Oh, yes. I often find myself wanting to fix something that another artist painted during a speedpaint or mater class. There is no such feeling on the finished image, but it is during the process that I understand that I would have got a completely different result, because I would never in my life do the way the artist does on the video, I would do it differently. This is our difference. Drawing ten of us the same thing, we would never get the same result. Especially in paints, since there is a run not only in tone, but also in color. Every artist see differently. Two artists see differently too.
That’s so funny ! I find myself imploring the screen, “No !! Leave it ! Leave it ! That stroke is PERfect. Sometimes the painter changes it and I tell myself it’s a reminder to me not to interfere with my next “chance” brushstroke. . 🤣
Hi James, looking at your videos I'm always struck by the quality of your painting, the elegance of your script, the profoundness of your insights, your general ability for unceasing associative learning, etc. All of which must be the fruit of decades of disciplined hard work. Stopping short of writing a love letter I guess I'm just dropping by to say thanks for being on this website and sharing your knowledge. All the best, Elie
Wow, thank you! It's often frustrating for me to try to translate my thought process into words, because in reality my brain feels so chaotic when I'm painting. But I'm glad if you can glean some useful insights from these presentation.
Came for the woodpile tutorial, left with a profound realization about “paint/draw/etc what you see”. James has the best way of explaining how the brain translates what we see and how we then create a unique shorthand as visual notation.
This was some of the best teaching and explanation that I've ever seen on how to translate complicated reality to a cohesive, representative painting. Brilliantly done!
I forgot to include results of a study that did eyetracking of artists vs. non artists: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-artists-see-differently.html
@@JamesGurney Whoa ! Righr on Grrrr, I have a graphic arts background as well as painting etc and I silently lose it when people leave my window blinds crooked, carelessly nail a notice off kilter, arrange patio pavers out of horizontal plumb. OMG I don’t have OCD it just looks horrible to me. It’s as offensive as bad kerning in my book.
@@JamesGurney I just remembered about this video: ua-cam.com/video/nzO5ViO_y8Y/v-deo.html It's about how kids and artists see. I think is really similar to that study! I think this topics about how artists analyze images are quite interesting ^^
I am a detail person. You help me to see it differently so I don't have to put in every leaf and twig to make a good picture. Thank you for all you do for us!
I am so moved, intellectually, emotionally and aesthetically by your sharing of your knowledge, your fine work, your sensitive and generous spirit. I am a beginner and I’m fillled with gratitude that I can simply flip on UA-cam and have the awesome opportunity to enter your world Mr Gurney! That I’ve subscribed is a mute point; that I’m now privy to your thought and feelings about painting is a treasure of a gift. Thank you.
As a beginner artist still in the learning phase, it seems to me that not only do artists see differently, but artists also think differently about what they see.
This is only 11 mins long but somehow is one of the most informative paintings videos I've seen. It puts words to what painting is like. Thank you for another amazing video!
3:54 regarding seeing colours in photos that aren’t there...i have a short story i want to share. I was in St Augustine, FL a while back and was driving on the Bridge of Lions. It was cloudy with some sun rays/streaks peaking out from behind some clouds, and it had just begun to rain. There was slow traffic, so i was able to look past the bridge rails into the water, and i promise you, the scene looked amazing and immediately saw/imagined it... ...as an epic image from Pirates of the Caribbean or some other majestic fantasy movie. It was just beautiful and other worldly and just perfect. I couldn’t stop on the bridge to get a photo, and parking down the street was hard to find. I went back a few days later and was disappointed to find that that unique look was gone. This happens to me often; seeing a more exaggerated image of an already beautiful scene in my head. It also happened to me in DC...I’ve forgotten the name of the bridge there. Does this ever happen to anyone else? Also, thank you so much for this video. It really helps me reimagine my subjects and how i start drawing them. I usually draw without my glasses because my sight is blurry without them (and this helps a lot), but I’ve never started with geometric shapes before. Maybe that’s one of my problems. Hahaha.
