Jean Haines Paint Yourself Calm

A member of the Society for Women Artists (SWA), international watercolourist Jean Haines is well-known for her love of her chosen medium. Having lived and travelled in many countries, this popular artist has had the opportunity to develop her skills whilst under the influence of masters from many countries, including Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She studied brush control while living in China and this had the greatest impact on her style. Later, when working with artists from India and Pakistan, she became inspired by the vibrant colours they used. The combination of East meets West in Jeans style is to be enjoyed. The magical free flow of water and colour straight on to a blank working surface (with no initial drawing) creates amazing results, often leaving her audience breathless with delight. Her paintings can be found in homes all over the world and in 2009 she won the Anthony J Lester Award during the SWA Annual Exhibition, where her work was likened to Joseph Crawhalls of the famous Glasgow Boys group of artists. She regularly writes for art magazines and exhibits in a number of galleries. Her hugely successful workshops are held regularly in the UK, and in 2014 she visited Australia for a Book Signing and Workshop Tour. In 2015 she will be visiting California, New York and St Louis in the USA to hold workshops and launch her new book 'Jean Haines' Watercolour World'. Jean lives in Crookham Village, Hampshire.

Love to Make

September 2016

This is a really beautiful book about learning to paint, but with a real difference. Jean takes you on her own personal journey, revealing how her career has brought her to a magical realisation: that painting is therapeutic and calming for the soul. This book shows you how you can calm and enhance your outlook thorugh the movement of a brush. Jean leads you page-by-page on a journey through paint, showing you how to wip away your worries with the soothing gentle strokes of watercolour paint. She says 'Painting is something that you can do at any stage in your life... and no painting experience is necessary

Library Journal

Longtime watercolor art instructor and painting how-to author Haines (Jean Haines’ World of Watercolour) tries something a bit different in her latest title. Starting from the premise that everyone can paint, Haines frees readers of the goals and expectations of end results, and encourages simply enjoyment of painting. Open-ended, detailed exercises guide readers through experimenting with paint to gain a sense of control; to relieve stress; to escape; or to be in a better mood. The emotional and psychological properties of color are discussed as are obstacles to creativity and happiness.

VERDICT Open-minded readers of all ages and skill levels can benefit from the unique blend of self-care and expression offered here.

Kreative Review

Anyone can escape a stressful life and find inner peace, simply by playing with colors.
These words of introduction by the artist Jean Haines describe aptly the content of her latest book. This time it is not the teachings of her fascinating watercolour technique in the foreground, but the process of painting itself. Many people believe they cannot meet the high demands of painting because they consider themselves untalented. But Jean Haines believes we do not paint to please others, but we should paint to relieve stress and find peace. In addition to her expressive watercolors we find meditative texts that reflect the personal attitude of the artist to the creative process in aptly. It is therefore worth the thorough reading before the first drawing exercises.
The lessons build progressively on each other. We learn the ink flow to control and observe the interaction of two colors. Each chapter impressed by one hand, color-rich, on the other hand also by delicate screens. The accompanying texts are easy to understand and fun and with the heart and soul of the painter incorporated.
Now the most impressive chapters of the book follow: The calming effect of nature. Each section covers a different color. From experience we know that red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet evoke certain moods in us. Jean Haines explains the effect of each color on the viewer. It shows step by step - instructions the watercolors of large-sized flowers, delicate grasses, feathery painted plants and the creation of sky blue. With this acquired knowledge we can apply this to a delicate landscape.
In the final pages, the artist note summarizes the positive effect of painting on the inner peace of mind.

Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of relaxing learning is generally known and is practiced in many rehabilitation facilities. Jean Haines shows us that every person can find by simple drawing exercises an oasis of calm, allay fears and worries can forget. Without having the coercive attend a painting class, succeed with simple exercises in a very short time stunning images. For advanced watercolor artist, this book is recommended as we can free ourselves from the pressure of expectations of a perfect view through the learning of a loose brushwork.
Originally publishing in german: http://kreativreview.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/paint-yourself-calm-von-jean-haines.html