tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post2201551295107926851..comments2024-03-18T07:23:32.809-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Line DrawingJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-58806530571475902682017-01-21T03:08:26.723-05:002017-01-21T03:08:26.723-05:00Alfredo, not long, maybe an hour or so depending o...Alfredo, not long, maybe an hour or so depending on the temperature. It's water-based and it goes on thin.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-62747330891783788382015-12-28T17:58:30.672-05:002015-12-28T17:58:30.672-05:00Okay, I used to have some of that, Amazon really n...Okay, I used to have some of that, Amazon really nails one with shipping costs. They didn't have Workable Fixative at Walmart... Also, I wanted to say that you are my Art Hero, and I have multiple videos of your Gumroad series; excellent material! I was also wondering, when you were starting out, what kind of jobs did you have before you finally found yourself in a secure illustration career? <br /><br />I am just starting out, and I study all of the time. Have you ever experienced some degree of "burnout"? I hold shows here in my local library a lot, and I finally sold a nice Black and White Charcoal drawing of an air regulator. This was great! Although most of the time... I feel like people around here just don't understand art? Have you had this feeling before? Here is a link to my artwork! You are the best! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01071061539795888325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-2399880541263794882015-12-28T16:59:01.086-05:002015-12-28T16:59:01.086-05:00Playalott, I use Krylon Workable Fixative, just a ...Playalott, I use Krylon Workable Fixative, just a light coat of it. The subsequent layers go on fine after that. Always good to test on a scrap.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-4786628099613296852015-12-28T15:58:49.705-05:002015-12-28T15:58:49.705-05:00Hey Mr. Gurney!
What kind of spray fixative are y...Hey Mr. Gurney!<br /><br />What kind of spray fixative are you using? Before you seal the drawing. I bought Matte Spray fixative by Krylon. Is that good? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01071061539795888325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-2051362561099952332009-09-17T23:49:58.118-04:002009-09-17T23:49:58.118-04:00Thank you, Michael. I'm a real believer in str...Thank you, Michael. I'm a real believer in street educations. Good luck to you.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-80126824594266463192009-07-06T21:46:22.796-04:002009-07-06T21:46:22.796-04:00No one else has mentioned this one...I like to dra...No one else has mentioned this one...I like to draw on the canvas/board with a water-based felt pen like the Flair. This gives me a nice dark line, necessary so it remains visible through my many layers of repainting (we don't all get it right the first--or fiftieth--time). Eventually the black line disappears into the painting. The Flair line isn't affected by the turpentine or mediums, but before painting you can "erase" it with water if necessary.Smurfswackerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11807173070389349098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-27727618672063185112009-07-06T07:00:28.545-04:002009-07-06T07:00:28.545-04:00I'm loving this series. I hope you'll keep...I'm loving this series. I hope you'll keep on doing them in the future!<br /><br />On the video thing, I think it would be great if you could put those simians to record longer videos. I'm guessing they have to operate some large steam powered apparatus, so if they use it for a longer period of time, it fills the studio with smoke leaving it unusable until all of it is taken out. Give them electricity, James!<br /><br />Oh, and on the Imaginative Realism book, I simply cannot wait for it. But will it have a paperback edition only?ricardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05427737126479587421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-35503991331043318992009-07-06T06:03:35.504-04:002009-07-06T06:03:35.504-04:00so you feed your parakeet with... gum? ^^so you feed your parakeet with... gum? ^^badbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17827386343541823313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-74741302368953062412009-07-06T03:06:07.433-04:002009-07-06T03:06:07.433-04:00Matthew, for straight lines, I use a mahl stick ma...Matthew, for straight lines, I use a mahl stick made out of a wooden yardstick. It gives a good straight edge for architecture. Check out this post: <a href="http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/02/mahl-stick.html" rel="nofollow">this post</a> <br /><br />Gregory, I haven't done any video tutorials other than what you've seen here, but the place to find a detailed explanation of this whole process will be in my new book, <a href="http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/products/?isbn=0740785508" rel="nofollow">Imaginative Realism</a> , coming out in October.