NEW POSTCARDS: Looking Out & The Straw Hat
30 September 2024
THE STRAW HAT by Matthew Haydn Jeanes
29 September 2024
I’m calling this my COVID painting as I was stuck home for a week and after initially feeling awful I needed to do something to occupy my quarantine. I liked this photograph by Adam Brown (at Orlebar Brown) and thought it would make a very nice painting. So this is a folio piece called STRAW HAT by Matthew Haydn Jeanes.
Watercolour on paper.
NEW POSTCARDS- The MENU and JULIE
17 August 2024
THE MENU by Matthew Haydn Jeanes
13 August 2024
It’s interesting where the inspiration for a painting comes from, I firmly believe the subject finds YOU not the other way round. Hence, may I introduce my new piece. THE MENU by Matthew Haydn Jeanes – watercolour on paper. August 2024. I feel this is not really a PORTRAIT but a MOMENT.. the light (back lit, the reflection of the garden outside, the front light from the pub, the mixed shadows on his face), the contemplation, the drink. Taking that all important moment to decide. Interestingly, it was far more complicated than some of my most recent pieces.
I hope you like it
MY LITTLE PONY and ME!
8 August 2024
MY LITTLE PONY. This was my first job in 1984! I went for the job at a company called W.F.M in Bath, They had a big ‘toy’ client called HASBRO and were looking for an artist to illustrate this massive brand. I applied but as I was fresh out of college they decided to give the job to a more experienced artist called Neil and gave me a job a month later as an illustration junior.
The day I started they put me in a small studio on a drawing board next to Neil’s desk, The art boss set me up and looking at my board and Neils desk said ” Don’t worry, you’ll have HIS desk by this afternoon”, I then had to work alongside the (seething) guy I was going to replace at the end of the day. Apparently, Neil had used someone else’s work to get the job and wasn’t up to the task so, he was sacked and I took his place. I’ve NEVER had such an uncomfortable day before or since. What a baptism of fire!
I was a success painting the brand and had to meticulously colour match and study every new Pony months before it was released. It fine tuned my colour mixing skills, though I did come home as high as a kite as most pony’s were highly PERFUMED and SCENTED.. as my desk was adorned with every product..there was no escape!
My training on this innocuous little horse set me up for other brands to follow such as CARE BEARS, POSTMAN PAT, RAINBOW BRITE, JEM, POLLY POCKET, FIREMAN SAM etc, etc.. this success leading me to FOREVER FRINDS (U.K Mega Brand) as the original artists 2nd (and the only other person allowed to illustrate it at that time) at BROWNSWORD then brand leader at HALLMARK. I then moved onto WINNIE THE POOH at Disney (for ATHENA/CARTEL).. THE MUPPETS and Henson’s and on and on, the rest as they say.. is HISTORY.
So.. I owe and awful lot to this colourful little pony.
DOODLEFEST at The Holburne Museum
8 August 2024
I’ve been very fortunate to be included by Louise and Anna in many of the DOODLEFEST events at The HOLBURNE MUSEUM this summer. All the art has been to celebrate their Mr DOODLE exhibit and I have been working on various events such as Male mental health, Summer schools and the big Doodlefest event itself. All a great success and all great fun.
ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS Magazine- September 2024
1 August 2024
My latest article is out today in the September edition of Artists & Illustrators magazine featuring’Summer Rain’.
BRUGES CRUISE Postcard
5 July 2024
My new publicity for BRUGES CRUISE
BRUGES CRUISE by Matthew Haydn Jeanes
30 June 2024
My new painting, BRUGES CRUISE by Matthew Haydn Jeanes- 2024. Watercolour on paper.
On holiday last year, we took a dusk tour of the canals of BRUGES, the still water and the dark reflections along with the boat, put away for the night, seemed very calming and a nice subject for a painting.
I actually started this piece back in March, but not having painted this year, I put it to one side. Then having started painting again with SUMMER RAIN and THE ARTISTS OF WIMBORNE (which were tough challenges) I felt ‘practiced’ enough to try again. It was a MASSIVE challenge, It’s actually looser in reality than it looks here, it’s a bit smaller than A2.
THE DARK OF THE MINE
19 June 2024
Sometimes when, as a primary school teacher, we are called to demonstrate an idea and a particular medium (Oil Pastels) and the finished piece (that in this case, took just 5 minutes), can surprise you. I did this piece as an example for my year 5’s for their topic of TRADE AND INDUSTRY (Life down the mines in the U.K). The students all watched and listened intently and went on to produce some great work.. while I was left with this piece.. that I was liked.
