Wednesday 25 September 2013

Watercolour Workshops 2014 in Hampshire, UK






  Dedham Hall Demonstration
September 2014

I promised to release my watercolour workshop information on my blog and web site and here it is. These sessions are held in Hampshire, UK . The area is called "Jane Austen " country as the village where Jane lived is not too far away so if you are visiting its' a lovely idea to add a few days to tour places of interest. 

Lunch is included in the fee, and a materials list provided prior to each session.

Some of the following workshops are already fully booked but there are still places available for next year at my time of writing this blog post. So if a course catches your eye now is the time to get in touch with me on 

jeanhaines@hotmail.com

Please note no bookings will be taken from 5th- 13th  October  due to a vacation.




February 2014  18/19/20/21
18th  February Opening Doors  £115
This is a workshop for artists who have never attended a "Jean Haines" workshop before. Jeans sessions have now become so popular with many artists returning time and time again so this session has been created to open doors and allow places for new artists to attend. All subjects will be covered and we will be looking at a variety of exciting techniques during the one day workshop. A great introduction to the newcomer to workshops by this popular artist, enabling you to be in a room full of people also attending for the first time.

19th February  Inspirational Watercolours  £115
An injection of sheer enthusiasm creating watercolours covering many subjects, that burst with life and energy. Vibrant colour combinations and exciting techniques will be involved  in this memorable day to remain with you long after the session has ended.  A full material list will be forwarded prior to the workshop.

20th  February  Beating The Blues  £115
The return of this  favourite workshop! The title says it all. Beat the February Blues and create dynamic colourful watercolours. Suitable for artists looking for an injection of new enthusiasm in their work.

 21st February  Fur, Feathers and Florals .  £125 NEW
The subjects are varied but the goal is the same. To create fantastic watercolours with the emphasis on texture. A great start to a year ahead of painting exciting compositions that zing with life.




April 2014  8/9/10/11   15/16/17/18
 8th April Opening Doors  £115
This is a workshop for artists who have never attended a "Jean Haines" workshop before. Jeans sessions have now become so popular with many artists returning time and time again so this session has been created to open doors and allow places for new artists to attend. All subjects will be covered and we will be looking at a variety of exciting techniques during the one day workshop. A great introduction to the newcomer to workshops by this popular artist enabling you to be in a room full of people also attending for the first time.

9th  April Spring Fever Not to be missed! £115
This is a brilliant session wakening the senses to not only improve your watercolours but the way you feel about painting. As a tutor I want to be on this class to enjoy it with you. It is a firm favourite that is looked forward to every year.


10/11th  April Fur and Feathers  £245 ( two day Workshop)
BOOK EARLY!
A long awaited two day workshop looking at how to paint anything with fur and feathers in ways that  really do bring the subject to life.  A favourite workshop that always sells out fast!


 15th April   Inspirational Watercolours  £115
An injection of sheer enthusiasm creating watercolours covering many subjects, that burst with life and energy. Vibrant colour combinations and exciting techniques will be involved  in this memorable day to remain with you long after the session has ended. 
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16 Spring Fever Not to be missed! £115
This is a brilliant session wakening the senses to not only improve your watercolours but the way you feel about painting. As a tutor I want to be on this class to enjoy it with you. It is a firm favourite that is looked forward to every year. Vibrant colour, fabulous techniques and more.


17/18th  Watercolour Addicts  £245 ( two day Workshop) NEW
BOOK EARLY!
A fabulous new two day workshop for everyone who is mad about painting in watercolour. Looking at a variety of subjects and taking time to  study how to bring them to life using creative techniques that carry the "Wow" factor!
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May 2014 27/28/29/30
 27 May Opening Doors  £115
This is a workshop for artists who have never attended a "Jean Haines" workshop before. Jeans sessions have now become so popular with many artists returning time and time again so this session has been created to open doors and allow places for new artists to attend. All subjects will be covered and we will be looking at a variety of exciting techniques during the one day workshop. A great introduction to the newcomer to workshops by this popular artist enabling you to be in a room full of people also attending for the first time.

