How can I Keep From Singing; Roses in Watercolour

 How can I keep from singing?

I walk around my garden each morning taking in the beauty of every single flower. Like every brush stroke in a work of art, petals  make the shape of every bloom sing so beautifully in harmony with all around them. Birds were singing so loudly this morning too as I walked whilst the world slept.

I absorbed this heavenly peaceful feeling and raced to my studio trying to maintain the wonderful early morning sense of calm but I couldn't. Excitement had taken over my soul. Placing colour on paper was the urgent and most important thing on my mind.

I treated myself to picking a few new roses to work from and placed them in a little brown jug that I have had for years. I love these items from my cottage cupboards. Items that are often hidden away until the day they come into use again. Perfect for still life paintings.

 Queen Elizabeth pink roses are still in bloom in our garden and look so delicate next to the vibrant more velvety red roses. I first saw these pink blooms in our very first house when we were married. I fell in love with them straight away. We had our first son in this home, and while pregnant I used to sit in the garden admiring these flowers. Once he was born I used to sit holding him in sunshine, again admiring these roses which carry such  a special connection to that for me.That was a long time ago and our eldest son is now married and in his own home creating memories. But these roses will always remind me of carrying him and looking forward to the day he was born. A tiny premature baby. Who is now a wonderful grown man. I paint these roses and think of so many happy memories.

 This new painting of Queen Elizabeth roses has a softness to it that is so beautiful, even to me as the creating artist. It is holding a magic. I call that magic "love" because if you love what you are doing it shows. I think my feelings definitely shine in this piece.

 Queen Elizabeth roses, soft and beautiful coming to life in watercolour

 The red roses are so very different. Bold in colour. Velvety to touch. They demand stronger bold brushwork and they are repaying me for doing just that by shining against the white of my watercolour paper. Seen below on my easel.

 Pink and Red rosse start my day in watercolour. heaven to work on for an artist who loves colour and energy in their work

I am going to have a magnificent day. I can feel it in my bones. Which is why I am going to get off my computer and paint. I wish you a great day too!

 Roses coming to life on my easel

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Artists Tip for the Day

1) Think positive. No matter how hard life is, try to see the beauty and positive side of life. This positive energy will flow into your paintings.

2) Look for the beauty in everything around you. It is there. But sometimes our vision is a wee bit clouded by what is going on in our lives. 

3) Take time to simply sit and look at a subject. Paint it in your mind not on paper. You will be surprised at how much you learn by doing so!

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A Simple Act Of Kindness

Simple Pleasures

Roses from my garden, painted in Watercolour 

We have no idea how we effect others by our words or actions. But there is one piece of advise I have always believed in. Of all the things we can be in life, being kind is the greatest achievement of all. And that is a huge thing to achieve when often in life so much happens that perhaps we wish hadn't.

I shared a post on Facebook this morning, saying that I was eager to race to my studio. I had looked out of my window and seen grey skies and gloomy rainfall that could have dampened my spirits. I could have sat and watched the news and been thoroughly depressed by it but again, like the weather that too is out of my control. All that is in my control is how I behave and how I can hopefully make others smile.

So with my new book weighing on my mind and a deadline to meet to finish it I headed for my studio this morning. And to do so I had to walk past the roses in bloom in my garden. The pink ones caught my attention first. But these were quickly outshone by the velvety red roses that are fading, past their best but in doing so they look even more beautiful to me. Like a face with gorgeous laughter lines or a story to tell from wrinkles that have appeared through the years. My red roses have bloomed beautifully for quite some time. But after a heavy rainfall they had bent their heads with no strength to hold them upright. They looked even more fascinating, telling a new story. Beauty after the storm.

I carried three of these blooms into my studio and began painting them. I placed them side by side.I love that they then can represent the most important words anyone can hear in life.

I love you.

Maybe that will be this paintings' title!

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Summer wouldnt be Summer without ? Roses in Watercolour

 As Soft as a Summers Day

Roses in watercolour.

Who doesn't love Summer? And for me the sunshine season wouldn't be complete without a new painting of roses. Although I actually have several beautiful ones on the go at the moment. In our cottage garden the rose blooms are stunning this year. So I am spoilt for choice as to what to paint next. What a terrific situation to be in.

I picked the heads of three pink roses yesterday. Flowers that had become battered by recent rain fall. They had broken in awkward places on the stem so were too short to put in a vase. But rather than discard the very short stemmed blossoms I floated the rose heads in a crystal bowl and admired their formation and beauty that way. 

I started this piece by painting a very soft pink wash on paper and allowed it to dry before adding the petal detail.

