feel a little wierd saying that I have inspired myself too! 

So in sunshine, I stood at my easel in my garden and  observed how the colours played on white phlox flowers.Their beauty is undeniable and I just had to capture them in watercolour. These have left me with a yearning for tomorrow morning to arrive so that I can capture more beautiful flowers from life  to add to my Summer 2012 collection of watercolours. Summer passes so quickly and I d not wish to waste a minute of it.

Here is the full painting.

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Book Signing: A New Week

Book signing  this morning, to start my week.

I have always loved Mondays. I see them as a piece of white paper representing the week ahead and they are mine to add colour to as I wish. I choose vibrant positive shades as much as possible and always have.

Following my workshops last week I am now catching up on so much administration that quietly takes place behind the scenes and is often never mentioned. I have had to order a new supply of my new book "Atmospheric Watercolours" as I had sold out. These needed to be signed for my web site online shop as well as copies of my previous book " How to Paint Colour and Light in Watercolour" which is also selling very well.

So I took time out to sit quietly in my cottage, listen to very relaxing music and sign my new stock ready to be sent out for new orders.

If you would like to buy a copy you can via Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745 

If you live in USA and want an order  quickly you can also buy from this link

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Jean-Haines/9781844486748

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Thank you again to everyone who has already bought a copy and for the terrific emails letting me know how much you have enjoyed my work!

Atmospheric Watercolours: A Best Selling Watercolour Book!

I am thrilled to hear that my new book "Atmospheric Watercolours" is quickly becoming a best selling watercolour publication. As much as I loved writing this book and  aiming to make it special for everyone whether they are new or not to watercolour I am  constantly overwhelmed by the glowing feedback I continually receive  from readers who have bought a copy and are enjoying my ideas and techniques.

Thank you so much to everyon who has got in touch with me, who has bought a copy, reviewed my new book or expressed how much they like it via various sources.

You have absolutely no idea how happy you have made me

Thank you so much!

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Copies of my book are available in various locations including the Mall Galleries in London and Waterstones Stores. You can also buy my book online from Amazon .com via this link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745

New Owl Collection with new techniques.

Baby Owl from a new collection of owl watercolours

It is incredible how popular my watercolours of owls have now become. Increasingly at exhibitions they are amongst the first of subjects to sell and in doing so are becoming collectible. At the moment my only available owl paintings are in my "Fur, Feathers and Florals" Exhibition which is running at the Dogs in Art Gallery in Stockbridge, Hampshire,UK until 3rd August 2012.

My new collection won't be available until later this year.

I have a friend who has invited me to see baby owls on their land but I have been so busy that I haven't had time to  enjoy their beautiful little faces this year . 

If you are reading this Bridget you can see I am still inspired by one of my favourite bird subjects!

From writing "Atmospheric Watercolours" I have learned that I adore learning. I adore exploring and experimenting aiming to bring more than just a finished image onto paper. I want to capture emotion as well as the personality of the animals or birds that I work on. And I want each piece to be 100% unique. I cannot understand or relish the idea of painting the same subject in exactly the same way repetitively as that would kill my artistic soul.

This little owl is curious and their instinct to hunt is evident in their eyes. But they possess a vulnerability at this young age making them almost seem like prey also.

Life as an artist takes me from one amazing  day to the next. My brushes lead me to new joy and colour lightens my life regardless of the rain outside.

In my mind I have a million ideas to progress with this composotion or begin a new series of owls,all from one painting.

Life is great and I continually look forward to my tomorrows because they are all, always new and exciting!

Henry Malt Book Review : SAA,Society for All Artists 2012

Atmospheric Watercolours

Launched 2012

I think I am supposed to be cool, calm and collected when I read book reviews.  If so, I failed miserably when I read Henry Malts  glowing review of my new book in the Artists Library section of the SAA, Society for All Artists "Paint" magazine yesterday.

Please put yourself in my shoes, imagine you are the author of my book and read the following extract  of the review as if you were me.

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Atmospheric Watercolours by Jean Haines

Book review extract by Henry Malt

"Gosh,this is a fantastic book! In her introduction, Jean credits Jean-Louis Morelle whose very technical book of a few years ago was one of the first to explore what is one of watercolours best tricks, but here she looks at its creative possibilities. If you love the wet-in-wet techniques prepare to be amazed, humbled even.

