Winter Berries 2016

"Winter Berries"

I am still very much wearing a nurse "hat" at the moment. While my husband is recovering from surgery I have had little free time to paint. It is amazing how well we work as a couple but at the moment everything in our home depends on me, so painting is a luxury I look forward to as and when free time allows.

Right now part of my husbands rehabiliation is walking and I am using this time to find new inspiration which has come in the form of winter berries hidden amongst the foliage on our country rambles. But I have painted holly and ivy berries so many times before and I was reluctant to paint them in the same way.

This afternoon I tried a new idea and it worked beautifully. You might be surprised at how I prepared the paper for this new approach to working in watercolour but as I am now heading into a new year, full of new workshops and a new literary project I'm going to keep my new technique a little secret , just for now because it is fabulous and so much fun. Naughty of me to mention it I know but if art was only about one way of creating, even I would get bored of painting!

You can see the beauty of flow in this section of the above winter berry painting, with gorgeous icy effects forming.

 Ice effects from preparing the paper surface prior to painting

 After creating the above composition I couldn't resist painting another simple berry scene. While I was in the mood. When there is so much going on in life and you can't concentrate on really serious detail or complicated pieces it is always best to paint something from your heart, something simple and usingc olours that make you feel relaxed and wonderful.

I loved painting these pieces today and now I have some great ideas for new work when I am next in my studio.

 

 "Winter Berries Too"

Artist tip for today?

Simple.

Go for a walk.

Look for treasure

Bring one simple thing home and paint it in a way that is different to how you usually paint

And most importantly?

Have fun!

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Golden Fall

 "Golden Fall"

Its' amazing how one painting or idea can quickly lead to many more. Having just painted a quick autumn study of the view from my studio window, as seen in my previous blog post,  I was reluctant to put my brushes down.  In fact today was one of those rare days when as much as I wanted to paint my energy level was low that racing to my studio wasn't really my priority. But once here, in my studio, surrounded by my favourite colours and the autumn foliage facing me as I looked outside it was easy to escape via colour into my happy, peaceful zone.

The real sky here looks almost white this afternoon. Empty of colour , and so I worked on white paper. Leaving this empty space as my backdrop. I looked at all the colours I can see on the trees outside and placed dots of colour to match across the upper part of my new painting. I then splattered these same colours, on top of my initial colour application with my toothbrush, to hint at separate small leaves in the distance.

I added tree trunks next and allowed all the colours to flow downwards for reflections in the water below. Of course it is easy for me to paint this scene as I am working from life. This is the view from my studio window. Where my inspiration is coming from. Leaves are falling and floating by on the waters' surface. Hence the stronger small dots of colour in the foreground of my work. To represent these falling leaves.

It is so relaxing sitting, studying colour , imagining how you would paint what you see and the many different ways in which you can. As I have so much on at the moment and little free time, to sit and paint simple landscapes without worrying about the results is just wonderful.

As I painted the above scene I couldn't help but think about all the incredible trees I saw as we drove around Lake Tahoe while I was teaching there recently. My jaw dropped at the breathtaking beauty before me on many occasions on my visit there. And so, inspired by Lake Tahoe is the below painting. From my imagination, simply created for me to unwind this afternoon.

"Reflections"

Artists Tip

 On days when you feel you can't or don't want to paint, grab a few scraps of paper and just allow colour to flow across them. Soon you , like me, won't be able to put your brushes down and you'll keep painting with your work getting better and better each time you pick up your brushes.

Remember

Never give up!

Happy painting!

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Life Isn't Easy

"Autumn Waters"

View from my studio window 

Very quick study!

 

My life is very different at the moment. Usually I spend my days by racing to my studio each morning but that isn't possible now, for a while at least. My husband is recovering from knee surgery so for a little while longer my role is carer rather than artist. Even so I look longingly out of my cottage window each day at the autumnal foliage outside, which in afternoon sunlight is stunning.

I managed to take my brushes for a few minutes this afternoon and literally just place the colours I can see outside of my studio window on paper.

I started this very quick study by placing dots of Cadmium Yellow and Cadmium Orange along the upper section of my paper.  Encouraging them to merge with water application. I added darks for the tree trunks next, allowing them to hide behind the foliage in places above the horizon line and below in the reflections. From where I am standing I can see green at the edge of the water and then the golden leaves of the trees above are reflected upon it below.

Perhaps when I have more time I can try this scene again with more thought as to what I wish to achieve. But my goal today was simply to paint and know that I had. To fulfil a yearning inside my soul. I am never truly comfortable unless I have moved my brushes each day. Now I can rest because I know that I have.

But while my husband is recovering I am learning so much. I have been thinking about the many people who are full time carers. Whose time is given solely to looking after someone else. People of all ages. How compassionate and selfless they are. Putting their own lives on hold and in some cases permanently.

I think this time of nursing is doing me good. I needed to understand even more that time is a luxury that not everyone possesses. When we have the freedom to do exactly what we want, and when we want to do it, we shouldn't take it for granted.