As I painted, I listened to birdsong, glanced up and saw butterflies passing now and then and felt sunshine on my shoulders.

The mood of this piece is "Peaceful". 

I love it and can't wait to continue or start a new painting.

Early stages of my roses in watercolour. 

My peaceful mood is shining through in this.  And perhaps my gentle artists soul.

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Roses in Watercolour: Summer 2016

Single Rose in Watercolour

Daniel Smith Opera Pink and Cadmium Yellow 

I have had a wonderful time painting roses in my cottage garden this summer. I have a rose bush that is called " Compassion" and it never fails to produce beautiful blooms each year. The more I cut for  floral arrangements the more blooms this plant seems to give me, and they are perfect for painting in watercolour.

I choose shades to capture their delicate hues carefully and my favourite colour to paint these particualr roses is Opera Pink by Daniel Smith. Why? It can be as vibrant as I need it to be or I can dilute it heavily to create very subtle colours which are perfect for the almost translucent effect of the petals of these roses. If I add Cadmium Yellow to it a superb peach shade appears. This again can be as bold or as quiet as I wish, purely by the addition of water.

 

 Placing my painting next to the real flowers to see if they are working, matching in colour and shape. They are!

I always sit quietly studying my subject before I pick up my brushes. Then I begin by creating a gentle first wash of the outline shape of one rose as my starting point.

 

1) My first roses created with Cadmium Yellow and Opera Pink shades by Daniel Smith. Detail is omitted in places to create the illusion of sunlight hitting the flower.

Once I am happy with the first flower I can begin to work on the next one, and I decide where this will be in my composition as my painting evolves in the development process

2) The second rose is added. A different bloom facing a different direction. No preliminary sketch means I am free to work at will where ever I feel colour or a rose will work best in my painting.

 Matching my painting to the real thing.

With the two  first roses in place I can start building up my painting by adding other roses and buds in the background. I study the real flowers carefully before adding each brush stroke and new addition of colour. Taking my time, relaxing and loving looking at and smelling the gorgeous roses in my garden

A summers day spent painting roses.

I added very little green to this painting as I loved the effect of light given to this piece by leaving so much white paper. Sections to be filled in by the viewers imagination.

"Summer Heaven "

We race through life with so much to do each day that we often forget to seriously take time out to chill, relax and yes, smell the roses. So whatever you are doing take an artists' tip from me today. Find time just for you to paint something you love. Now, while you can. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed to any of us so don't waste a minute.

Paint!

And enjoy painting what you love when you want to.

You deserve it!

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Vintage Roses

"Vintage Roses"

Work in progress

My joy in painting has always been in accepting the fact that there isn't always only one way to do things. In fact this is a life lesson because I always take time to consider if I have options available when approaching a task no matter what it is. I consider if there is a better way to achieve a better result.  And so it is with my paintings of roses in watercolour.

I have been experimenting on scraps of paper recently. I like how I currently paint roses in watercolour which is a style that has evolved over the years. But I often think of my Shangainese mentor who taught me to "see" what I want to paint long before I put brush to paper or the antique silk I used to work on at that time.

When painting roses, in my mind I can see the form of the flower and I can even visualise touching each soft petal. And from playing with experiments when painting flowers I have now discovered a gorgeous new way to create petals from puddles of water and pigment dropped into each one. The above image shows the upper rose created in this way whilst the lower rose shape is waiting to have the petals added. I hope this technique works because it would make painting roses so simple for everyone who wants to follow working on them in a loose style. So I hope to share more about this idea on my blog soon.

For now I will keep experimenting and having fun. Keeping the inner child in me very much alive when creating.  I want to know more, learn more and have more to share!

Constantly.

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A New Romance : 2016

 "Romance"

I have been given a very special request and that is to paint love.  At least that is how I see this beautiful project that I am currently working on.

This isn't just a painting of roses. It has to carry a feeling of love within it, which is being used with every single brushstroke flowing into the paintings creation.

I have shared this paintings' progress previously from an idea to this stage with soft gentle additions of detail and background colouring to enhance the main subjects. Two roses nestled side by side. One leaning on the other slightly with a connection between the two that forms a union that is completely unique. Like a young couple learning to lean on each other and depend on each other.

This painting represents life. It has new energy in it. From a new beginning of a blank piece of white paper waiting to be painted. Leading to this creation that has filled me with happiness each time I have worked on it. The sections where colour is missing represent hope of things to come.

 "Romance"

Which is love, pure and simple

 As always I can find a painting within a painting. The cropped version below is beautiful too. So a single rose works well. But when you add the second rose, as in the composition above, together these flowers create harmony and a gorgeous unison that sings far better than whene there is just the solitary flower.

