Plums after Jean Haines 2012 - Final

Plums after Jean Haines 2012 - Final, a photo by linfrye on Flickr.

9" x 12" Watercolor
Arches 140#CP


With the approach of Hurricane Sandy 24 hours away, the last day of Jean's workshop lost several participants as folks made their way home before the storm. In order to accommodate all the requests Jean received and in order to maximize the time remaining, Jean worked on a few more demons, and then launched into her prepared lesson to move us from 'free flowing practice' to work that was a bit more 'story telling.'

I was given permission earlier this year to paint from Rupa's fabulous plums www.flickr.com/photos/63848165@N08/5976774647/ and I had her photo reference with me. Though I painted these before in a more traditional way:
www.flickr.com/photos/linfrye/5993625708/ I wanted to see what they might look like in a looser style. (Thank you once more, Rupa!!!)

Jean was kind enough to demonstrate how she would approach this image, and for the rest of the workshop, I practiced. Each of my practice pieces came closer to the 'story' I wanted to tell... but this one, done a few days after the workshop, seems a bit closer to the combination of Jean's looseness and a bit more of my own style.

The workshop ended with the promise of Jean's return to New York next October, and then everyone scrambling to homes, last minute planes and trains, all to get out of harm's way.

It was an incredible workshop -- and I thank Jean for all her sharing of skills, enthusiasm, encouragement and joy!!!!

Can't wait to do it again next year! (without hurricanes, of course!)