Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Favorite Series on GurneyJourney

This week the GurneyJourney blog passes 2,000 posts. For nearly the last five years, I've been doing a new blog post every day.

To commemorate the occasion, I’d like to present you with some of the most popular series of posts. These are big topics that I couldn't cover in a single day. Even if you're a regular visitor, maybe some of these will be new to you. 


Water Reflections Series
Water Reflections, Part 1



Color Wheel Series
Part 1: Wrapping the Spectrum
Part 2: Primaries and Secondaries
Part 3: Complements, Afterimages, and Chroma
Part 4: Problems with the Traditional Wheel
Part 5: The Munsell System
Part 6: Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow
Part 7: The Yurmby Wheel

Fire and Ice Series
Part 1: Fire and Ice: Rekindled
Part 2: Fire and Ice: Frazetta
Part 3: Fire and Ice -- Tom Kinkade
Part 4: Fire and Ice -- Ralph Bakshi
Part 5: Fire and Ice -- Living inside paintings



Utopiales Painting Series
Part 2: Researching Insect Flight
Part 3: Maquette
Part 4: Lighting
Part 5: Pencil Drawing
Part 6: Washin

Animal Characters Series
Part 1: Antropomorphic Absurdities
Part 2: Humanization
Part 3: Near Relations
Part 4: Animalmorphism




Lines and the Brain Series
Lines and the Brain, Part 1
Lines and the Brain, Part 2
Lines and the Brain, Part 3
Lines and the Brain, Part 4



Artists' Lay Figures
Part 1: Artists' Lay Figures
Part 2: Artists' Lay Figures
Part 3: Artists' Lay Figures
Part 4: Artists' Lay Figures



Eyetracking and Composition
Eyetracking and Composition, part 1
Eyetracking and Composition, part 2
Eyetracking and Composition part 3


Borrowing
Borrowing, part 1
Borrowing, part 2





Dinotopian Fire Engine
Fire Engine, Part 1
Fire Engine, Part 2
Fire Engine, Part 3
Fire Engine, Part 4
Fire Engine, Part 5


Paint Texture

Paint Texture, Part 1
Paint Texture, Part 2
Paint Texture, Part 3





Origins of Dinotopia Series
Part 1: Childhood Dreams
Part 2: College Obsessions 
Part 3: Lost Empires
Part 4:  Dinosaurs
Part 5: Treetown
Part 6: The Illustrated Book
Part 7: Utopias 
Part 8: Building a World 
Part 9: Words and Pictures 
Part 10: Canyon Worlds 
Part 11: Putting it Together
Part 12: Book Launch


Gamut Masking Method Series

Gamut Masking, Part 1
Gamut Masking, Part 2
I'd to express my thanks to you for giving me such interesting feedback and support all the way along. Your comments have made this more of a learning experience than a teaching experience.
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Get a lot of this information in book form in Color and Light and Imaginative Realism


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37 comments:

  1. Glenn KeelanMarch 7, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    Thank you James for this great post. Your blog is so informative and educating. And congrats on 200 posts! I will enjoy your latest post. Glenn

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  2. UnknownMarch 7, 2012 at 7:58 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. UnknownMarch 7, 2012 at 7:58 AM

    Wow! Thank-you! After seeing this post it is clear that a table of contents was needed for your blog ;). Thank-you for so many fun and informative posts. Congrats on the 2000 post milestone too!

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  4. Tomas HonzMarch 7, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    James, you are a walking example of what is it to live like a true artist. Your passion must have inspired many people.

    cheers

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  5. James GurneyMarch 7, 2012 at 8:07 AM

    Thanks, Glenn and David. Yes, I wish there was a way to create a table of contents. Blogger's search box function is pretty good, but you have to already know what to search for.

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  6. Mark HengMarch 7, 2012 at 8:11 AM

    2,000 posts???!!! Amazing. Sometimes it's easy to take a blog for granted, forgetting that there's a person putting in personal hours to keep it current. So, Thank You for your blog, James. It's makes each day a little brighter.

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  7. David StillMarch 7, 2012 at 8:20 AM

    Thank you for all the work you've put into this blog so far, and here's to 2000 more posts!

    Some of my favourite posts include Is Moonlight Blue, the Studio Lighting series, and your various highlighting of obscure or half-forgotten master painters.

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  8. Ian WilliamsonMarch 7, 2012 at 8:57 AM

    Here's to the next 2000 James. This blog has been a revelation. Thanks. Ian

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  9. Charlie HarperMarch 7, 2012 at 9:11 AM

    Fantastic. Get Dinotopia exhibit to the NC Museum of Art please!

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  10. Dan GurneyMarch 7, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    Assuming (too conservatively) that you put an average of an hour into each post, 2000 posts is a year's worth of work, eight hours a day, five days a week. A huge gift to the world. Thank you for brightening the world with Gurney Journey.

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  11. Christian SchlierkampMarch 7, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Happy 2000th and congratulations!!!
    Your brother Dan couldn't have put it better!!!:-D
    Thanks for that great, inspiring and informative journey!! Indeed a huge gift to the world!
    Best wishes to you and Jeanette!

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  12. Stephen SoutherlandMarch 7, 2012 at 9:32 AM

    Congratulations on a staggering achievement. I would argue that this blog is your other magnum opus. Many thanks.

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  13. billMarch 7, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Maybe that's why I'm so selfish. You got way more than your share of generosity genes. Thank you so much!

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  14. jeffkunzeMarch 7, 2012 at 9:59 AM

    Oh man too much learning my HEADS GOING TO EXPLODE!!

    This is quite an accomplishment, 2000 posts!
    I think the great thing about this accomplishment is how valuable each post is. I follow blogs that have multiple artists posting and I don't think they update as often as you.

