This weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.
You can write me at: James Gurney PO Box 693 Rhinebeck, NY 12572
or by email: gurneyjourney (at) gmail.com Sorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.
Permissions
All images and text are copyright 2020 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.
However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.
Unknown, that's something that has always puzzled me. I try to paint the colors I see, and when I get back and look at photos of the scene, the camera seems to miss it all. I'm not consciously amping it up, but I guess the camera just misses the subtle warm and cools.
That was a faster reply than I expected, sorry for deleting the original comment, I didn't wanna just be "Unknown". Original comment: Beautiful, you painted relatively so little detail but there's still amazing depth and realism just because of the colors and contrast. It also seems like you painted the scene quite a bit warmer and brighter, was that a conscious decision or does the camera just not show the scene like your eye did?
I always notice that your choice of colors makes any scene look much more alive than it would in real life, it amazes me to no end when you make a painting of something like a car park. I think because you are so experienced you choose the colors to bring a scene to life without thinking about it and that's why you don't see the same effect in the photos (in combination with the elements the camera simply misses of course). I've only been painting for a year and often have trouble translating the colors I see into the ones I paint. I think I'm slowly getting better though, and I'm learning so much from your book
I’m guessing we have Jeanette to thank for the hat. If so, outstanding! Was very surprised to see the snake. It appears to be the Common Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). My field guide says, “If grabbed, they savagely bite the aggressor.” Not surprising a snake willing to emerge in snow would have an attitude.
Smooth looks pretty happy with the puppy-sitting arrangement. The area at the park looks wonderful and I love the cool purple look in the water, and the reddish browns of the trees.
You make it look so easy .... Like "RozendaalAstrolabes" above, I am often amazed by your colour sense and how, for instance, a background colour I would never have imagined adds to the final image. So much to learn, and your videos provide so much helpful material. Thanks.
James, how do you keep your hands warm? If it's under 45 degrees, my fingertips get cold after 10-15 minutes. Yet you were out there for around an hour. What's your secret?
11 comments:
Wonderful piece.
Do you consider yourself a master at this point? It would be hard to argue that you aren't I think.
Also, does Smooth live with you now? =)
No, every painting is a dive into the unknown. We babysit Smooth a lot because our son lives nearby.
Unknown, that's something that has always puzzled me. I try to paint the colors I see, and when I get back and look at photos of the scene, the camera seems to miss it all. I'm not consciously amping it up, but I guess the camera just misses the subtle warm and cools.
That was a faster reply than I expected, sorry for deleting the original comment, I didn't wanna just be "Unknown".
Original comment:
Beautiful, you painted relatively so little detail but there's still amazing depth and realism just because of the colors and contrast. It also seems like you painted the scene quite a bit warmer and brighter, was that a conscious decision or does the camera just not show the scene like your eye did?
I always notice that your choice of colors makes any scene look much more alive than it would in real life, it amazes me to no end when you make a painting of something like a car park. I think because you are so experienced you choose the colors to bring a scene to life without thinking about it and that's why you don't see the same effect in the photos (in combination with the elements the camera simply misses of course). I've only been painting for a year and often have trouble translating the colors I see into the ones I paint. I think I'm slowly getting better though, and I'm learning so much from your book
I’m guessing we have Jeanette to thank for the hat. If so, outstanding! Was very surprised to see the snake. It appears to be the Common Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). My field guide says, “If grabbed, they savagely bite the aggressor.” Not surprising a snake willing to emerge in snow would have an attitude.
Smooth looks pretty happy with the puppy-sitting arrangement. The area at the park looks wonderful and I love the cool purple look in the water, and the reddish browns of the trees.
You make it look so easy ....
Like "RozendaalAstrolabes" above, I am often amazed by your colour sense and how,
for instance, a background colour I would never have imagined adds to the final image.
So much to learn, and your videos provide so much helpful material. Thanks.
Master Gurney
Now is offical:
If Smooth don't appear on the video I won't watch it .
Paulo - Rio
James, how do you keep your hands warm? If it's under 45 degrees, my fingertips get cold after 10-15 minutes. Yet you were out there for around an hour. What's your secret?
Thanks for a wonderful video!
Post a Comment