My lovely brother-in-law Colin treated me to a lovely Jean Haines watercolour book: Jean Haines’ Atmospheric Watercolours. This is my version of the first exercise in the book. The purpose of the exercise was to practice holding the paint brush correctly (not to create a finished piece of work). I found this exercise very useful and now realize that I’ve been holding my brush all wrong!
This was my second attempt at this exercise – the first was a complete dogs dinner! I also used slightly different colours to the ones mentioned in the book. The paper I used was A5 Khadi paper.
This is a very beautiful book and once I open it I find I can’t put it down…. ! I love Jean Haines’ loose way of painting with watercolours. I will share more of my interpretations of the exercises in this book over the coming weeks as I progress through the book.
Thank you for the link to Jean Haines’ book…I must find out how I’m holding my brush.
Thank you Sharon – it’s a stunning book and I’m really looking forward to trying the rest of the exercises….
I’ve been very inspired by Jean’s work as well. I have her beautiful book, World of Watercolour. I will have to look for this one as well! Thank you, Evelyn! 🙂
Thank you Patty Anne – Jean’s work is stunning and inspiring…. !
Thank you for the link. I definitely want to try it out 😀
Thank you Keoria….
That would be a good book to have-nice brother-in-law.
Thank you Sandy – very good book and very nice brother-in-law…. !
I love the textures. (K)
Thank you Kerfe….
I have this book and remember doing that same exercise a year or so ago. I remember struggling with it, but learning much!!! You did great!
Thank you Jodi – I’m pleased with how this turned out….
It’s a pretty good good attempt Evelyn, i like the bridge a lot!!!!!!
Thank you so much Jean – I’m so glad you liked it…. !
This is good….
BUT *Groan* I’m holding my brush wrong? I bet you shouldn’t hold it like a pencil…
I actually found it easier to paint holding the brush the way Jean recommended and no, it wasn’t how you hold a pencil…. !
I LOVE this, Evelyn!
Thank you Lisa – I enjoyed doing this and I’m pleased with how it turned out…. !
I must check out that book! Love your colour play and Khadi paper is one of a kind!
Thank you Zsuzsa – it’s a superb book and this was my first time trying out khadi paper. I really like khadi paper for watercolour…
Gorgeouos, Evelyn! I love your painting. What a lovely present to receive – always nice to get new books! Sorry I haven’t been around much lately but any spare time has been spent knitting socks! A lot of my internet stuff has been neglected I’m afraid…
Shoshi
Thank you Shoshi – it is hard keeping up with online stuff sometimes…. !
Ooops – so sorry – meant to say, many thanks for visiting, and I’m glad you liked my latest efforts. I’m hoping to get a bit more time to spend up there in between the sock knitting! The kittens keep us busy too.
Shoshi
You’re welcome Shoshi, I enjoy visiting your blog and seeing what you’re up to…. !
gorgeous!! those washes and colors, the luminosity is wonderful E!! Jean Haines is so cool 🙂 khadi paper is fun, and you left lots of white too, brilliant. ps Twinrocker feather deckled – might be a paper you would Love to try. its ultra deckled edges are divine. spendy….. but 1-2 as a treat, Christmas … you know! LOL cheers, debi
Thank you Debi – I’ll definitely try the Twinrocker paper, treat myself…. !
yes…. and say Merry Christmas to me! LOL
I look forward to seeing more – it seems that the brush is more upright in this one, was that part of what you needed to do?
Instead of holding the brush like a pencil, you hold it midway along the handle and sometimes right at the end. It’s surprising what a difference it makes – you get much lighter brush strokes. So, I guess the brush is more upright but sometimes you’re using the tip of the bristles to paint with and sometimes using the side, to get different brush marks….
And it sounds like it’s looser that way – you’d get more variation, though it might feel harder to control.
It takes a little getting used to, but quite easy to do and just takes practice. It does help to create a looser style of painting….