Paint Yourself Calm: Colourful, Creative Mindfulness Through Watercolour

by Jean Haines

Meditative, peaceful and calming, watercolour painting offers a sense of control and self-worth to everyone, with no judgement or goal beyond the joy of painting itself. This book shows you how to calm and enhance your outlook through the movement of brush on paper.

Master artist Jean Haines leads you on a journey through paint, showing you how to wipe away your worries with the soothing, gentle strokes of watercolour paint.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Crafts

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 8, 2016

Reviews

[Julie]

My go-to relaxing activity is baking, so, it is good to discover an alternative way to relax that doesn't involve eating what you create! However, I have some misgivings about my ability to relax through painting, as I attended a sip and paint event and it didn't go well. In fact, I experienced feelings of deep despair as we attempted to copy a painting with many details! I have avoided painting ever since.

Jean Haines offers us a different approach and I love color so much, that I think it could work. Haines' paintings have a vibrancy that make me want to try. I feel a sense of hope, as I read her words and gaze at her colorful paintings that have beautiful shades of color and a sort of whimsy when it comes to definition. Truly her gift with color is awesome! I can definitely see that creating something similar would inspire relaxation and imagination.

[aks]

This is beautiful book. The author is one of my favorite artists, yet for some reason I put off purchasing this title. I wish I had bought it sooner. Whether you are someone who has never touched a watercolor brush, someone who wants to paint but doesn't know what to do, or an artist comfortable with watercolor, I think you'll get something from this book. Haines' encouragement is very freeing, and the exercises are very enjoyable.

[Shipofools999]

Interesting idea of watercolor painting to meditate. Sadly her instructions do not turn out the way she says they does and I can see how this would end up very irritating. But there are nice color washes and exercises that I want to try and mimic.

It is not a book I would recommend.

[Michelle Cornish]

Highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about art therapy and painting with watercolours. Loved it!

[Esopion]

Amazing book that definitely brings relaxation to the reader.

[Jill]

beautiful watercolors and the photos are very, very nice. Such yummy colors. The exercises themselves are simple and aimed at beginners who might have never painted before, or haven't painted since childhood. Nice to flip through and read (a little new age-y feeling but not preachy).

I'm glad it was an inter library loan for me. I'm not an advanced wc painter but I have had practice in many other mediums and have dabbled in watercolor off an on for years. I just don't have enough patience most of the time for the medium so I use acrylic instead. This DID make me want to pull out my wc paints again.

If you're a new watercolor painter check out this book. It will inspire you. :)

[Evil Secret Ninja]

Check out my youtube channel where I review books
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg4e...

This was a very different type of watercolor book not so much about how to paint but just to paint. The relationship between color and feelings and using painting as a way to calm yourself and face challenges in life. I hope to enjoy making more watercolor painting just to make them and see how it affects my moods. There was a lot of emphasis on having a positive attitude a little too much.

[Jyv]

I was given this book as a gift. I had been struggling with watercolours disliking the result, and this book helped me simply to experiment. My paintings looked nothing like the illustrations but that wasn't the point. I felt there was too much emphasis on painting flowers for the exercises (I dislike painting flowers) but I eventually just did my own thing. Now it doesn't matter what my watercolours look like - it's the process that's important. And I hope to use it more often when I feel overwhelmed or emotional. A lovely book.

[Susan]

As the author says: "... there is still a notion held by some that painting is only for those who know how to paint. I truly hope that this book shows how anyone and everyone can paint, and by doing so find inner peace and calm." I found some of this calm just reading the book and looking at the beautiful illustrations. I am very excited now to go back through the book and try all the wonderful painting exercises suggested.

[Melita]

Interesting ideas but i found some of the thoughts to be too “forceful” and a bit delusional… in a way where you try to imagine it and bring it to your life. I think then you are not living, you are just daydreaming. I think a lot of the thoughts is correct, but it’s being too forced instead of just do it and really feel it and be real… instead of that, which is real, she is asking you to imagine it. Not sure how to put it.