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-7451675588205545932009-07-06T01:14:21.764-04:002009-07-06T01:14:21.764-04:00Thanks again for showing us the PROCESS, instead o...Thanks again for showing us the PROCESS, instead of just a finished piece of artwork. This is so educational. Thanks for your time and effort on this.John Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950645096470684760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-73524802469957607072009-07-05T23:35:25.452-04:002009-07-05T23:35:25.452-04:00James, I learned the matte medium trick form one o...James, I learned the matte medium trick form one of your earlier posts and started using it a couple months ago and have had great results. As you say it keeps the lines from smudging when oils are applied and it helps to paint to go on easier.<br /> I have been wondering what you find that works best to get smooth straight lines on architechtural elements like thes ebuildings in your drawing. I mean with the painting stage. I've tried mahl sticks, taping edges and such but it seems to take tons of work. Is there an easier method you know of?I think one of the problems I've had is the rough painting surface which I intend to change for my next illustration. Thanks for any help!Matthew Gauvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556651899036708775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-81307951278463102762009-07-05T21:06:09.405-04:002009-07-05T21:06:09.405-04:00Hey James. I don't comment much but I just wan...Hey James. I don't comment much but I just wanted to say I am loving this step by step series! I find it interesting just how detailed the lines are, I will have to try that sealing technique next time.S. Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899642345379136559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-27376115139263135002009-07-05T19:47:52.305-04:002009-07-05T19:47:52.305-04:00What a privilege to experience this process! Love ...What a privilege to experience this process! Love the insights and the video.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423051076809524563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-62655596898740565272009-07-05T18:32:05.510-04:002009-07-05T18:32:05.510-04:00Wow, thanks, everybody...Erik, those videos aren&#...Wow, thanks, everybody...Erik, those videos aren't that much work...I just let hand the job off to my large staff of trained macaques.<br /><br />And yes, my budgie makes a fuss and grabs my pencil when something is getting out of whack.<br /><br />Dan, you and others have raised a logical point about the amount of downthrust for a real VTOL. But with every fantasy concept there are times when you have to say to heck with realism, and do what feels right according dream logic. I just want this thing to take off like that slo-mo butterfly did. <br /><br />If you want an explanation, let's say this vehicle was built in Dinotopia with sunstone technology that can lower the Reynold's number and increase viscosity in the vicinity of the wings. <br /><br />Jeff: the size of the heavyweight acid free illustration board is 20 x 24. I tape off the very outside 1/4 inch (behind the rabbet of the frame) and use that margin for the perspective grid marks for those pesky remote VPs. <br /><br />I should have pointed out, as Drew and Daroo did, that I first spray Workable Fixative on the drawing before applying the acrylic matte medium. That way it won't smudge the graphite.<br /><br />Matte medium makes an excellent under layer. It seals the surface of the board to keep the oils from soaking in, and I've never had any problem with adhesion. Matte medium is essentially similar to an acrylic medium. Oil over acrylic paint or gesso is standard practice, but I would be cautious about anything that places an acrylic layer over an oil layer.<br /><br />I have to lay off the videos until I can get an external hard drive because those files get pretty big. I also should get a decent video camera that does still frame and time lapse. Any recommendations? By the way, the music was right off iMovie and the effects were downloads from those free FX sites.<br /><br />Hope that answers everybody. Back to another full day of painting tomorrow. It's fun having y'all along.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-45847844672582703642009-07-05T17:18:53.082-04:002009-07-05T17:18:53.082-04:00This whole step by step process is AWESOME!!This whole step by step process is AWESOME!!Shawn Escotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16070563436541794913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-9826331191822246762009-07-05T15:29:50.197-04:002009-07-05T15:29:50.197-04:00Beautiful drawing!Beautiful drawing!innisarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05321227473311180542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-39999043495783237232009-07-05T14:40:18.313-04:002009-07-05T14:40:18.313-04:00I think the point of the matte medium is to preser...I think the point of the matte medium is to preserve the drawing more than just fix it (I sometimes fix it then use the matte medium). That way you can easily rub back your oil painting to expose the line work of the drawing.<br /><br />Timpa -- I don't think there would be much of a difference between acrylic matte medium and acrylic gesso (primer) its still not the chemical bond you seek (maybe that's what you meant). The advantage of the transparent medium is that you can draw on a pencil friendly surface (like illustration or museum board) and THEN seal it as opposed to trying to draw on the very rubbery acrylic gesso surface.