Table of Contents

Author’s welcome
The starfish story
Why paint ourselves positive?
Making changes
Materials: positively simple
Out of the darkness
The power of colour
Being positive
The power of you
Building confidence
Seasonal awareness
Getting to the point
Reaching goals
Life plans
The value of a positive wish list
Positive creative energy
As light as a feather
Let’s do it all again
Glossary
Index

About the Author

Prize-winning and inspirational watercolourist Jean Haines is well-known for her love of her chosen medium and the ability to instil enthusiasm and motivation in all around her. Having lived and travelled in many countries, this popular international artist and teacher has developed her skills under the influence of masters from many countries, including Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The magical free flow of water and colour straight on to a blank working surface creates amazing results, often leaving her sell-out audiences breathless with delight.
Jean runs hugely popular international watercolour workshops for artists from around the globe, and her highly sought-after paintings can similarly be found in homes all over the world. Jean is a member of the SWA, Society for Women Artists, and has won numerous awards for her work, including the Anthony J Lester Award during the SWA Annual Exhibition, and the SAA Professional Artist of the Year, Experimental and Abstract Award. She regularly writes for art magazines and exhibits in a number of galleries.

Reviews

I received a free review copy of this book and I have found it to be everything I hoped it would be. The author's premise is that by painting we can help ourselves feel more positive about ourselves. This book, via text and illustrations, shows you how to take those first steps towards a more positive you. It contains lots of exercises but not of the kind 'this is how to paint a tree.' Rather of the kind 'allow the red paint to flow over the page and watch the magic that happens.' This book is nothing short of inspirational, and the text is incredibly uplifting and achievable. 
*Customer review*

If you already love Jean’s work, this is another pearl of wisdom to treasure. If you’re new to it, it’s no bad place to start.
*Artbookreview.net*

Paint Yourself Positive is full of beautiful images, quotes and exercises designed to uplift and enrich you. Jean also includes one of my favourite stories, The Starfish Story, which is inspiration in itself. As well as tips and techniques, every page sings with colour and positive encouragement, from her personal reflections through to each activity.  Some of the content includes: Why paint ourselves positive? Making changes, The power of colour, Being positive, The power of you, Building confidence, Reaching goals, Life plans, The value of a positive wish list, Positive creative energy and much more. Each watercolour example is fluid and surrounded with the key steps, whether you are an experienced artist or have never painted before, this book will encourage you to experiment. This is a glorious book and as Jean says. “Painting doesn’t have to be serious, it can be joyful, bringing with it a fabulous sense of positive energy’  Highly Recommended! 
*My Creative Notebook*

To paraphrase our feature on p69, we all have a bit of a problem when it comes to slowing down. Jean Haines’ positivity-preaching opus couldn’t come at a better time then – it outlines the invigorating physical and mental effects watercolour painting has had on her, and makes clear her belief that it could help a whole range of other people, too.
*Papercrafter*

Crafts and mindfulness go hand in hand, providing a welcome distraction from the stresses of modern life. Author Jean Haines demonstrates how to relax, have fun and unleash your creativity by playing with colour. Even if you think you can't paint, you'll be creating beautiful artwork in no time.
*Crafts Beautiful - April 2019*

Best-selling author, Jean Haines shows us how to energise our work, and ourselves in her new book, Paint Yourself Positive. Jean believes that painting can have life-enhancing effects and here she shows us how spending time creating pictures of subjects you find pleasing, can increase your self-confidence and boost your energy levels. The book is suitable for complete beginners as well as artists with some experience.  
*Leisure Painter, June 2019*

If you're a fan of mindfulness, you've probably pre-ordered this but even if you haven't you might want to consider it, because this is as good as it gets when it comes to expressing your thoughts and mood in a painting. The results are as stunning as you'd expect from Jean. The images reproduced are beautiful and, although they come straight from the imagination, are firmly rooted in reality. Each subject-flowers, fish, fruit, even buildings-is recognisable, but it is also an interpretation where a state of mind has been added that says more about it than straightforward representation. It's a kind of abstraction, but also more than that and really rather remarkable. 
*The Artist*

This newest book from internationally renowned author and artist Jean Haines takes the reader on a journey through painting. It focuses on how to use painting to enhance and improve your life. Whether you are a total novice or already a regular painter, Haines's guiding hand will show you new and wonderful ways to use a little watercolour and a few brushes to distract you from the stresses of modern life and improve your outlook on life. It won't take long once you start painting for you to find a new creative outlook in your work that increase your self-confidence and leaves you feeling energized. This beautiful book is a perfect gift for a friend, yourself or anyone looking for a rewarding and life-improving hobby.
*Cygnus Review*