[Zenab Al-khayat]

Amazing book ... since I just started painting in watercolor few months ago although I’m not an artist but I found it so joyful... it’s really fells me with positivity... so while reading this book I do agree with each and every sentence she’s wrote 🙏🏼so I advise all of you to read this book and paint yourself calm 💆🏻‍♀️

[Elna]

Some really beautiful pieces in here. The actual content is a mix of tutorials/lessons and "lessons" about how to approach painting. I'm not sure if it's because my skill level or because there needed to be clearer instructions, but I couldn't execute the lessons the way I wanted. Worth a revisit when I'm more practiced.

[The Suburban Eclectic]

Beautiful colors and interesting subjects are a match made in atmospheric art heaven. The style is encouraging but not heavily detailed. The tutorials and the art seem doable, but it's more complicated than it looks to achieve the same dreamy quality, thus more of a book that builds on feeling than instruction.

[Lisa Spencer]

Highly Recommend

Just reading this beautiful, colourful book has gone quite a way towards relaxing me. I really love colour - I am looking forward to working through Jean’s inspiring exercises and to setting aside some time to myself during a particularly stressful time in my life. Thank you Jean!

[Sylvia Pelekane]

Paint one's self calm

That is what I've adopted into my affirmations. As one that plays with watercolors, this book is taking me to the next level and I am grateful!
This is a great book for all levels. Please enjoy!

[Ruth]

This was a really comforting book. Gives all the permissions to just go with the flow - literally!

Abstract art isn't really my thing, but I enjoyed her take on just do it and let everything else go.

[Sonya]

Jean is a magical teacher -- just reading this book
Is a wonderful meditation

[Leigh]

Loved this!

[Amber Davis]

I love that she focuses on the process of painting itself and not "how to paint a..."

[John Teske]

Always the artwork is fabulous and inspirational by itself

talking of the colors helps, but I think more exercises would have helped more

[Rachael M]

Beautiful book on how to paint loose. Many examples!! It felt very uplifting- anyone can paint!

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading)]

Embracing your artistic joy, your poetic soul, your calming energy…..

[Carrie Cantalupo-Sharp]

i’ve learned some new techniques which was helpful. However, it was a bit too flowery text for me.

[Cynthia Hamil]

This book reminds you that everyone is able to paint and enjoy colors while in the painting process.

This goes into more of the therapeutic aspects of relaxing while painting. I wish I had read this before painting for years and taking it on as a competitive type juried watercolor show process.

This reminds you to relax and have fun and use watercolor as a way to escape stress.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the authors original watercolor paintings. She has a free flowing light handed style of watercolor which is beautifully fresh.

[Linda]

Nice thoughts about calming. Characteristics of different colors was interesting. The painting examples didn’t appeal to me.

[Donna Deal]

beautiful book!

“ Paint Yourself Calm” is visually beautiful with a beautiful message about creativity. Love her ideas & suggestions..and her ideas are inviting and simple. I look forward to doing & sharing this method.

[Reader]

Very inspiring--love the color in this book and the general message. Some quotes:

"...don't part with any of your paper until it is covered with colour."

"I am sincerely hoping that you will fall in love with color."

"You may find at times that working with obvious shades, such as blue or violet to relax, does not work. This is when you can try covering a piece of paper with warm golden colour as an alternative."

"To be a landscape artist there is a saying that you need to paint at least one sky a day."

[Andrea Baron]

Great read for reconnecting with the beauty of water and pigment. Author gives permission to paint for yourself, for relaxation, for enjoyment...not just to create something to frame or sell.

[Terri]

I like the way she paints, but the book is not for me. The author is focusing on how to make painting an existential experience instead of the art of painting itself.

[Linda Spaulding]

Beautiful examples easy to follow is still a favorite go to for art techniques