I was walking in my neighborhood today, and took a picture of an old house, thinking it might be a good reference for painting. I told my husband how you also find beauty in about anything when you're looking for a subject to paint. 😄
I respect your integrity. A lesser RUclipsr would just co-opt Fidelia Bridges's pioneering work as their own idea, and she'd slip deeper into history. I've seen RUclips pianists describe Barry Harris's ideas more or less word for word, and never mention him at all.
This is my favorite video. 1. Roadside weeds. I have always loved them, so it's good to see someone else does as well. 2. Fidelia Bridges. I love being introduced to good artists I've never heard of. 3. Botanical against realistic background. Great idea. 4. Larger format painting. I've always wanted to see Mr Gurney work larger.
This may be my favorite painting that you have done. I love the concept of the out of focus background and the botanical in front. It is much more interesting than a botanical on a white background. Thank you.
The 19th century artist Marianne North often followed the same procedure, i.e. painting a botanical against a realistic outdoor background. It is indeed often more interesting than a plain background.
Even if I never pick up a paintbrush, I still feel inspired, having watched and listened and having sat in the meadow with you, listening to crickets. Thank you for the experience.
I wonder if it is even possible, in our modern society, to raise a gentleman as courteous, even-tempered, and refined as yourself. You seem to embody the 'old-world' values of honour, integrity, humility, temperance, respect, and perseverance - principles that have become all but swear words, in this brash, hedonistic, and self-centred world we inhabit today. I stumbled upon your chanel to learn a bit about gouache, because I bought some for my two little boys for Christmas and know nothing about the medium, but I have been hooked, not only by your amazing talent, but even more so, for the quality of your character. Thank you for the excellent work you produce.
Thank you for the interweaving of the stories of Fidelia Bridges, Ruskin, plein aire, botanical painting and casein. Beautifully filmed as well, with expressive music. Your painting of nature is beautiful.
Oh my goodness, this was a beautiful interlude to my morning! I loved the subject matter, only to me, milkweed is not a weed but a beautiful source of sustenance for our monarch butterflies and bees! I even have a perfume created of milkweed blossoms by Sandy Maine! This painting is simply breathtaking! Thank you for sharing!
I totally agree, I kind of called it a "weed" in a tongue-in-cheek way, when we all know it's a valuable wildflower, especially for monarchs. No one planted these, they just sprung up, and I made sure to spread the far-floating seeds to other fields.
What I find even more valuable than the techniques you share in your videos is the way you help me to think differently about a subject and the ways it can be approached. This video is a perfect example. Thank you for your videos, substacks, and book resources. They always help so much
The whole process is so poetic, I am afraid to paint live ( never try before, always paint from photo reference), your demonstration inspired me to try painting live- Thank you!❤
hey james! i left you a message on instagram, but i'll leave this here as well. about a month ago my grandmother passed, and shortly before she did i was teaching her watercolor. i showed her some of your videos and she loved the way you showed your process and made it easier for her to understand how to paint. those were her last days, and i wanted to thank you for being such an awesome teacher for both old and new artists.
@@JamesGurney she was. she had spent a lot of time knitting and dying her own yarn. she came to me earlier in 2023 asking for some tips on watercolor supplies, and when i saw her in December i was intending to teach her. she loved seeing your plane painting video and was amazed at how quickly you turned a pallet of colors into amazing pictures. thank you for responding James. i will continue admiring your work and learning from you, and show others i teach your videos.
Mr gurney has some of the best art tutorials on line. Although I dont generally use the same mediums , I find there's always something interesting and informative. Keep them comming.
Thank you for adding poetic thoughtfulness to your painting videos. Absolutely beautiful and appropriate music, too. Do you feel a close connection to those artists who preceded you when you paint? Bravo all around, James. Thank you.
Wow! This was fascinating. I'd never have thought of creating an isolation background like that. Certainly takes some extra planning, but I can definitely see how it would help in busy environments with all kinds of foliage everywhere. Thanks for sharing this and thank you for the history on Fidelia Bridges, too!
Beautiful I love this technique! And how cool is that the way you thought to also paint a larger canvas and use it as a real life backdrop. Genius! Thank you for sharing your tips so generously. 😊
When you drop everything because the legend himself drops a vid. Hudson isn't too far from here, might have to head out there to paint once the weather warms up. Thank you for this, much apresh.