<br /><br />I've used both the W&N oil ground and the Gamblin oil ground -- They both take 5-7 days to dry. I was confused about how to seal the panels so I wrote Gamblin and this was the response from Scott Gelaty their product manager:<br /><br />"I would recommend sealing the bare panels with a mixture of our Galkyd painting medium, thinned with an equal amount of our Gamsol OMS. Apply a liberal mixture to the panel, allow it to absorb in for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess with a rag. Like any sealers, you want the material to penetrate and seal the substrate, rather than to make a discrete layer on top."<br /><br />I think both products are alkyd based which is different than just priming a surface with oil paint (which would degrade the substrate).<br /><br />Supposedly, masonite is less acidic than plywood.Daroohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269629297022511462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-58488666051024453842009-07-05T12:04:27.054-04:002009-07-05T12:04:27.054-04:00There's suspiciouly much work going into those...There's suspiciouly much work going into those video's.<br /><br />The line drawing looks promising.Erik Bongershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409523352634066030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-25426154717567278032009-07-05T11:15:08.523-04:002009-07-05T11:15:08.523-04:00Fascinating - I've always loved how you are ab...Fascinating - I've always loved how you are able to combine architectural elements with something plausible and fantastic. <br /><br />Concerning the matte medium, I've read that artist Donato Giancola likes to do something similar. <br /><br />I tried it, and found it didn't work as well for me. It kind of smeared the drawing, perhaps I used too soft a lead. <br /><br />Instead now I've taken to scanning my pencils and printing them out on Fredrix canvas paper for the oils. Works great.Glendon Mellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03582347493421110738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-53369083422258938712009-07-05T10:54:18.405-04:002009-07-05T10:54:18.405-04:00I imagine the matte medium is a better seal than t...I imagine the matte medium is a better seal than the spray fixative and doesn't mess with the oils down the line...<br /><br />This has been a real treat to watch unfold! The lepidopter reminds me of some of the strutters you've designed before...perhaps some Dinotopians found a way back to France?<br /><br />And budgies do make some great studio partners...mine likes to ride on my wacom pen, or shove my pencils/pens off the desk juuuust as I need them.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18262476114387821096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-79338638257677500372009-07-05T09:57:45.811-04:002009-07-05T09:57:45.811-04:00I love what comes out of reference clutter.
What&...I love what comes out of reference clutter.<br /><br />What's the size of the drawing, Jim?jeff jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996337570175075303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-11210759354352532732009-07-05T09:48:06.713-04:002009-07-05T09:48:06.713-04:00Why do you use Matte Medium instead of a spray fix...Why do you use Matte Medium instead of a spray fixative? I'm just curious if it works better? I've never thought to use Matte Medium to seal a drawing like this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049394691761207300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-61323293980369569742009-07-05T09:47:14.057-04:002009-07-05T09:47:14.057-04:00Ah, I, too, think the mini video reveals the hithe...Ah, I, too, think the mini video reveals the hitherto unmentioned, secret artistic power of an eraser-nibbling budgie to create great drawings.<br /><br />But my cats would doom that plan in a minute!Nita Van Zandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06300858484106298488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-47330398816278229872009-07-05T09:46:37.759-04:002009-07-05T09:46:37.759-04:00do you have any tutorials from begining to finish?...do you have any tutorials from begining to finish?<br />This looks terrific.<br />And was that a parakeet nibbling on your pencil? LOLGregory Beckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06840770708114257366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-83139475946093563502009-07-05T09:45:44.034-04:002009-07-05T09:45:44.034-04:00Nice on James! You strike me as more of a herpetol...Nice on James! You strike me as more of a herpetologist though. No iguanas for you? I kept Leopard Geckos, a green iguana and two Savannah monitors. Awesome pets!<br />But back to seriousness. <br /><br />Have you ever been worried about the oil delaminating from the acrylic in the future? Thats one of my big concerns now, to ensure that my sold painitngs dont fall off the support 10 years down the line. Thats a phone call i can live without! <br /><br />Ive been using plywood that I coat with 2 layers of matte solvent based polyurethane varnish (vapor seal, because the glues used in plywood manufacturing will release acidic gas over time, its also a natural process in the wood) and then putting Galeria gesso on top,about four layers. I'm particularly concerned with having both chemical, not just physical bond, so I eagerly await my batch of W&N Oil primer next week, and I got the tip from W&N that I wouldn't need any sealer, the primer would do both. Shellac might be another option. Any qualms or experiencesTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804671491953065524noreply@blogger.com