I am back in my studio painting and my head is filled with amazing scenes that I wish to create.

But what a wonderful first painting of 2016.

One filled with love.

Happy painting.

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Summer Glow : Roses in Watercolour

"Summer Glow"

Oh how I love Daniel Smith Cadmium Yellow! Even if the sun has disappeared in my garden I can instantly bring it back with a glowing yellow addition to my latest painting of summer roses.

Yes I am leaping ahead a season but it feels so good to do so!

Sometimes we just have to listen to our hearts and let colour guide us by cheerful mood and happiness. I am excited about my upcoming trip to USA and I think its' showing in my art this week!

Bouncing, vibrant and happy! Not bad qualities to possess or feel!

Happy painting!

Jean

Don't Give Up : Roses in Watercolour

"Sweet Love"

Possibly the last rose, painted from my garden this summer

I have been thinking about one of the questions asked following my talk at the Wey Gallery during the opening of my one woman show " Colour Fusion" last weekend. It is one I have been asked many times.

"How many of your paintings don't work out ?"

It is a great question isn't it.  And in truth I suppose I could answer that not many end up in the bin these days. But how long did it take for me to get to this stage in my art journey.  And I shouldn't forget all those experimental washes that I start each day with, not meaning for them to turn into paintings but they often do.

I think the easiest way to help answer this question is for me to take the above painting as a visual example of where I am heading with this blog post. This rose, one of the last from my garden this Summer started out as a first wash of soft pinks and greens. There was no definition initially and I was working from looking at the real flower. This had been cut as a single stem and placed in a vase with lovely green foligae behind it. Then placed near my desk easel to study. 

Artist Tip: Study your subject well, observe its' colour and shape before you even think about picking up a brush.

I chose Opera Rose and Perylene Green as my main colours. Working on dry paper I applied a block section of pink colour at first, in the suggestive shape observed  from the real flower. This was almost completely circular.  I allowed watermarks to run at will in places throughout the wash ,whilst deliberately encouraging other water marks to form  hints of the many petals in this particular rose variety.  I then placed one strong leaf at the top of the flower to strengthen my outline edge of the rose.

First wash with watermarks and missing detail.

A loose "mess"! 

Creating a good starting point  from a first wash, as a basis for a successful loose painting is fascinating. I think it is at this stage that many new artists " give up". Because they can't see how the next brush strokes can bring the subject to life. It is having the imagination and courage to work further that makes or breaks a painting. But this is also the stage where as an artist I have nothing to lose. If it goes wrong the painting is an experiment I can learn from. But if it goes right, I have that magical sensation of achieving a  good result.

At this stage I have to consider two points. Adding too much detail next could ruin my loose painting as it could move into the slightly botanical realm and well away from the atmospheric result I was aiming for. But by not adding enough definition, the piece could end up looking a mess that isn't worthy of even being called an abstract. I try to marry a loose background with enough detail to tell the story of what my subject is. But without my finished result being overly fussy or over worked.

Working loose in watercolour this way is exciting as pigment reaction with water is always unique in how it dries. I enjoy my first washes of any given subject, often waiting patiently allowing each stage to dry before working further, adding the detail.  Only when my first wash is completly dry can I consider what the painting truly needs.

And so a few darks, a few fine lines, a few additions of petal detail turns a "blurry" loose mess into a stunningly beautiful rose in watercolour.

 

"Sweet Rose"

Petals unfurling and wrapping around an inner centre that carries such sweet perfume. 

Artists Tip: Never give up on a painting unless you aren't enjoying the creative process. Take time to study your subject and your initial washes, think about how each new brushstroke can add or detract from what you are trying to achieve and practise until you gain results that are pleasing you. And remember, at the end of the day, painting should be enjoyable, not a chore!

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Its' wonderful seeing how popular my blog post on " How to paint roses in a loose style" still is. So I am hoping this blog post with more detail will help followers with their own paintings of roses. They are such wonderful flowers to paint!

Red is for Love: Roses in Watercolour

Vibrant Red Roses in an almost finished watercolour

Such joy in this piece.

I started the day with a blog post on roses and thought it might be nice to share one last post to end my painting day too, with roses again. 

I am absolutely having a fantastic time painting roses in my garden. But I have already spent so much time working on pink blooms and a particular red rose has been calling to me all week. This afternoon I couldn't resist any longer. So here is my  latest rose painting.It is nearly complete and as it came to life the joy in each brushstroke was incredible. I am on a heavenly high, the kind that comes when the colours you have used have made you feel great.