28th May Fabulous Florals  £115
This is not just a workshop on how to paint flowers as we will be looking at fabulous compositions to capture the energy of the season. Seasonal flowers to work from life will be provided, plus ideas on how to paint floral watercolours capturing the essence of each subject with unique results.

29/30th  May Fur and Feathers   £245 BOOK EARLY!
A long awaited two day workshop looking at how to paint anything with fur and feathers in ways that  really do bring the subject to life.  A favourite workshop that always sells out fast!


July 29/30/31 & 1st August

29th July  Atmospheric Watercolours. £115
The favourite  workshop of all favourites, Painting all subjects to gain results full of atmosphere. Covering a wide variety of subjects. Suitable for new and returning artists.

30th July The Wow Factor £125 NEW
So what does make a painting stand out? This fantastic new workshop not only looks at how to make your work stand out from the crowd but aims to lead you into a way of reaching for the stars with your art .


31 July  If It Moves, Paint It!   £115
All moving subjects from people, animals and more. The very opposite to still life!  A fun session where everyone attending is encouraged to gain the illusion of movement in their results.  Designed to open your imagination as a fascinating session.


1st August Animals Only  £150
A wonderful day painting animals from all over the world. An enjoyable experience looking at how to paint subjects that touch emotions and capture character. This one day workshop is bound to sell out fast so please book early if you are interested!



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October  28/ 29/ 30
28th October .  Going For Gold  £115  NEW
An injection of sheer enthusiasm creating watercolours covering many subjects, that burst with life and energy. Vibrant colour combinations and exciting techniques will be involved  in this memorable day to remain with you long after the session has ended.  A full material list will be forwarded prior to the workshop

29th  October   Simply Inspired  £115
Whenever anyone attends Jeans workshops they always leave feeling inspired but this session is aimed to keep that feeling going long after the workshop has ended.    A session that will have you racing for your brushes  long after you leave the session.

30th October Reaching Your  Goals  £125 NEW
So many artists of all levels have goals they wish to reach but often have no idea how to get where they wish to be. This workshop is intended to be based on a more personal level and setting goals for the year ahead. Great fun, exciting and pushing directional artistic buttons.

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Places to visit in Hampshire  

Jane Austens Home in Chawton

Duke of Wellingtons Estate

The home of Gilbert White 

There are many attractions to add an  inspirational tour  for yourself or non painting partners whilst attending a workshop in Hampshire. We have a list of B&Bs to stay in along with neaby hotels if you are travelling.  For further information please contact me by email jeanhaines@hotmail.com

Autumnal Inspiration

Hawthorn Berry 2013

There are times when I find being outside far more valuable to my painting than being in my studio. The inspiration I find from seasonal colours tempt my texture and palette experiments .There is no better time of the year than Autumn for  playing with red and gold pigments to achieve magnificent washes that zing with both energy and life. 

This morning I took Bailey, my Bearded Collie, for a walk and we both looked for treasure. For him it is usually a stick, not just any stick but one takes him ages to find. But once he has found "the one" he brings  it home carrying it proudly as if no other dog before him has found such a wonderful treasure. He makes me laugh.

But he makes me think about myself and what I look for as my own "treasure" on these early morning walks. I am never looking for just a hawthorn berry for example. I am always on the look out for that special berry that is unique, with either light playing on it or maybe its' sitting on a branch in a slightly different way to all the others. When I have found "the one" I happily bring it home to my studio and try to capture what I have just seen, in all its glory in the countryside. Via my finsihed painting I want viewers of my art to feel how I felt when I first saw my "treasure". So my special berry becomes far more than "just" a berry. It becomes an integral part of a new compsoition that was a joy to  work on while my painting developed.

This wonderful life of being an artist and seeing through an artists eyes makes the simplest of tasks like dog walking a sheer delight. Nature is my best teacher and  my inspiration increases daily from the changing seasonal scenes outside.

What better way to start any day than by looking for treasure. 
Whatever yours is have fun finding it!


Bailey in our garden with yesterdays stick!