The result of this technique is truly beautiful and realistic. Thank you , James, for this demo, and your wonderful, educational, commentary. I'm always struck by your poetic descriptions relating to painting. You are gifted in so many ways.
You're smart to take your German shepherd with you when in the field. The presence of any dog deters crime... but the GSD improves your odds even more. I like to do plein air too...I have a German shepherd who always goes with me. Nice video too. I like the background work. 🎉
I love your videos and all the resources you put out there! Acrylic artist here, All the principles and advice and steps you give help me very much. It also inspires me to try new approaches and to get out there and paint in the first place. Thank you! ❤
Thank you and so much more. Your bit of the historical background fills things in so much more. Never knew to do a set up like that before. I shall be trying that. thank you again!
I will need to go back to the field where I painted milkweed flowers. They should be pods by now if the farmer hasn't mowed. Thanks for the inspiration. I have made 4 Gurney palettes so far 😊. I can't wait to retire so I can go painting every day!!!
What an awesome and helpful technique! I was immediately fascinated by Fidelia Bridges and went to read about her. Apparently one of her biographers wrote that she "combined the temper of romanticism with the technique of a scientist," and I think that very much applies to your work too. Thanks for all that you do.
These videos are just so great I’m so glad I found your channel. I always loved dinotopia and it’s so cool that those beautiful memories of reading those books is in a way answered by this channel later in my life. I always look forward to your videos because they capture that feeling I had when I was a kid too. Thank you so much for everything James!
It’s absolutely amazing to watch you paint! I really appreciate how you explain your thought process throughout the work about why you are doing certain things and also give us context about other artists in history. You always have a perfect blend of design insight and technical explanations. I’m so glad you have this channel!
Hello Gurney, thank you for another interesting video. I hope I will have a good mood and enough time to draw outside when it will get warmer. Your videos always encourage me to do it!
Thank you so much for this Video - thats exactly the method / gear / idea I was looking for and didnt come up with myself 😉 because I love painting and drawing plants, and thats a way a) create an interesting picture and b) not to harm the plant you paint!
Very cool idea! The FLIP panel looks like a photoshop layer with a gaussian blur applied. It makes me wonder how Fidelia would use Photoshop if she were alive today.
I will have to watch again all I could think about was the ticks and chiggers in my area. I would have to be loaded with big spray to venture out there. 😉
What an absolutely engrossing video! Such wonderful work on your part, and I loved learning about Fidelia Bridges. I'm eager to research more about her. Thank you so much for sharing this. Also, I was pleased to see someone working in casein. I am a watercolorist, but several years ago I bought a set of casein colors thinking to try using them, but as way leads on to way, as the poet, said, I have never gotten around to opening the boxes yet. Now I am wondering if they are still good. Can you shed any light on how long the paints are good for in unopened tubes? Because of circumstances, I can't get back to my studio until the middle of next week.
I have a technique I always struggle with: light rays, or similar. Like fog or mist. That transparent light, diffused over the scene; blurring the immediate background around it. A spotlight in a dark workshop. You can still see the tools, behind the sunray/lamplight, in the dark. But only dimly. Maybe that's something for a video?
Looking far down the road, if one had to clean the varnish off a Casein painting at some point would it be able to deal with that process. Oils is well hardened. Some people spray over gouache, but I assume that can't be cleaned. Maybe Casein could be though...
A novel way to work, looks great. Any issues with ticks as your walking through those tall grasses? I live in upstate NY and really have an issue with them.
Imagine driving by a random guy painting weeds on the side of the road, thinking he must be bored and not knowing you just missed the opportunity to pick the brain of a modern master and watch a painting come alive
I would like to hear your thoughts on brush use. Not mark making... Whatever one has to do to get the effect one wants is what it takes, but a lot of artist when doing something no more complicated than what one would do when painting a board on a house, seem to use brushes very carelessly with no consideration of how a brush works to pick up and apply a level finish. Mashing the brushes sideways into the surface in a way that would not be tolerated by a careful craftsman. Some very cheap brushes do make one apply paint in odd ways due to poor materials and workmanship, and yet I too often see skilled painters use a brush like a potato masher when there is no apparent need to do so.
11:16 "The joy of art is that it allows us to see the world vicariously through the temperaments of other human beings" - ill remember that.