I also feel very close to Blanche Odin, my heroine  in the art world of painting flowers. I so hope she would have liked these. Her inspiration wieghs on my shoulders each time I start a new rose painting as I wish one day to paint them at least half as well as she did.

 I am really excited  because I have also recieved so many wonderful emails with invitations to fabulous art events and workshop destinations. On top of this, I have  had really good news but unfortunately cannot share the details because for now its' a huge secret, sorry,  but please watch this space.

I honestly believe if you do good in this world or make others happy then wonderful things come back to you. I must have made someone very happy today judging by the glow I am feeling from reading a particualy exciting email today!

Roll on tomorrow and happy painting!

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Roses, Roses, Roses and More Roses

Gorgeous roses from my garden, inspiring my paintings this summer

First Wash from an Art Feature 2014

Thank you so much to everyone who has so kindly let me know they have been inspired by my "How to Paint Roses in a Loose Style" blog post.

Here is the link again , in case you hve missed it.

 http://watercolourswithlife.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/how-to-paint-roses-in-loose-style.html

There is absolutely bigger compliment to an artist than hearing your work has influenced others in their personal art journey or  increased their painting enjoyment. I am honestly thrilled and over the moon to learn how much my sharing, especially " how to paint roses",  has been enjoyed.

I would also like to give a huge, massive thank you to everyone who has followed my "giving spirit" in generously mentioning me when they post their own rose paintings online. Openly and very kindly letting other artists know where their original inspiration came from. The art world is such a beautiful place when we share our experiences in discoveries of other artists we admire, to openly show how we are learning and especially who from. Sadly, not everyone is kind enough to be this honest. 

This is where I have to admit I feel emotionally tearful when I see how well this particular subject has taken off. I love painting so very much and the joy I feel when moving my brushes is a feeling I would love to share with the whole world if I could. Painting takes me to a calm, peaceful and happy place that is far too beautiful to describe. I have no stress whilst I create, just sheer pleasure and roses are amongst the subjects that give me the very best feeling of all. They represent "love" to me, and always will. Which is why I would love anyone who wants to follow my demonstration to do so and love painting roses as much as I do.

I am  delighted to share my techniques here. A professional artist friend once asked me why I give so much information away for free on my blog. Firstly, not everyone can attend my workshops which are fully booked so quickly. And secondly I believe I am spreading happiness with every watercolour idea I share here. So when I read emails, Facebook or Twitter posts from readers who honestly explain their work was inspired by my own it does touch my heart and make it all worthwhile. How could it not.

So from me to you, thank you!

Artists Tip: If you do love painting flowers my tip of the day is to get outside and paint from life as much as possible while the Summer flowers are at their best.  

As for me? 

I have climbing roses over  walls and a wooden shed in my garden. Roses in several flower beds. Roses in flower arrangements in my home. Yellow, red, pink, white and peach. Stunning colours, sizes and perfumes.

In fact life has never been rosier!

Happy painting and don't forget to take time to smell the roses!

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Painting From Life : Roses in Watercolour

Roses in Watercolour

 Roses painted in my garden yesterday

Yesterday I spent the most wonderful Sunday quietly painting roses in my garden. One variety has gorgeous buds at the side of each main flower. This added beautifully to my composition as the roses  were clustered tightly together

 Rosebuds alongside the main flowers, photograph taken in my cottage garden yesterday.

It seems like ages since I had the luxury of time to myself. To paint at will, whatever I wished to  and on my own. I have been so busy with art events, workshops, working on my new book and exhibitions.  But now I have a break to be as creative as I want to, and importantly taking time to improve my own art skills.We all continually grow as artists and I am on the most incredible of journeys meeting so many fascinating people along the way, who like me enjoy working in watercolour.

Every year when I paint roses I am reminded of my time living in France where I discovered the work of  Madame Blanche Odin. Her beautiful paintings of roses inspire me continually. My dream would be that one day, someone would say that my paintings of roses inspired them. That would be such a wonderful legacy to leave when  years from now I am no longer here.

For now though , I am still setting myself the challenge of painting roses in a way that  I feel I am capturing their beauty and sweet perfume. I set myself new challenges  daily.

One rose  is defiantly standing alone in my garden.  Almost begging me to paint it. So today I have set my easel up near it and I am  softly bringing it to life. My brushstrokes are gentle so that I can sense the silkiness of each petal.

Single Rose in my garden, todays new subject and favourite flower.

I have started as always with no preliminary sketch. I am using Winsor &Newton Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Yellow, as these two shades combined with dilution for transparency are perfect for painting roses. I am using my favourite Saunders Waterford 300lbs paper so that I can apply large amounts of water to gain a wonderful flow. This also aids my painting outside as the sun is drying my work very quickly.