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Dedham Hall Demonstration 2013

Venice in Watercolour

As I unpack from teaching my weeks watercolour course at Dedham Hall I am enjoying my demonstration pieces and the memories each holds.

Being in a room full of people who are as fascinated in watercolour as I am is a terrific feeling.  I gave daily demonstrations on  a wide variety of subjects including landscapes. I worked on the above Venice scene whilst surrounded by artists asking me questions while I tried to explain my method and colour choices.  I needed to discuss detail with one artist, another was lost on how to create exciting first washes. Individually I gave as much information as I could to each person attending. But there was one lady in particular who really is strongly in my mind right now. Esthe from South Africa, who had flown over for my course, was such a delight. With each of my new additions of colour or brushstrokes  she gave a wonderful "Wow" comment, encouraging me on  with my work and making me smile or laugh out loud.

There should be an Esthe in every art group.  Someone who loves life to the full and embraces every new day with passion and a thirst for something new.

How lucky I am to meet such incredible people.

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Monday 23 September 2013

Watercolour Challenge : Matching Colour to Subjects

Colour Matching Challenge
Bracelet, Apricot and Mint Leaf

Whenever I teach watercolour workshops I, without fail, will come across at least one painting that is fantastic but the colours selected for the composition have been way off from the subject. It often doesn't matter if you are deliberately aiming to paint something with a more unique result. But there are times when the exact colour choice can make a huge impression in the simplest of watercolours.

For example the right hue for florals can really contribute to a realistic result even if the style used to create the painting has been aimed at being loose.

I have a personal challenge each week of taking three simple subjects and taking time to match their colours perfectly. Just for fun. This improves my eye for colour selection in larger paintings and also is a great way to warm up in my studio each day. Its' an addictive game that takes a few seconds but often leads to even more exciting challenges.

We so foten get wrapped up in racing to complete paintings minus  allowing ourselves time to simply learn more about colour and pigment qualities.

So give yourself a coffee break and find three subjects that would be fun for this  challenge.

Have Fun!


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Sunday 22 September 2013

FEBRUARY WORKSHOPS 2014 : UK





" Kingfisher Blues"

SOLD

One day Watercolour Workshops in Hampshire, UK.

Bookings for my one day workshops have been flooding in whilst I have been away teaching my course at Dedham Hall this week.  Here are details of my 2014 UK February workshops. For full information of all 2014 sessions with places currently still available please contact me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com.



February 2014  18/19/20/21
18th  February Opening Doors


19th February  Inspirational Watercolours  £115
An injection of sheer enthusiasm creating watercolours covering many subjects, that burst with life and energy. Vibrant colour combinations and exciting techniques will be involved  in this memorable day to remain with you long after the session has ended.  

20th  February  Beating The Blues  £115
The return of this  favourite workshop! The title says it all. Beat the February Blues and create dynamic colourful watercolours. Suitable for artists looking for an injection of new enthusiasm in their work.

 21st February  Fur, Feathers and Florals .  £125 NEW
The subjects are varied but the goal is the same. To create fantastic watercolours with the emphasis on texture. A great start to a year ahead of painting exciting compositions that zing with life.


Solo Exhibition Montpelier Gallery October 2013

"Magical Catch"
£625

Montpelier Gallery
Cheltenham 
Jean Haines Solo Exhibition
Opens on Friday 4th October 2013

A stunning collection of vibrant watercolours will be on show at the Montpelier Gallery in Cheltenham from 4th October 2013. I will be at the gallery giving a talk on Friday afternoon and book signing. The preview will take place that evening and everyone is welcome.

Please contact the gallery directly for full details.

The above Kingfisher is part of my new collection and looks stunning. If you are interested in this or any other favourite subjects please contact Hope at the gallery. 


Dedham Hall Watercolour Course 2013




"Heaven Sent"
Sweet Pea 
Demonstration from my weeks' watercolour course at Dedham Hall 
September 2013

I have just returned from teaching a weeks course at Dedham Hall. I arrived there last weekend to be greeted by a large group of artists and the following days have been filled with exciting washes, fabulous subjects including hawthorn, florals, landscapes, portraits and animals. It has been a full on course but great fun at times too. I am always astounded by the enthuiasm and  energy on weeks like this from incredible people eager to paint from the early morning until late in the evening, never tiring of  creating and exploration into this stunning world of watercolour. Its' been brilliant.

