Its the beginning of August so it's time for me to introduce our new artist of the Month!
Thank you Jean Haines for agreeing to be our Featured Artist this month. I love the spontaneity and freshness of your Watercolours.
Living
with a Passion for Watercolour
Jean Haines SWA ,SFP
Thank you so much for
inviting me to be the featured artist of the month. An invitation which I
believe is a wonderful compliment and
honour. I never take for granted how lucky we are to be able to share with
friends and fellow artists from all over the world with the technology now
available to us. We can be inspired and hear of art that once we may otherwise
never knew existed.
Arab
Face Appearing from a First Wash
As a child I remember watching a young
teacher giving a talk to our class. I was in awe of her energy, thirst for life
and enthusiastic way of sharing her
knowledge. She held a painting of a small blue flower for all to see. That single moment in time
led me to my earlier career as a botanical artist. But I have never forgotten
the young woman who enthralled the class with such simple beauty on paper. I
was fortunate to have incredible art
teachers throughout my education who saw in me what I did not. Only years later
do I now fully understand what they were trying to tell me. They thought I was
born to be an artist. All I know is, that as an adult I wish I hadn't waited so
long to believe in their faith in me!
"Jacob" An earlier portrait.
I met, fell in love
with and married a wonderful man whose career took us all over the world.
Whilst constantly moving I never tired
of learning from masters I met in so many countries. In Asia I studied
brushwork from an established artist from Shanghai. Her words of wisdom have remained with me and I pass
on her wonderful tips in my own workshops. I absorbed the vibrancy of colour
from my time in Dubai. Here I met amazing artists from India and Pakistan who gave me so much in the way of influences for
portraying subjects that are full of life and character. This was my time to
study portraiture and I did eagerly. Taking in every single tip and piece of
advise.
Pinks, a floral study coming to life using placement
of the subject in a simple composition.
I write features for
a variety of magazines. Each time I aim to add something new as my exploration
into technique leads me to meeting manufacturers who have vast ranges of new
shades available. Years ago I would have worked totally with one brand of
product. Now I am very aware of the need to keep up to date with what is "out
there" on a regular basis. Life as an artist has never been so rich
because via the internet we know what other artists are using and we can share
our discoveries so easily. Colour is so important to my life and art so I
always look for something that is exciting and new to keep my watercolour fresh
and alive.
"Morning
Light"
The
cockerel from the cover of my new book
and a favourite painting because of the vibrant orange combining with red in
the main section of my subject. I won an award for a body of cockerels during
an exhibition and they seem to now follow me everywhere!
I do
believe that listening is a vital key to
being an artist. Not just to experienced artists who may encourage us in our journeys but to our
chosen subjects as well. Often I find mine lead my brushstrokes almost guiding
me to where I will lay colour next. I
work minus a preliminary sketch as I allow colour alone to build my
compositions which are often impressions of what I see. I aim to tell a story
in each new painting, leaving sections for the viewer to fill in using their
own imaginations. This communal bond between us tends to add to the magic
within each piece. And I don't use the word magic lightly. I often watch as
subjects appear half way through a painting session and feel mesmerised by how
they have come alive simply with colour and brushwork. I have painted for so
long now and yet I still feel a sense of
awe when pigments interact creating incredible patterns.
I exhibit in a number of established
galleries and hold solo shows during each year. Right now I am looking forward
to 2013 as I have some very exciting events already booked which will ensure my
brushes move continually on fabulous new subjects that have not yet been
unveiled. I hold international watercolour workshops in Hampshire, UK.
and I love that artists are attending
them from all over the world including Vietnam, Iceland, Canada. France, Italy and
South Africa. I look forward to each season and meeting new artists on every
session. I feel so blessed to continually keep meeting wonderful people who
often stay in touch long after the sessions are over. In Autumn 2012, I will be
holding workshops in Texas and New York which
truly is very exciting and I can't wait!
Passionate about working in this medium, my
enthusiasm led me to writing. Taken on as an author, my publisher launched my
second book "Atmospheric Watercolours" earlier this year in may 2012.
To hear it is selling well in so many countries, in all honesty, has taken me
by surprise and overwhelmed me a little because all I have ever wanted to do is
share my love for working in watercolour. And encourage others to enjoy painting in this medium as much as I do. I
wanted to give all I knew to others so that if the day ever comes when I cannot
paint, everything I have enjoyed will be there in a book .
I have simply shared my love of working in
my chosen medium in a way that I hope others will follow to either learn how to
paint, gain motivation and enthusiasm and also reach their own dreams.
If anyone had asked me what my dreams were
years ago I would have said " I want to be an artist ". I still do and I cherish each day I am able to
move my brush because capturing a subject on paper is the most thrilling of all
feelings in life. I want others around me to know this pleasure and joy and
most of all, I want everyone who has a dream related to art to see that vision
become a reality. I dreamt of writing a book, being in galleries and
exhibiting. I wanted to write art features. I never dreamt of having my own
brush range but I do with "Rosemary&Co" and I love them. I still
have dreams for the future. Maybe if I come back in a few years time I can say
what they were and if they came true also!
I believe if you want something badly enough, it
will come to you. But at times to achieve dreams we need to work hard, practise
and most of all believe in our own abilities. There will always be someone
willing to knock you down or criticise your work. If you enjoy painting nothing else should
matter as much as that heady thrill when you create. Be true to yourself, love
what you do, find inspiration and grow continually. No matter at what level you
are in your art journey. I see all
artists as if they are on different steps of a ladder. Some at the top on the
highest rung in their careers. Others are just starting out making their first
steps. However we are all in this art world together making our way, learning
from experience with our own ups and downs. And most importantly we were all
beginners once, even the greatest of masters had to start somewhere and I don't
think many of them had a very easy climb!
"Beauty
of Venice"
The
cover from my first book " How to Paint Colour and Light in
Watercolour"
For me, I see beauty around me constantly.
I am always on the happiest of highs and I love life. I have so many fabulous
friends who I care about so very much and a terrific family. Without anything
else in it, my life is rich but if I can
just have paper, watercolour pigments and my brushes as well for the rest of my
life along with the gift of sight I will be very blessed!
Happy painting!
Jean
Full
details of Jeans books, exhibitions and art can be found on her web site
www.jeahaines.com