I was walking in my neighborhood today, and took a picture of an old house, thinking it might be a good reference for painting. I told my husband how you also find beauty in about anything when you're looking for a subject to paint. 😄
Love that! I especially feel that way after sketching, when my receptivity is heightened.
I respect your integrity. A lesser RUclipsr would just co-opt Fidelia Bridges's pioneering work as their own idea, and she'd slip deeper into history. I've seen RUclips pianists describe Barry Harris's ideas more or less word for word, and never mention him at all.
A great teacher is forever an eager student.
This is my favorite video.
1. Roadside weeds. I have always loved them, so it's good to see someone else does as well.
2. Fidelia Bridges. I love being introduced to good artists I've never heard of.
3. Botanical against realistic background. Great idea.
4. Larger format painting. I've always wanted to see Mr Gurney work larger.
This may be my favorite painting that you have done. I love the concept of the out of focus background and the botanical in front. It is much more interesting than a botanical on a white background. Thank you.
The 19th century artist Marianne North often followed the same procedure, i.e. painting a botanical against a realistic outdoor background. It is indeed often more interesting than a plain background.
Mr. Gurney thank you, I've never seen another artist like you. You're a very good teacher.
Even if I never pick up a paintbrush, I still feel inspired, having watched and listened and having sat in the meadow with you, listening to crickets. Thank you for the experience.
I wonder if it is even possible, in our modern society, to raise a gentleman as courteous, even-tempered, and refined as yourself. You seem to embody the 'old-world' values of honour, integrity, humility, temperance, respect, and perseverance - principles that have become all but swear words, in this brash, hedonistic, and self-centred world we inhabit today.
I stumbled upon your chanel to learn a bit about gouache, because I bought some for my two little boys for Christmas and know nothing about the medium, but I have been hooked, not only by your amazing talent, but even more so, for the quality of your character.
Thank you for the excellent work you produce.
The perfect combination of storytelling and painting demonstration. I always find you so inspirational. Thank you!
Thank you for the interweaving of the stories of Fidelia Bridges, Ruskin, plein aire, botanical painting and casein. Beautifully filmed as well, with expressive music. Your painting of nature is beautiful.
Oh my goodness, this was a beautiful interlude to my morning! I loved the subject matter, only to me, milkweed is not a weed but a beautiful source of sustenance for our monarch butterflies and bees! I even have a perfume created of milkweed blossoms by Sandy Maine! This painting is simply breathtaking! Thank you for sharing!
I totally agree, I kind of called it a "weed" in a tongue-in-cheek way, when we all know it's a valuable wildflower, especially for monarchs. No one planted these, they just sprung up, and I made sure to spread the far-floating seeds to other fields.
The production value and the educational value of your videos is enormous ❤
What I find even more valuable than the techniques you share in your videos is the way you help me to think differently about a subject and the ways it can be approached. This video is a perfect example. Thank you for your videos, substacks, and book resources. They always help so much
I appreciate that!
The whole process is so poetic, I am afraid to paint live ( never try before, always paint from photo reference), your demonstration inspired me to try painting live- Thank you!❤
hey james! i left you a message on instagram, but i'll leave this here as well.
about a month ago my grandmother passed, and shortly before she did i was teaching her watercolor. i showed her some of your videos and she loved the way you showed your process and made it easier for her to understand how to paint. those were her last days, and i wanted to thank you for being such an awesome teacher for both old and new artists.
Wow, sorry for your loss. She sounds like a brave and creative and amazing lady, staying creative into her last days.
@@JamesGurney she was. she had spent a lot of time knitting and dying her own yarn. she came to me earlier in 2023 asking for some tips on watercolor supplies, and when i saw her in December i was intending to teach her. she loved seeing your plane painting video and was amazed at how quickly you turned a pallet of colors into amazing pictures.
thank you for responding James. i will continue admiring your work and learning from you, and show others i teach your videos.
Mr gurney has some of the best art tutorials on line. Although I dont generally use the same mediums , I find there's always something interesting and informative. Keep them comming.
Good to see you Mr Gurney, thank you as always for the amazing content and sharing your even more amazing knowledge.
this is genius, and i didn't know about fidelia bridges. thank you
Ah ha, finally a video, thank you sooo much, looking forward to this!
It was fascinating to see this come together, and I loved how you taught about the history and inspiration for using this technique too.
Thank you for adding poetic thoughtfulness to your painting videos. Absolutely beautiful and appropriate music, too. Do you feel a close connection to those artists who preceded you when you paint? Bravo all around, James. Thank you.