This morning I am unpacking all my art equipment and  racing through emails , mentally making notes of who needs replies most urgently!

I am back online and look forward to sharing again on my blog. I hope you have missed me!


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Thursday 12 September 2013

2014 UK Workshop Update :Opening Doors Courses FULLY BOOKED

"Autumn Jewels"

UK WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOPS 2014
 Update
"Opening Doors" Workshops now  FULLY BOOKED

The dates for my 2014 workshops in UK were released to my email contact list this week.  The "Opening Doors" workshops especially created for artists who have not been to me before are already fully booked and the waiting list is now closed.  

There are some incredible sessions lined up next year for artists of all levels but please, contact me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com if you are interested in a workshop as interest is extremely high this year and the number of places still available are limited.

If you have not been to one of my workshops before but would love a place its' still not too late to book on an alternative  session!

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Wednesday 11 September 2013

Remembering this day 9/11



Last year I was in New York as part of my watercolour book signing tour.While we were there my husband and I  visited the Ground Zero Memorial Gardens. I wasn't sure how I would feel but I remember only too well living in Hong Kong at the time of the 9/11 attack. I think everyone will always remember where they were on that date and the shock of seeing the twin towers fall. As we walked around the memorial gardens we not only felt the same emotion but witnessed sadness etched on everyones faces. This is  a day that should not be forgotten.

I just want to quietly share my feelings and let my American friends know I am thinking of them today. And I know I am not alone across the world.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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Autumn Update

Hawthorn Berry

It is wonderful enjoying the last of summer scenery as Autumn makes its entrance. Acorns and hazelnuts are now everywhere in country lanes here in England and I cannot wait for my favourite subjects of hawthorn and rosehip berries to appear. This is such a great time of year for artists!

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Next week I will be teaching at Deham Hall.


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 Exhibitions

My next solo exhibition will open on 4th October at the Montpelier Gallery in Cheltenham. Full details will be released very soon.

The Wey Gallery in Godalming has a selection of my original watercolours. For full details please contact



Tuesday 10 September 2013

Dedham Hall 2013

Autumnal Jewels

Next week I will be teaching a weeks watercolour course at Dedham Hall. To all of the artists attending please bring your favourite watercolour shades and know I am really looking forwad to meeting you. Can I also warn you that the food at this art haven is  so fantastically good you may wish to consider not eating too much before you get there! I loved taking my first course there last year so cannot wait to return.





N.B Please note due to my book signing tour and new book commitments next year, I am afraid I will not be teaching at Dedham Hall in 2014 


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Workshop Update USA, UK, AUSTRALIA

 Autumn Treasures on my Easel

  Its' the time of year when my golds and reds come leaping off my palette as I aim to capture the beauty of Autumn. As a rehead its natural for me to love this time of year when all autumnal colours seem to tempt my eye as an artist. Here is an update on my international workshop news.


 2013 USA Autumn  Workshops New York, Texas and Mexico
Please note all workshops in USA have been fully booked for some time and the waiting lists are  closed.

2014 UK  Workshops
My PA Christine is now handing the many requests for my 2014 UK workshops. Please be patient as the demand for places this year has been record breaking, especially with overseas artists who wish to  book next year. If your name is not on my workshop email list  please contact me NOW on jeanhaines@hotmail.com

2014 Italy Workshop
This wonderful weeks course is fully booked and will celebrate the launch of my book "Atmospheric Watercolours" being launched in Italian.

2014 Australian Workshops
I am delighted to have been invited to several locations on Australia next year to take workshops. I will be in Frogs Hollow for the artists who missed my workshop this year due to my broken ankle. I will also be visiting other locations in Australia as part of a book signing tour.  If you belong to an Art Society and wish me to hold a workshop near you please contact me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com.  I am especially interested in visiting Sydney so please get in touch .