It's also a very difficult book to describe in words and in a way, that is a further indicator of its greatness. I don't want to go overboard on this but usually, I can tell you what's in a book,what the paintings look like, and give you at least a hint of the flavour of it. Jeans work however is so intensely visual that there aren't the words to describe it. the only way I could go about it would be to write a tone poem and hope that you could make the leap for yourselves."

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I am so thrilled to receive such wonderful credibility as a writer and artist from Henry who always gives such informative feedback on books he reviews. I started writing features for the SAA magazine some time ago and I am thrilled to see so many artists that I know following in my footsteps by joining the society, sharing their art there and writing to encourage others to learn,grow and reach for their  dreams.

It is just what it says it is.

A society for ALL artists of ALL levels.

Thank you to the SAA and Henry Malt for making this particular artist so very happy, humbled and overwhelmed.

Also a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to add their own book review on Amazon.com.

Your words have encouraged artists from all over the world to get in touch with me,many who have never heard of me before so I do really apprecaite your kindness in feedback and time. You can read everyones reviews on amazon via this link and please feel free to add your own.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341300757&sr=1-1

Thank you!

Jean

Patchings Festival : Thursday 14th June Demonstrations

PATCHINGS FESTIVAL 2012

I am happy to share thenews that I will be demonstrating and signing my books and celebrating the launch of "Atmospheric Watercolours" in the Search Press marquee at Patchings Arts Festival 2012  this week on Thursday 14th June,2012.

I will be demonstrating in the morning starting at 10.30 a.m and in the afternoon at 3.00 p.m. 

I am really looking forward to my first visit to such an iconic art event. I will be there signing books during the day so please come and say hello if you plan to visit the festival.

Patchings takes place in Calverton, Nottingham U.K and details of the location and Search Press marquee can be found via this link

http://www.patchingsartcentre.co.uk/patchingsfestival/patchings_festival.php

The full schedule for Search Press can be found via this link

http://www.searchpress.com/news_item.asp?newsID=74

Atmospheric Watercolours : Selling Fast!

Atmospheric Watercolours

Selling Fast!

This week saw me in a mild panic as I discovered there may not have been enough books in stock at the Frame Gallery in Odiham, Hampshire for my book signing event there the next day.  Friday night was to be the Private Preview of my solo exhibition "An Artist Journey" and there was going to be book signing also. The Gallery were expecting the evening to be a really popular event and the number of books they had may not have been enough for the celebratory occasion.

I made an urgent call to my publishers on Thursday, the day before the show. My own stock of copies has been regularly selling so fast. I also needed my own supply for my workshops next week and  upcoming art events.

Search Press, my incredible publishers, jumped to the rescue and not one but two orders of supplies made their way to my cottage in time for the show and it was just as well! The gallerys prediction was spot on.We would have sold out very quickly as I signed book after book on the night.

It is incredible how fast my new book is selling and how quickly it is becoming popular. Some of the email messages I am reading from wonderfully kind people who have bought my book,complete strangers to me, have left me almost in tears. Tears of happiness because my goal of writing this  publication was to open the doors so that everyone from all walks of life and levels of being an artist would adore watercolour as much as I do.

To hear feedback of how much my book is loved makes all that time locked away in my studio working on each chapter so worthwhile. I wanted to have the feeling of giving gifts away in the form of exciting techniques and ideas, and I also wanted to give inspirational encouragemnet at times when artists feel they have self doubt.

I am overwhelmed and very touched by the kind comments coming my way and so very grateful.

Thank you to everyone who has bought a copy,wrote a review or sent me an email.

It really does mean the world to me and you are making this artist turned author so incredibly happy.

Thank you!

You can read the first reviews of my new book via this link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745

Book Review 2012 : Judith Farnworth

 I have eagerly been looking forward to reading book reviews on my new publication "Atmospheric Watercolours" which has only just been released. This morning I read this review by Judith Farnworth and my eyes misted up to the pont of overflowing again.The first review appeared in the Artist Magazine and likened me to JMW Turner in his later years  connected with my more loose interpretations of subjects at times.

Judith writes as an enthusiastic artist who is in love with watercolour. As a review she leads you into how she felt whilst reading my book. I love her comment on appreciating this being a hard back rather than paperback book sas she is uggesting it could become almost a watercolourists bible in the future.

Do enjoy reading Judiths review. If you too have wriiten one that I have missed please forward it to me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com.   I am forwarding all responses to my publisher and they were thrilled with Judiths descrptive review.

http://judithfarnworthart.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/atmospheric-watercolours-by-jean-haines.html