Atmospheric Watercolors: What Can Be Seen by the Unseen
There’s something to be said for subtlety, whether it comes to a hint of garlic in a delicious Italian dish, a trace of perfume lightly dashed on one’s neck, or the suggestion from a flirtatious smile that leaves you wondering, “Did he/she just smile at me?” Art can have the same effect and–like any great novel–should leave you wanting more. Jean Haines has applied this subtle playfulness to watercolor painting.
Watercolor Painting: Capturing the Essence by Jean Haines
Have you ever listened to someone telling you a story and you have found your mind drifting because the narrative was taking too long or you were becoming bored? It really can be an embarrassing situation when all you want to do is walk away and find something or someone far more interesting. Isn’t that exactly what we do when we visit as art exhibition? It isn’t quite so awkward as you can easily walk past the art that doesn’t appeal to you and enjoy the paintings that do.
When we visit a gallery, we will all be attracted to very different pieces. I wouldn’t expect an artist who enjoys paintings full of detail, for example, to be interested in my work but, strangely enough, that has happened. I have many art friends who paint beautiful, exquisitely detailed masterpieces, but they’re as fascinated by what I leave out of my work as by what I put in, if not more so!
When I paint I’m telling a story but with as few words as possible.
I’m aiming to capture the essence of my subjects alone. I want to gain a feeling of excitement and life in my results by not putting every detail in, and for everyone looking at my finished paintings to enjoy filling in the missing sections for themselves. I want to avoid being like the most boring of story tellers; I want viewers of my work to come back for more, not walk away uninterested. So how do I do this?
First, I fall in love with my subject and try to paint it in a simplified way, using color to set the atmosphere and directional brushstrokes where appropriate to give a sense of movement. ~Jean Haines
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