 

Single rose first wash, minus a sketch.

Details are to be added next 

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I have lots of news to share but life is still very busy.

1) I will be sharing the dates and locations of my 2015 USA tour this week

2) To everyone who has contacted me about my Bearded Collie paintings. You will be recieving emails very soon

3) Stock for my DVDs from Patchings at the special offer price is available on my web site but only a few sets are still available. First come, first served!

4) I am currently in an exhibition at the "Dogs in Art" Gallery in Stockbridge, Hampshire for my Annual Summer Show. "Here Comes the Sun" runs until the end of June although I will have work on display until the end of July when I will be supported by other artists in a group exhibition.Details can be found on my web site. 

www.jeanhaines.com

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Rose Fever 2013

Roses painted on a scrap of paper

As much as I loved painting the roses in my previous blog post to me they felt too tight. They bordered in places on being slightly botanical . I always aim for a mixture of loose sections and fine detail to complete my watercolours as a mystical combination of styles. I haven't painted roses very much this year so decided to grab a few scraps of paper this morning and work on a few first washes, looking for roses in each. The next stages bring the rose to life with final brushwork.

The above study has a fabulous feel to it as a painting and now I wish I had worked on new paper not scraps! I have several gorgeous rose paintings decorating my studio today now, that would have looked wonderful framed.

For followers of my blog who have asked about my brush sets and want to paint roses in a loose style following my style. I use my number ten sable for the petals and wash. I use my soft sable rigger to "lift" petal edges, very gently to encourage the petal edges appear.  Please note, it has to be a soft sable as the technique at this stage needs to be carried out very gently.  Other brush mixes tend to damage the paper which  can leave obvious marks when dry.  My colours flow and interact, guided by my sable brushes which hardly touch the paper surface due to their design,quality and of course my gentle use of them. I also use my rigger to pick up tiny amounts of pigment which I drop into areas in a wet in wet technique, to add strength in colour where needed. Such as shadows at the base of petals.

My brush sets can be found on my web site. They are ideal for painting roses as they are made of the finest Kolinsky sable. They move easily allowing pigment to flow across paper. If you hold my size 10 sable away from the brush end and allow the point to form curves you can get a great result. Use my size ten brush for the outer soft petal edges and the rigger for detail and pigment dropping.

 Available from 

http://www.jeanhaines.com/kolinskysablebrushes

Roses in Watercolour 2012

Roses bursting to life in a watercolour composition

The single rose I painted recently has stayed in my mind. I loved how it came to life in such a simple way but from the minute I painted it I could see new compositions in my imagination that I just had to place on paper.

Today I took the idea of the single rose and gave it an "echo" by placing a second rose behind the first allowing the flowers to merge as if in sunlight.

I know me.

This creative process will continue until I have "rosed" myself out!

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I have realised many of my rose posts on my blog have become very popular. I will be sharing more over the next few months and hope to inspire many rose paintings.

A huge thank you to everyone who has let me know they loved the rose demo on my DVD!

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Most Popular Blog Post.

Roses from a demonstration during my "Painting Escapes"  seminar held at the

Four Seasons Hotel 2010

I am thrilled a blog entry I shared some time ago is still proving to be very popular.

"How to Paint Roses in a Loose Style" has been a favourite subject during most of my workshops and has evolved from my time in France, again inspired by an incredible artist who could almost breath life into her work so that her watercolour flowers seemed real.

Madame Blanche Odin.

Our painting styles couldn't be more different but how I adore how this amazing french artist captured flowers so beautifully.

Thank you for enjoying this post and you can read more via this link if you have missed it.

http://watercolourswithlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-paint-roses-in-loose-style.html

Rose Mania Begins!

Roses  Emerging from a Simple Application of brushstrokes and Pigment.

I have had several emails asking about my rose paintings along with one or two artists asking if I could suggest projects for their watercolour groups to begin working in a loose style. My technique has evolved over the years in a way that I see colour and try to capture subjects by the simplest method possible in  placing pigment on paper either on wet or dry sections.

The freedom of  expression from working with no initial pencil lines to restrict you is exhilarating.

The easiest subject of all to paint are roses in this style because they genuinely do seem to paint themselves once you have caught the knack of how to begin. So if you are eager to try painting without the use of a preliminary sketch  I am about to add an easy step by step of how to capture a rose in watercolour.

Have fun and please let me know if you find this project  interesting or successful to follow.

As a gentle lead in to  more complex subjects it's a great way to start painting in a loose style!

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