Friday, January 31, 2020

Painting a Farm Road in Gouache



Painting is a kind of magic trick where you invite the viewer to travel through the surface into a world or feeling and imagination. (Link to video on YouTube)

Open Road, gouache, 5 x 8 inches
In the video I reference an excerpt from John O'Donahue's poem "For the Senses"
May your inner eye
See through the surfaces
And glean the real presence
Of everything that meets you.

May your soul beautify
The desire of your eyes
That you might glimpse
The infinity that hides
In the simple sights
That seem worn
To your usual eyes
-----
CBC Interview with John O'Donahue (Thanks, Fhinn)

5 comments:

Virginia Fhinn said...

John O'Donohue had an amazing speaking voice, I was completely mesmerized the first time I heard him. Here is the interview with him on Canadian public radio that made me stop what I was doing to listen : https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/tapestry-at-25-john-o-donohue-and-mavis-staples-1.5309014/tapestry-at-25-irish-poet-john-o-donohue-1.5309033

James Gurney said...

Thanks, Fhinn, I'll add that link to the end of the post.

Bevan said...

I loved how you superimposed yourself walking through the painting, that was very clever.

C.via.SEATTLE said...

I love seeing your brushwork. Thanks for sharing.

Also, you should have your own tv show.

Tryggvi Edwald said...

Seeing your video of how you go about this painting, one may think "I could (almost) do this" or "I should at least try, now that I see how it's done". This is so very different from reading an art book, and seeing the finished product. That method usually discourages me, at least. What a wonderful medium the internet can be, what fantastic encouragement your short videos are. Thank you!