Thanks, yes, I love imagining the artists of the past, how they worked, how they thought.
Your videos bring me so much joy, Mr Gurney! Good to see you back!
Wow! This was fascinating. I'd never have thought of creating an isolation background like that. Certainly takes some extra planning, but I can definitely see how it would help in busy environments with all kinds of foliage everywhere. Thanks for sharing this and thank you for the history on Fidelia Bridges, too!
Beautiful I love this technique! And how cool is that the way you thought to also paint a larger canvas and use it as a real life backdrop. Genius! Thank you for sharing your tips so generously. 😊
wow James you are such a wonderful artist ,i love learning more about how artists create,thank you
After several years and many videos I don’t remember anyone using a flip board. This makes so much sense to me, thank you. Good to see Smooth too.
When you drop everything because the legend himself drops a vid. Hudson isn't too far from here, might have to head out there to paint once the weather warms up.
Thank you for this, much apresh.
ooh very handy to know about a flip panel! and so easy to make 😀
I've never seen weeds look so beautiful.
The result of this technique is truly beautiful and realistic. Thank you , James, for this demo, and your wonderful, educational, commentary. I'm always struck by your poetic descriptions relating to painting. You are gifted in so many ways.
❤❤❤Planning a cross country painting trip. This method will fill in any days I may be too tired to go out of camp. THANK YOU!
I love this !! I can’t wait to go out and give it a try!!❤
You're smart to take your German shepherd with you when in the field. The presence of any dog deters crime... but the GSD improves your odds even more. I like to do plein air too...I have a German shepherd who always goes with me.
Nice video too. I like the background work. 🎉
I just received the book about her. Botanical illustration calls me. Really appreciate you sharing this style.
Wonderful tips and ideas here. Thank you!!
Thank you so much. Glad it was helpful!
I love your videos and all the resources you put out there! Acrylic artist here, All the principles and advice and steps you give help me very much. It also inspires me to try new approaches and to get out there and paint in the first place. Thank you! ❤
You find beauty in the most unexpected places, James Gurney ✨ Thank you for teaching and inspiring all of us!!!
I will look up more on Fidela Bridges. Thanks for the recommendation.
This was fascinating. Thanks for the introduction to Bridges.
Thank you and so much more. Your bit of the historical background fills things in so much more. Never knew to do a set up like that before. I shall be trying that. thank you again!
I will need to go back to the field where I painted milkweed flowers. They should be pods by now if the farmer hasn't mowed. Thanks for the inspiration. I have made 4 Gurney palettes so far 😊. I can't wait to retire so I can go painting every day!!!
What an awesome and helpful technique! I was immediately fascinated by Fidelia Bridges and went to read about her. Apparently one of her biographers wrote that she "combined the temper of romanticism with the technique of a scientist," and I think that very much applies to your work too. Thanks for all that you do.
Wonderful quote, thank you. The new Manthorne monograph is chock full of reproductions and stories about her.
I was pretty baffled by your approach at first, but I can't argue with those results. Looks gorgeous!
This was such an interesting topic and beautiful execution. Thank you! 🌾
This was so interesting. I learned so much in such a short time. And that varnish at the end really made the painting richer
I've never seen or heard of thus type of painting. Very interesting thank you for educating.
These videos are just so great I’m so glad I found your channel. I always loved dinotopia and it’s so cool that those beautiful memories of reading those books is in a way answered by this channel later in my life.
I always look forward to your videos because they capture that feeling I had when I was a kid too. Thank you so much for everything James!
It’s absolutely amazing to watch you paint! I really appreciate how you explain your thought process throughout the work about why you are doing certain things and also give us context about other artists in history. You always have a perfect blend of design insight and technical explanations. I’m so glad you have this channel!
Thank you, Olivia.
You are so inspiring James, it’s so clear how much you enjoy what you do! Is a pleasure watching your videos! Thanks
humbled by your generosity,
This was fabulous! Thanks for highlighting this painter and technique.
Beautiful and fun to watch! Thank you for being generous with your time!
Hello Gurney, thank you for another interesting video. I hope I will have a good mood and enough time to draw outside when it will get warmer. Your videos always encourage me to do it!
Thanks!
And thank you!
you are the best Mr Gurney!
Thank you, your guidance is always refreshing!
