Paint Yourself Calm: Colourful, Creative Mindfulness Through Watercolour

If you like the look of loose watercolor paintings but find it hard to loosen up or fearful to even start painting Jean Haines is for you. If you are in need of finding a way to meditate but cannot just "sit" this is also the book. "Paint Yourself Calm" looks in many ways like her other books--full of juicy flowing colors. But rather than an instructional book it is more about how to interact with the act of painting. She does give some basic exercises but they are designed to get you into the act of experimenting and simple enjoyment rather than creating a finished product. In some ways it acts as a self help book. I am not a professional painter. In fact I just started. But I keep at it because it does help me use a very different part of the brain and let go of my stressful world for awhile. Jean gives workplace professional people like me "permission" to just play with watercolor and let go of performance. Following her direction and thinking (I found I actually needed to sit and read awhile to get the full benefit of the book) one is able to let go of the fear of the blank page and get into a relaxing world for awhile--kind of a contemplative place for those of us that don't know how to sit still for long. And in doing it I find I am quickly developing my own style and actually painting better--stressing less over painting and in my life in general.

I was searching for a book to help me learn watercolor painting - not a "how-to-paint" book with directions so my painting looks like the instructors painting, but how watercolor behaves on paper, how the pigment behaves with water itself, and what watercolor painting can be for me. Jean's gentle guidance and meditative text was exactly what I was looking for and needed; self-expression is encouraged using Jean's technique. I have several instruction books but this is the one that stays on my work table for easy reference and to just look at the gorgeous cover.

“ 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.

It is a excellent book on using watercolor in a meditative way. A good way to stop the frantic pace of today's life and be present in the moment, enjoying color. If you are looking for watercolor instruction for painting pictures, Jean Haines' book The World of Watercolor is wonderful.

Great resource for beginning painting a therapeutic method for calmness. Anyone can paint. No experience is necessary.

this author is trying to teach something that does not come across to me. choice of words is everything when teaching and we do not click. however, kees van aalst words and approach meet my thinking style. he is more didactic in description and reduces things to their lowest common denominator. both artists have wonderful styles and enjoyable work. enough said.

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!

I have 2 of her books and love them! Very inspiring and helpful. I go back to them for reference many times.

Inspiring book!! Nice reading, exercises to do by yourself. What Jean Haines explains really touches your heart and relaxes your soul. In one word: excellent!!

Para los días de mucho estrés en el estudio pienso que es un buen libro de ejecicios. Aunque me gustan más otros libros de Haines, per eso le puse 4 estrellas.

Ok

I loved this book so much, I gave it away and bought myself another one. This is not an instructional book, if that's what you want look, somewhere else. I have painted for a couple of years and my painting was structured and had to finish to a high standard. Paint Yourself Calm gave me permission to not produce, but to lose myself in colours and wash, to not have to paint anything in particular, but to rest in paint, colour and flow. It is a meditative approach to painting with watercolours and belongs in anyone's home library if they want to let go and enjoy having 'play dates' with themselves and find a restful approach to painting.

A book about color theory and very basic exercise on watercolor