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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Limited Edition Prints "Going For Gold"

"Going For Gold"

Limited Edition Print

£195

Yesterday I picked up the first prints of my painting "Going For Gold" and was amazed to realise that I couldn't tell the difference from the original painting and the print. These have been created on watercolour paper and look wonderful framed.

The inspiration I have gained from the Olympic Games has enticed my brushes to not only capture movement but gain that sense of excitement from seeing so many athletes who have deserved to win gold medals for their determination, hard work, skill,energy and  drive. They have been a shining of example of  achievement.

I will be looking at this painting for years to come and remember the feeling of anticipation towards  each finishing line and the sheer joy of the win of each event. Witnessing all particpants " Going For Gold"

 The Limited Edition is for twenty  prints only and can be purchased from the Frame Gallery in Odiham, Hampshire. and  the Wey Gallery in Godalming,Surrey.

Please see my web site for details

www.jeanhaines.com

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Sweet Pea Seduction

Sweet Pea watercolours from an afternoon painting in my cottage garden

The weather has been glorious today so I have worked in the fresh air allowing the sunshine to  cloak my shoulders.Its' been a really superb weekend with time to relax in my cottage garden and move my brushes to simply capture light in my work.

This year has been  so busy with exhibitions and deadlines to meet so I feel as though I have had a wonderful holiday escaping into a world of florals,painting from life and loving every second  of it.

I worked on several small studies and then brought them into my studio to place on my easel. A few finishing touches will be added to each tomorrow and then I will probably work on a few serious compositions of the subjects I have painted over the last few days.

My favourite sweet pea painting so far ,almost finished with a fabulous softness about it. It really does look like the flowers in my garden in strong sunlight.

It is such a great feeling leaving my studio knowing these will be waiting for me on my return tomorrow.As always, I can't wait!

Roses in Watercolour

  

I am really thrilled to see how popular my " How to Paint Roses in Watercolour in a Loose Style" blog post has become. Thank you to everyone who has given a donation to Cancer Reaseach  and if you have missed the original post you can find it via this link.

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

As the roses are blooming in my cottage garden I do hope to find time to paint some more myself very soon!

Happy "rose" painting!

Atmospheric Watercolours: Update

I am really thrilled to hear that "Atmospheric Watercolours", my latest book has  sold so well it is going for reprinting. New stock will be available by October 2012 and it is still selling really well which is such exciting news.

Thank you so much to everyone who has bought a copy and  I will be replying to messages and emails next week as I have quite a few to catch up on!

My book can be purchased from Amazon.com via these links and  it is  in stock!

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

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

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I will be catching up with my blog messages and comments soon!

Pretty In Pink

Japanese Anenomes coming to life from a watercolour session in my cottage garden

The weather is beautiful and as our summer has seen little sunshine this year, I am making the most of every day by painting outside in my cottage garden.

I have many flowers to choose from as subjects. Whilst the foxgloves in various sections of the flower beds and woodland have been tempting my brushes I couldn't resist capturing the first Japanese Anenomes that are now coming into full flower. Their delicate petals are such a contrast from the stronger bell shapes of the foxgloves. I want to  bring that sense of their being able to move in a breeze, so find myself opting for gentle brushstrokes whilst I work. Which is really encouraging my colours to sing on paper.

Artists who have attended my workshops will know I use very little pressure on paper whilst I paint. These floral brushstrokes have truly been a soft whsiper across the surface of each white piece of paper that I have loved creating on.

For now I am going back into the sunshine while it lasts. Like flowers  that only bloom for a short season each year I strongly believe in making the most of every positive moment in life. Never wasting a minute of something too good to miss!

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Foxglove Fantasia

Foxglove Collection

August 2012

Works in Progress

I couldn't wait to race into my garden today. Armed with paper, palette and brushes to continue with my series of foxglove watercolours.

I sat in sunshine and quietly explored several of these gorgeous flowers growing in my cottage garden. The wild variety  have wonderful single,bell like shapes hanging downwards. These are in one area of my garden but the more domesticated variety  I have grown form fantastic shapes,several varieties have tightly packed clusters of bells forming downwards along the stem,opening more widely as they near the base.

Its' been heaven sitting studying the colours and patterns within these subjects this morning. Happy memories came flooding back from childhood when I was convinced fairies existed and lived in these beautiful flowers. I was always told never to pick them because they are highly poisonous but their beauty is outstanding and they make great subjects to paint. As an adult I am loving watching fat  fuzzy bumble bees disappear inside each flower as they collect pollen.

My favourite paintings  so far is the one in the middle on my easel,waiting to dry for the next stages to be added. How relaxing to paint a subject you love so much and enjoy working on sheerly for the pleasure of making them come alive on paper. Although these will be completed and framed at some point for exhibitions.

I can't wait to continue with my new floral collection!

Beautiful Fogloves almost leaping off the paper towards me as I work!

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