tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post4983166528725028111..comments2024-03-18T07:23:32.809-04:00Comments on Gurney Journey: Gorilla PortraitsJames Gurneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-53018923576779964982014-07-12T08:50:03.307-04:002014-07-12T08:50:03.307-04:00Thanks, Warren. I wonder if animals have a univers...Thanks, Warren. I wonder if animals have a universal fascination with drawing. Or at least crows, parrots, and apes.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-78614086801678771222014-07-12T08:45:34.880-04:002014-07-12T08:45:34.880-04:00Apologies for commenting on a 6-year-old blog entr...Apologies for commenting on a 6-year-old blog entry, but I followed a few links here and greatly enjoyed reading about your experience and advice here. (Not to mention seeing the results from your sketchbook) It reminds me of when I sketched chimps at the Belfast Zoo recently - one of the youngsters came up and peered through the glass, intensely curious about the the contents of my pencil tin. And there was a similar connection some time before... with a blue-eyed cockatoo! It also came up to the glass to watch me as I sketched it. I showed it the results afterwards and it's crest went skyward - I still don't know if it was praise or criticism!<br /><br />(I enjoyed your latest Station Points article about sketching animals, by the way. Looking forward to the next issue of International Artist to see part two.)Warren JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11743987856127631574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-58921414990714820852014-07-12T08:44:27.948-04:002014-07-12T08:44:27.948-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Warren JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11743987856127631574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-29449359821353640352013-04-07T23:17:59.885-04:002013-04-07T23:17:59.885-04:00This is great! Saw this from your link on your 250...This is great! Saw this from your link on your 2500th post (congrats by the way!), it's so cool that someone else knows ape etiquette! I went to a summer camp at my zoo and learned the do's and don'ts of interacting with them, they're amazing creatures and these are some amazing sketches!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-59977667729174437592010-10-07T01:05:56.224-04:002010-10-07T01:05:56.224-04:00Just plain awesome! The drawings, the attitude you...Just plain awesome! The drawings, the attitude you took towards those animals in captivity and the feeling that the post obviously has on people. :) Awesome!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09348031085171365853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-52978942997614914512009-12-24T18:18:18.339-05:002009-12-24T18:18:18.339-05:00Thanks for all your interesting comments, Daniel, ...Thanks for all your interesting comments, Daniel, and have fun looking through the blog!<br />-JGJames Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-82441605932505455352009-12-24T16:34:51.466-05:002009-12-24T16:34:51.466-05:00That is just delightful. Now I can't wait to g...That is just delightful. Now I can't wait to go to the zoo!Daniel Silberberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685707813625269747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-28109373927291182602009-12-20T11:56:19.647-05:002009-12-20T11:56:19.647-05:00Dude, thats like totally insanse!
RT
www.anonymou...Dude, thats like totally insanse!<br /><br />RT<br />www.anonymous-web.cz.tcHarold Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08018983019271676117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-87810319545146937272009-12-20T10:37:14.082-05:002009-12-20T10:37:14.082-05:00A friend of mine sent me your blog - not sure how ...A friend of mine sent me your blog - not sure how she found it...but she knows of my love of animals and art, that I am teaching a course on primate behavior, and also and that there is a story in my book about a chimpanzee, Hondo, that lives at the NC Zoo. It sheds some additional light on how these amazing animals interact with their human caretakers, and about how much they do, or don't, understand about our intentions. The book is, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes - see http://www.rhinowithglueonshoes or http://www.drlucyspelman.com The story about Hondo by Dr. Barb Wolf is excerpted here on line: http://www.enotalone.com/article/20522.html. Great blog! ~LucyDr. Lucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12819519742583401543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-4493769463664212692009-12-19T06:31:10.721-05:002009-12-19T06:31:10.721-05:00James,