Time is a gift.

And we should appreciate it far more than we do.

Maybe my next painting will be titled "Time".

We will see. 

But I am appreciating my time to paint so much more.

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NEW * Florida Watercolour Workshop : March 2017

Exciting News!

FLORIDA

New "Jean Haines" two day workshop!

 Monday & Tuesday, March 6 & 7, 2017; 9 am – 4 pm

I have a new watercolour workshop in Florida that has just opened for bookings! 

 The workshop will be taking place in Bonita Springs. Full details on how to book can be found via this link.

 http://www.artcenterbonita.org/workshop.htm

Please book early to avoid diosappointment as all my USA workshops next year are fully booked at present. This is the last place with availablity.

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Jean Haines - "Watercolor Workshop with Jean Haines"

● Center for Visual Arts

● Monday & Tuesday, March 6 & 7, 2017; 9 am – 4 pm

● $325 Members/$375 Non-members

● Medium: Watercolor

● Level: All with Experience

Jean Haines has been credited for her extremely motivational teaching methods, as well as her enthusiasm and passion for watercolours. Following the launch of Jeans’ new book “Jean Haines World of Watercolour“, this workshop will be a reinforcement of her very original techniques. This exciting two-day workshop looks at how to work in a loose style – minus the use of a preliminary sketch – and painting a variety of subjects, in ways that seem to magically bring them to life. From the first decision of choosing what to paint – to selecting from a wide range of techniques – along with dramatic colour combinations – Jean will help the artist to discover their own unique results. This workshop aims at bringing the best out of you as an artist, and will leave you feeling inspired.

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Poppy Positivity

 Poppy Positivity

After such a long break from my studio it is so fantastic to be back creating, experimenting and expressing myself in colour. I have absolutely adored teaching my workshops this year both in UK and USA but I am now so desperate to paint just for me !

I have had some wonderful new ideas for creating that I haven't had time to put into practise but today I walked happily into my studio armed with some rather unusual "equipment" to play with. And I have had so much fun. Tomorrow I will be racing here after I have helped my husband with his physio. 

I can't wait!

I do find after a long break from serious painting it is always wonderful to simply play with colour and technique rather than aim for more serious outcomes. Today, inspired by Remembrance Sunday and the poppies everyone is wearing in remembrance of those who have fallen, I am painting in flowing reds. Hurling dark centres for random poppies in each o fmy compositions and allowing colour to create on its' own, rather than by my hand.

I love the freedom in the above and below paintings of poppies. Both creations aimed for the bin but both looking far too cheerful to quite make it.

And oh boy, are my workshops going to be fun next year but more about those in another blog post. I have so much to share and so little time to share at the moment!

Back soon!

Poppies created with everything but the kitchen sink!

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Remembrance Sunday 2016 : Flowing Red

"Flowing Red"

Remembrance Sunday 2016

When I was a little girl I listened while my grandfather talked about "the war to end all wars". He believed that the bloody battles that saw so many lives lost were in a good cause. He and his comrades fought for freedom. They fought so that generations to come might live in peace.

If I wrote a letter to my Grandfather in heaven I wonder how I could describe the world today. There seems to be far more hatred recently in this last year than I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. Most recently from people falling out over the USA elections. And whilst I understand how awful it must be to see your candidate lose what frightens me most is the need to be right.

Surely until we all can show compassion and understanding to our fellow man, of whatever race, gender or religion they happen to be we will never find peace on this earth.

For me Remembrance Sunday is about remembering those who gave their lives and those who are serving still. So that others may live without fear and in peace.

I would like to make my grandfather proud. I have no idea how he faced battle astride a horse as he did. What courage. And what fears my grandmothers' generation faced, seeing their loved ones leave home knowing they may never return. What hardships they had to overcome.

"Flowing Red" represents the bloodshed and tears of times gone by. It carries wishes for years ahead minus more needless bloodshed.

"The war to end all wars"

What hope those words held.

Fight not with words. But instead, as artists' lets wear armour of kindness today and make our ancestors proud.

Dear Grandad, I am wearing my poppy with pride in your honour. 

And painting thinking of you.

Jean

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Please note: Artists on my recent workshops will notice I haven't used a palette for this painting. I will share more on technique in future blog posts.

Where is Jean? With John!

I have had so many wonderful email messages enquiring as to where I am. 

Well after a fantastic tour of USA I am now back in UK, but my wonderful husband John has had to go into hospital for a total knee replacement which meant last week I was caring for my soul mate. It is no secret that I absolutely adore my husband. So, quite rightly when John needs me, he comes first. Everything else was put on hold while I spent time at the hospital at first, and then later I needed to be with John when he came home last week. 

I am delighted to share the news that just one week from surgery John is doing amazingly well, is back on his feet and while he isn't quite 100% yet health wise, he is getting there.

I am now back online and able to share on my blog so please watch this space for lots of news!

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