Love it James, although i think i saw a little dinosaur pop up between the grasses, you missed it .....🤣🤣😍👍
Thank you, beautiful painting, I really enjoyed watching and listening to you.
This was amazing to watch and learn. I found you from watching you on Lindsay's utube channel. Loved that chat you did.
Great tips beautiful painting . Thank you
Im a huge fan of yours, i have been subbed to you for many years, love your work and presentation skills
Thanks for being a loyal subscriber. 🙏
What an interesting idea! Thanks so much for sharing this, I’ll be trying this method out too.
Thank you so much for this Video - thats exactly the method / gear / idea I was looking for and didnt come up with myself 😉 because I love painting and drawing plants, and thats a way a) create an interesting picture and b) not to harm the plant you paint!
Thanks. Yes, it seems wildflowers in particular are very sensitive about being cut and brought into the studio.
Wow! I’m in love with this.
Stunning!
This is such a beautiful painting!!
You never cease to amaze❤
Thank you for such excellent teaching videos.
It's beautiful, and I love your temperament! Thanks.
Always inspiring, always leaning from your videos 🥰
How COOL! Can't wait to try this.
This was fascinating! Thank you for sharing.
Great as always
I super love this! It's pretty amazing 🤩😍🤩
Love this technique!
Very interesting
Bravo James!
Great method! I will try to use it, thanks! ✨
Very cool idea! The FLIP panel looks like a photoshop layer with a gaussian blur applied. It makes me wonder how Fidelia would use Photoshop if she were alive today.
This was a great lesson
I will have to watch again all I could think about was the ticks and chiggers in my area. I would have to be loaded with big spray to venture out there. 😉
Thank you - this was very interesting and inspiring!
Loved this. Thank you.
Great!
Flores do campo tudo perfeito 😊❤
What an absolutely engrossing video! Such wonderful work on your part, and I loved learning about Fidelia Bridges. I'm eager to research more about her. Thank you so much for sharing this. Also, I was pleased to see someone working in casein. I am a watercolorist, but several years ago I bought a set of casein colors thinking to try using them, but as way leads on to way, as the poet, said, I have never gotten around to opening the boxes yet. Now I am wondering if they are still good. Can you shed any light on how long the paints are good for in unopened tubes? Because of circumstances, I can't get back to my studio until the middle of next week.
I have a technique I always struggle with: light rays, or similar. Like fog or mist. That transparent light, diffused over the scene; blurring the immediate background around it.
A spotlight in a dark workshop. You can still see the tools, behind the sunray/lamplight, in the dark. But only dimly.
Maybe that's something for a video?
I usually don't feel drawn to botanical studies, but this method has me curious to try one!
I bought an attache case off of ebay and have gutted it to make a pochade box out of it. Gonna glue a tripod mount to the outside.
Ha, I did that once with a used violin case. Fun novelty, but didn't work so good.
Looking far down the road, if one had to clean the varnish off a Casein painting at some point would it be able to deal with that process. Oils is well hardened. Some people spray over gouache, but I assume that can't be cleaned. Maybe Casein could be though...
nice can control
A novel way to work, looks great. Any issues with ticks as your walking through those tall grasses? I live in upstate NY and really have an issue with them.
I don't much like deer ticks or Lyme disease, but didn't have any issues with them this time around.
Imagine driving by a random guy painting weeds on the side of the road, thinking he must be bored and not knowing you just missed the opportunity to pick the brain of a modern master and watch a painting come alive
Any chance you could make a fun video about managing your dog while out painting alone? 😅
((12:00)) Creation indeed. Glory to the original Creator😊 👏
Hey James, saw your book "color and light" for free download in the internet archive listed as open source, did you authorized it?
No, it was pirated. But the experience of reading a small PDF doesn't match reading the book on paper.
Thanks for sharing!
I would like to hear your thoughts on brush use. Not mark making... Whatever one has to do to get the effect one wants is what it takes, but a lot of artist when doing something no more complicated than what one would do when painting a board on a house, seem to use brushes very carelessly with no consideration of how a brush works to pick up and apply a level finish. Mashing the brushes sideways into the surface in a way that would not be tolerated by a careful craftsman. Some very cheap brushes do make one apply paint in odd ways due to poor materials and workmanship, and yet I too often see skilled painters use a brush like a potato masher when there is no apparent need to do so.
Finally, I can paint an alien on the weeds saying: "take me to your dealer"