This is, by far, the best post I´ve ever s...James,<br /><br />This is, by far, the best post I´ve ever seen in an Art site.<br /><br />Simply wonderful.<br /><br />What about an animal sketchbook ?<br /><br />Your book (The Artist´s Guide to sketching) is one of my reference in sketching and drawing.<br /><br />I Love your approach. <br />Yours is the first site I open in the morning<br /><br />Keep up this beautiful work.<br /><br />God bless you and your family.<br /><br />Paulo<br />Rio de Janeiro - Brazilnuumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749892880444445568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-6374649673754557532009-12-18T16:53:50.461-05:002009-12-18T16:53:50.461-05:00This is wonderful, Mr. Gurney. Just the kind of t...This is wonderful, Mr. Gurney. Just the kind of thing that fascinates me, as a linguist-anthropologist turned science fiction writer. I may use this as inspiration for alien behavior in one of my stories for Analog magazine in the future - who knows? I've passed the link along to the followers of my blog, who will also love the post.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-8334531542912973642009-11-25T21:26:26.326-05:002009-11-25T21:26:26.326-05:00Thanks, OWT! This was a rare encounter, and I'...Thanks, OWT! This was a rare encounter, and I'm glad I remembered my sketchbook. I'm always amazed at the sagacity of animals. I'm glad you took the time to visit earlier posts.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-42388609947503529732009-11-25T21:16:59.072-05:002009-11-25T21:16:59.072-05:00I don't even know where to begin . . . first c...I don't even know where to begin . . . first congratulations on being a blogger of note, and my compliments on your beautiful, educational and intriging blogsite. Fantastic. I have enjoyed the creative process you share and am most fascinated by the section in regards to animals, especially on the chimps. I am looking forward to repeated returns. Bravo and best wishes!<br /><br />KatharinaOne Woman's Thoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15583825153877354947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-19815564464826490782009-09-22T17:48:45.995-04:002009-09-22T17:48:45.995-04:00Awesome stuff, James!
I noticed a similar principl...Awesome stuff, James!<br />I noticed a similar principle in action while sketching dolphins. <br /><br />I used to work at Sea World (Orlando) and I enjoyed spending the early mornings - before the park opened - sketching in the dolphin underwater viewing.<br />I decided that the best way to approach this was to adopt a passive role, to observe, not to try to interact. Plus, it helped me to focus on the task at hand and not get sidetracked. <br /><br />At first the dolphins found it strange that a human was just sitting there, watching them and scratching away on something, but not trying to interact, not vying for their attention. <br /><br />Some of the animals - particularly the younger dolphins - were curious, and would come to see what I was doing. Some of them became regular visitors and would come up to check out what I was doing. They found the drawings curious, I'm not sure whether they recognized the subject matter. <br /><br />Eventually, they became used to my presence, and I was able to observe their more innate behaviors and movements, and to begin to see differences between the individual dolphins.<br /><br />I look back with gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to observe them in this manner. <br /><br />http://bp0.blogger.com/_4iEj8EzENO0/RrQOrWCl-SI/AAAAAAAAACU/8sFOAGlAdIk/s1600/MikeyStarkyC35.jpgMikeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993041382852181727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-31288798849186903512008-07-13T06:22:00.000-04:002008-07-13T06:22:00.000-04:00Aaron, it's so cool to hear from the keeper. Sorry...Aaron, it's so cool to hear from the keeper. Sorry I mixed up Donna's gender. Please email me your mailing address (jgurneyart (at) yahoo.com) and I'd be glad to send you a photocopy of the sketch. <BR/><BR/>Everyone should check out his Aaron's blog about working with the gorillas at the NC Zoo.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-75785772352335951552008-07-12T22:38:00.000-04:002008-07-12T22:38:00.000-04:00Mr. Gurney,I am a gorilla keeper at the NC Zoo and...Mr. Gurney,<BR/><BR/>I am a gorilla keeper at the NC Zoo and that is an amazing sketch of our 40 year old female Donna. She is very interested in people, especially children, but I'm glad she spent time with you. Do you have any copies of that picture? Please let me know!<BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/>Aaron Jesue<BR/>Gorilla Keeper<BR/>NC ZooKeeper Jesuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17384597747282977510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-32146606800775598522008-06-21T09:46:00.000-04:002008-06-21T09:46:00.000-04:00Very interesting. So are you supposed to approach ...Very interesting. So are you supposed to approach them with your back and hands towards them?<BR/><BR/>Made me think of writer/artist Desmond Morris.<BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Morris<BR/>He wrote The Naked Ape analyzing human behavior with zoologist methods and is also a collector of primate art.