    Keep up the great work! And thanks for sharing your knowledge.

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  15. AnonymousMarch 7, 2012 at 11:28 AM

    From one who has thoroughly enjoyed your work since childhood, thank you for years of inspiration.

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  16. AnonymousMarch 7, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    Thank you for your blog James! It motivates me to keep learning how to make art, keep practicing, and not give up.

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  17. Lester YocumMarch 7, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    James, I've followed your blog daily since your June 12 2009 Brush
    Washer post    . Such simple practicality, so clearly explained; matter-of-fact, no ego intruding. I built one that day and have been using it since.

    I've also gotten to know you and your lovely wife and I want you to know that watching the two of you work together through what must have been some very challenging situations has been inspiring.

    While I know that these posts represent a rather canny marketing effort from someone who caught the potential of the medium early on, I also believe that you would post even if there was no other benefit. The broad, intellectual curiosity you bring to the art community has been refreshing, and we have all benefited from the sharing. Thank you, and many more great years to come!

    BTW, I would have thought that your Christmas Donkey posts would rank up there pretty high, too. Didn't see one this year.

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  18. Super VillainMarch 7, 2012 at 1:01 PM

    thanks for all the great posts! it has been an art lovers dream to visit here everyday.

    here are my top three favorite posts....

    ET-Zilla

    Grey Socks Knee High

    and of course....Answers for Eric!

    thank you and your tireless photographer so much for giving the world gurney journey!

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  19. Dave HMarch 7, 2012 at 2:00 PM

    Congratulations on 2000 posts!

    It's an incredible resource that has helped me and many, many others. I can only hope you keep going for a few thousand more.

    Thanks

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  20. JonInFranceMarch 7, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    Thanks, Jim!

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  21. Vladimir VenkovMarch 7, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    Thank you for the great blog James. It is so informative. Wonderful contribution that has helped so many people. Kudos to you for that.

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  22. PAFMarch 7, 2012 at 4:54 PM

    Congratulations James!
    I've "shouted you a coffee" as a very small thank you for a tremendous learning experience. Hey! Let's all shout James a coffee for a great big group THANK YOU!

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  23. Stacy LeFevreMarch 7, 2012 at 7:37 PM

    Thank you for this wonderful list! I've been meaning to sit down and push through all 2,000 of your posts, but this makes it much easier. Congratulations on the big 2-0-0-0! Can't wait to see what more you write. :D

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  24. AnonymousMarch 7, 2012 at 8:03 PM

    Thanks James. These posts are awesome and a true inspiration.

    Another suggestion for a post, if you don't mind my asking: what are some general guidelines/tips for painting shiny metal? I mean, lots of metal, with round surfaces and different light sources.

    A good example of what I'm talking about would be something like this painting of a metal man by Donato Giancola: http://bit.ly/A2yOfR

    Or this C3PO painting by Greg Manchess (fourth down on the right side of the gallery list): http://bit.ly/AFus8R

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  25. AnonymousMarch 7, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    Comment continued: They've simplified down the light sources in a rather nice way. One of the things that I think is interesting is how they've brought the "bounce light" or shadow side up in value to where it's as bright as the light side, and the form still retains its shape. Any thoughts?

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  26. James GurneyMarch 7, 2012 at 8:13 PM

    Hi, Bryan -- Donato and Greg are masters of shiny metal. The bottom line advice is to keep the value range extreme (from white to black) and to think of the surface as a curving mirror, reflecting everything around it. You can set up a salad bowl, spoon, toaster, or hunk of tin foil in a real-world scene to see how they behave.

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  27. Janet OliverMarch 7, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    Oh, boy! This will keep me busy for quite a while! Thank you, James.

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  28. Erik BongersMarch 8, 2012 at 3:13 AM

    Five years, a couple of books and a set of video's later.
    If you think back at that first hesitant post.
    Big congrats.

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  29. Carol Scown-RaynalMarch 8, 2012 at 4:37 AM

    Congratulations James for your blog. It's like your work in general : a masterpiece to itself. Bravo !

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  30. docnadMarch 8, 2012 at 7:28 AM

    Congratulations on reaching the 2,000 milestone. Your blog is always interesting and it is one of the best!

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  31. Doodle.nlMarch 8, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    I can't let this one pass without saying 'Thank you!' aswell, James. Your efforts inspire so many of us.

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  32. Donald JurneyMarch 9, 2012 at 10:45 AM

    Congratulations, from an admiring new blogger. It's time to start my 4th post, and you're at 2000! Looking forward, as are my students, to all your great tips and insights. Thanks, James.
    Visit, in your two free minutes a day! www.donaldjurney.blogspot.com

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  33. Steven Powers (SMP)March 9, 2012 at 11:30 AM

    I am new to your blog but not your books. I recently finished "Color and Light" (though I will reference it often) and enjoyed going through your favorite series of posts. Thanks for the posts which are quite informative and fun to read. I just ordered "Imaginative Realism" this morning and looking forward to working with it.

    Thanks again.

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  34. AnonymousMarch 9, 2012 at 5:22 PM

    Hi Mr. Gurney! I'm pretty young and just learning to paint with watercolors. My art teacher introduced me to this website not to long ago and these posts are really helping me. Thank you so much!

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  35. Wayne HaagMarch 9, 2012 at 7:57 PM

    Your blog (and books if they aren't already) should be required reading for every artist!

    Thank you for the time, effort and dedication to sharing this information James and congratulations on 2000 posts!

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  36. KerryMarch 18, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    Wow! That's an incredible accomplishment.
    Thank you so much for what you do!

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  37. AnonymousMarch 23, 2012 at 11:45 PM

    Thanks James for the tip. I'm going to try using that silver christmas ornament trick you showed earlier next time.

    ReplyDelete

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