Saturday, April 2, 2016

Micro Videos



Since joining Instagram, I've been having fun making micro-videos. (link to YouTube).

I went through some of my video files and found some stray clips that weren't long enough to make into full-blown YouTube videos. Because they're so short, I upload them to YouTube as unlisted videos. That way they can be embedded here on the blog, but they don't get announced to my YouTube subscribers. I also upload the micro videos to Facebook and Twitter, where I assume they reach a mostly non-overlapping audience.

Until recently, Instagram wouldn't let you upload a video longer than 15 seconds. I have enjoyed that strict limitation. It forces me to set a mood or to tell a story quickly. When it plays on Instagram, it cycles around several times. The effect is hypnotic and immersive, like being dropped for a moment into someone's else's shoes.

Instagram has just now lengthened its video limit to one minute, which gives a lot more scope for storytelling.
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My Instagram feed has mostly different material from the blog.
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Previous Posts:
Painting Landscapes in Iowa on Amtrak
Painting Tiny Landscapes from the TGV
Sketching on Moving Trains in Europe

7 comments:

Steven said...


Hi Mr Gurney! What is the flat retractable brush that you have in your small watercolor palette? I've been trying to look for a portable Flat brush. Thanks so much Mr. Gurney!!! Also Why is it that the WInsor Raw Sienna look more like yellow Orche and the M Graham Raw Sienna almost looks like Burnt/Raw Umber? Thanks!

James Gurney said...

+Steven, I picked up that travel brush from an art store in England, but I've never found one like it again. Raw sienna and Yellow ochre vary a lot from one manufacturer to another, so you just have to try them out and see what you like.

Glenn Tait said...

Here are two UK suppliers with flat retractable watercolour brushes:

https://www.jacksonsart.com/search/?q=Flat+retractable+brush

https://www.artsupplies.co.uk/brushes-prolene-plus-retractable-brush.htm

Steven said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH Glenn and James!

Paddy's Block said...

There must have been much thought going into what to post where, with all those different social media platforms. Since you are present at all the major ones, I would love to hear your thoughts on how you avoid overexposure, how you decide on which platform this information is best to be shared on and how you make sure, that not too much is lost by seperating your posts by platform.

James Gurney said...

Thanks, Glenn, for those links. Those look pretty good. I sometimes also make a travel brush by just cutting down the handles and saving the plastic protective sleeve.

Paddy, Those are good questions. Maybe I'll file them away for a future post.

Unknown said...

What a great video! I love the pans across your sketch and materials. Wonderful inspiration for sketching anywhere.