<BR/>/janFabian Göransonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148042355318779614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-15051140412589820242008-04-02T17:13:00.000-04:002008-04-02T17:13:00.000-04:00James,I can't believe I found out about this blog ...James,<BR/><BR/>I can't believe I found out about this blog so late! I love it to pieces - it's not just resourceful, it's also very entertaining ;-) <BR/><BR/>Anyway - that chimp is awesome.poggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03100274244865165948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-39711714756207903172008-03-23T08:40:00.000-04:002008-03-23T08:40:00.000-04:00Thanks, Lindsay, my big brother Dan (Mr. Kindergar...Thanks, Lindsay, my big brother Dan (Mr. Kindergarten) is a big inspiration to me, and was the guy who got me started drawing in second grade. <BR/><BR/>Joe: I forgot to mention in the post that the glass in front of the chimpanzee enclosure had a huge crack in it. A guard explained that it had been hit by a rock: "If they can find something to throw, they throw it," he said.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-12814038220829310152008-03-23T08:14:00.000-04:002008-03-23T08:14:00.000-04:00I'm so enjoying both your site and your brothers. ...I'm so enjoying both your site and your brothers. I love both your sensitivity to all your subjects and the thoughtful way you present your posts. I'm also learning a lot.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01142884023928819776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-88170315942832119302008-03-22T20:06:00.000-04:002008-03-22T20:06:00.000-04:00Thanks, this is brilliant advice. Why should appro...Thanks, this is brilliant advice. Why should approaching an animal in a zoo be any different than approaching that same animal in the wild? Obvious when you think about it, but it never would have occurred to me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-35950663009570118932008-03-22T00:40:00.000-04:002008-03-22T00:40:00.000-04:00Your behavioral tips will come in really handy. La...Your behavioral tips will come in really handy. Last time I was at the San Diego Zoo trying to sketch a gorilla, he jumped at the glass and then after disappearing for several moments returned and threw a handful of crap at me that splattered all over the glass right in front of my face. Everyone's a critic! I found the sleeping lion a much more cooperative subject! LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-78139909291937254702008-03-18T11:01:00.000-04:002008-03-18T11:01:00.000-04:00Great post. The comments about whether or not the ...Great post. The comments about whether or not the other primates recognize themselves in the drawings are interesting. I will say that I am consistently amazed by how early on in their development my nephews started recognizing faces of people in photos. Maybe abstraction comes easier than we know? At the National Zoo in DC there is an ongoing experiment with the orangutans to see if they can use abstract symbols as a sort of language. It was fascinating to watch the huge male orang use the touch-screen computers as he participated--I think of him every time I operate an ATM!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-28817425259940902372008-03-17T14:51:00.000-04:002008-03-17T14:51:00.000-04:00Yet another fascinating Gurney Journey, I had to p...Yet another fascinating Gurney Journey, I had to pass on this story to all artists I know. I will concur with everyone that this has been one of the best posts thus far. A true artist can reach everyone with his craft -makes me wonder if the animals get lonely and if they enjoy the interaction. It is somewhat different to flashes and staring. It'll make me think differently about the inhabitants of the zoo the next time I'm there. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999230124118604245.post-15742768246582682312008-03-17T08:32:00.000-04:002008-03-17T08:32:00.000-04:00Kathy: My wife Jeanette took the photos. She hung ...Kathy: My wife Jeanette took the photos. She hung back a bit and used telephoto with the flash off. I love sketching goats, and goat owners tell me that they don't really want to eat your sketchbook, just taste it. If you figure out how to get them to pose, let me know.<BR/><BR/>Hey, Swampwater! I'll never forget your performance of Brown-Eyed Girl. The crowd went ape over it!<BR/><BR/>Lizzie: You probably know already that the zoo is in Asheboro, east of Charlotte. I added the link in the post.<BR/><BR/>Cat: thanks for that fascinating link. I remember there was another one about a gorilla rescuing a toddler that fell into a zoo enclosure.<BR/><BR/>Dan, There is a whole gallery of paintings by the gorillas Koko and Michael at koko.org. Even though the images look gestural and abstract to our eyes, apparently they were all representational to the gorillas, who titled them with the names of the people and animals they were portraying. Koko usually worked from memory. She was very deliberate in her color choice and strokes. She even painted a self-portrait! <BR/><BR/>There are also websites showing the paintings of Ruby the Elephant at the Phoenix Zoo.<BR/><BR/>Thanks to everyone else for you kind comments, which really mean a lot to me.James Gurneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01870848001990898499noreply@blogger.com