Autumnal Abstracts

Inspired by Queen Annes Lace

Hogweed

A full week working on paintings for upcoming exhibitions in Wales, Surrey and Norfolk from September to November 2012. I am inspired by my rural surroundings and finding incredible abstracts in all forms of foliage at present. Hogweed  creates incredible patterns against an evening sky. Standing tall amongst brambles, nestling in hedgerows and bank it always seems to give amazing silhouettes that tempt my brush in so many ways.

My experimental and abstract work is leading my eye with colour and shape taking my work into a completely new direction. Bold in colour and complex in structure at times . Although simplicity is more striking in many compositions.

Yesterday I had a meeting to discuss my 2013 programme and as it will be a very exciting year with new gallery collections my time is going to be very limited  for workshops. The full programme of events will be shared on my web site in mid September with a restricted number of places. Each session is aimed at being highly motivational and inspirational. However putting it together has increased my own enthusiasm to an all time high so my personal  time in my studio to continue evolving and exploring is really important.

My collections are already taking shape in ways that I had not foreseen and my passion for colour and texture is stronger than ever.

I will share full details of my exhibitions on my web site shortly. 

My next show will be at the 

Albany Gallery in Cardiff, South Wales from 14th September - 6th October ,2012

Flowers,Flowers and More Flowers!

Because I know  I am going to be sharing blackberry, hips and haw paintings non stop I thought I would share the latest floral compositions that I have been working on for an exciting new project. I wanted bolder colour  and a feeling of strong lost and found sections.

I have loved painting these whilst sitting in sunshine in my cottage garden today. But I think my brushes will be moving on my autumn collection tomorrow as the berries are really tempting my brushes!

Early Autumn Signs

Hawthorn Berries

In Autumn Hedgerow

Morning walks take on a whole new meaning as the first signs of Autumn begin to appear. In the lanes where I walk Bailey, my Bearded Collie, each day blackberries are already ripe.  Branches are heavily laden with hawthorn berries and rosehips in gorgeous rich hues are impossble for an artist who loves colour to ignore. I keep saying that Spring  is my favourite season because I  love painting the first flowers that appear each year.These are swiftly followed by Summer blossoms when painting in sunshine is always sheer bliss.

But there really is something very special about Autumn. I have always felt like a child again picking fruit with the best, for some reason, always being just out of my reach on the very top branches. Last year in one country lane the hedgerow looked beautifully red and purple  in the distance. Through the mist, one morning, tiny clusters of berries glistened with morning dew.

These emotions I try to capture in each new piece.

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Readers of my new book "Atmospheric Watercolours" will see how I have painted rosehips,hawthron and blackeberries in different sections. Look out for the chapters on "Energy Washes" and "Textural Washes".

Summer Sensation

Stocks,flowers painted from life in sunshine using my imagination to make them unique.

 With incredible weather  this week I am still enjoying working in my garden capturing wonderful new colour combinations and effects from studying how light plays on the flowers in my garden.White stocks tempted my brushes but the phlox are also on my mind as my next subject because I loved  creating their colourful composition on the weekend.

Yesterday a brilliant gallery owner visited my studio to collect art so that I didn't have to take time out from painting to make the delivery. I will share news of my upcoming exhibitions in a seperate blog post but for now I am going to enjoy summer while it is here!

Thank you to veryone who is writing to tell me ho wmuch you are enjoying my new book "Atmospheric Watercolours". I can't begin to tell you how much your feedback has made me feel but I truly appreciate each kind word and comment. Thank you!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jean-Haines-Atmospheric-Watercolours-Expression/dp/1844486745/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345545892&sr=1-1

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!