2015 USA Workshops
My book launch tour in 2015 has now been confirmed and I will be in new exciting locations in USA. I will release further information at a later date but all bookings will be made via the USA Art Societies hosting the workshops.


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Badgers : "80% Missing "

"80% Missing"
Badger Watercolour painted during the debatable badger cull in UK 2013

As artists, our hearts often become entwined with emotional issues regarding the subjects that we adore painting. I love painting wildlife and, as the facts surrounding the badger cull taking place in UK emerge, my own heart has continually sunk. Due to the seemingly heartless approach to wiping out 70% of badgers from each selected cull zone, with the British governments own admission that over 80% of these culled creatures will in fact be healthy.  Add to that the admission that no-one even knows what the badger population is in each area to begin with, prior to the cull. Apparently only a small percentage of badgers will be carrying the TB infection, which is transferred between cows and badgers hence the reason behind the cull. A government decision  that has angered wildlife lovers leaving scientists and animal organisations shaking their heads in disbelief.  Statistics  show that TB is not spiralling out of control as the press seem to love  mentioning. I have never been involved in politics, nor do I wish to become an activist but the details behind this slaughter have been unbearable to witness as an animal lover.

So I found myself trying to paint a badger over the last few weeks and I couldn't. Once the eyes started looking at me in each new painting my heart sank even further. I am dismayed by people in power ignoring all scientific research stating clearly that a cull will have no impact on Bovine TB. But as an artist I am further dismayed that gorgeous wildlife subjects will be eradicated on a whim to win votes and gain political status. There is no doubt the true motive for the cull is purely political.

What other  wildlife animals will we be losing next?

80% of British badgers in each cull zone will now be missing. Maybe in the future we will only be seeing certain wildlife via art or photography and that would be a very sad outcome of  mans' behaviour today.


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Tuesday 3 September 2013

Three Wise Owls


Owls at various stages of evolvement on my Easel

I am now firmly engrossed in writing my new book. I sleep thinking about each new chapter and, like  a child, I race excitedly to my studio each morning to work on the paintings that I left the day before. I discard ideas that, to me, are  too similar to anything I have ever painted or seen before. But I keep step by steps that I believe will be fascinaing, achievable and  interesting to follow. I want my next book to be so highly inspirational that this effect,  from writing it, is already brushing off on me.

I  feel as though I am a juggling three professions.  I wear my "Author" hat when I write. I wear my "Artist" hat when I work on gallery exhibitions, which I am doing today. And of course I wear my "Mentor" hat when I am organising or taking workshops. I rarely use the word "teacher" because the majority of artists coming to me are very talented in their own right and are mainly in search of inspiration. New artists coming to me want someone to guide them into this fantastic world of watercolour. A world I relish with  a strong passion.

My day has seen me responding to artists in Australia asking about my return there in 2014. I have been organising  the final details on my watercolour  tour in USA which starts this October.  And I have been inundated with requests for places on my 2014 UK workshops. So much so that I have added an extra course for artists who have never been on my sessions before. 

Would I change my life? Not in a million years! 

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2014 UK Workshop Update.

Information for my 2014 workshops in UK will be going out this Friday. There is still time to be added to my contact  list  if you email me on jeanhaines@hotmail.com  
Last year places filled very quickly, so please be quick when you recieve the details.


Monday 2 September 2013

Jean Haines Watercolour Workshops 2014 :UK

"Kingfisher Blues"
Sold

WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOPS 2014

I know everyone has been waiting for my 2014 watercolour workshop programme and I am thrilled to share the news that the details will be going out this week. Initially it will be sent to everyone on my workshop contact list. There are some fantastic sessions available including two day animal workshops and themed inspirational days.

Due to working on my new book, as well as taking workshops abroad, places next year will be limited in number.  So please book early when you recieve the workshop list to secure your place. I have special days  available for artists who have never been to me before, which means everyone will attending will be with me for the first time. For artists who love coming back time and time again there are some very exciting new sessons!

2014 is going to be a very wonderful workshop year.


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For artists who wish to  be on my workshop contact list please email me as soon a possible  on jeanhaines@hotmail.com