I love to see artists show us the beauty in the seemingly unbeautiful. you are so good at helping new artists realize how your thought process works. I too taught art, talked about learning to 'see' right off the bat, and drawing loosely to block in before putting details. only one word I want us all to start saying/using in perception or execution is: (from your video) "the brain is providing us with models of what we're seeing and this is largely "subconscious" so that this fills in ... " 'unconscious' is the guy waiting for the ambulance, 'subconscious' (or subconsciously) is the guy painting and all his knowledge from experience or education is coming to the surface naturally.
I bought your book Color and Light recently and it's already been helping so much! Then I discovered you have a channel here and immediately subscribed. Thank you for everything!
You explain in detail everything you do as you're doing it. I find that SO HELPFUL. You must get so much joy of accomplishment as your beautiful artwork comes to fruition. You are so much appreciated. Thank you James.
In the past three years I’ve been learning and studying how to draw, paint and see. I’ve always been a detail oriented person but I look even closer than ever at what appears to define an edge of the subject, the edge colors, the variance of colors that compose the highlights, shadows, and the spectrum in between. This heightened focus is now something I can’t “turn off.” Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
learning to see was so vague to me for the longest time, and then I hit me, seeing is noticing things that you see, and learning to see things in the right order.
It is obvious, for sure, how different the colors always are on photos, after you painted during a plain air! I've started having more and more plain airs because of James Gurney, and I'm very thankful for his existence!!! He brings a lot of motivation, knowledge and overall happiness with his videos! I've even started a you-tube channel inspired by James the Great!)
James you are genius! If you are reading this I will be so lucky.. I am from Mumbai India, 52 years old, just started painted 6 months back... I learn so much from you, can't put it into words. Love you and your work and wholehearted tututorials.
for me it's a simplification of shapes and forms i see, tubes, boxes and ovals are the most basic which help you ease into showing the perspective and position of the objects, then you can also dive into re designing these forms/shapes more to the character of what you're drawing, although human body parts or any animal's have quite specific and varied design (a lot of rythms and patterns too) that i would say having a source to learn from will accelerate the process of you managing to draw those usually (my only recommendation to this day is steve huston tbh). when you make art, you express yourself and the way you choose to see and translate life into the representational abstraction that it is! so each artist *will* see and do things as they feel and differently, i think that's the beauty of it, plus sharing it with other so relatable artists...
if we see our mental model, then artists have a different mental model. Where others see logs, you see shapes and values and contrast and edges and options for composition and so on. I see you doing great work and sharing generously. 1000 thanks.
James, I always appreciate your insight into your thinking, perspective, and processes. It makes me think and adds a philosophical element to your videos that I very much enjoy.
I could watch you paint all day. How you make a pile of split wood come to life is mesmerizing. I could almost smell the aroma of it, too. Now to listen to you again without watching…it’s how my mind weeds out distractions. Then on to the podcasts…unless you need help stacking all that. Henry Ford said “Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice”. But it’s much more than that…much, much more. Thank you for an enlightening video!
Thanks for those excellent close-ups. Breaking down that pile of wood into manageable blocks (no puns intended, LOL) of shapes and tones onto the paper really brings order to what could be a chaotic and overwhelming painting experience. Very helpful. Same with the foliage which I still sometimes struggle with. What a good boy Smooth is.
The attention to detail Gurney puts into everything he does is just mind-blowing... I mean even in the description box he carefully gathers a lot of relevant information related to the video. That attention to detail for sure makes a difference.
I have learned so many truly insightful things watching your videos over the last few years. The Philosophy and Physiology of vision, and our perception of reality is a fascinating subject. Learning to narrow it down over time and honing in, is the biggest take away for me so far, and it has changed how I perceive creating in general.
Thank you for sharing this video sir. I’m not able to paint right now; this pandemic has not been easy. I am thankful I have not lost anyone close but I haven’t had the thing that I love doing most. Watching your videos helps tremendously. I feel the soul of discovery and your work is a refreshing breath of a true painting spirit. I send my well wishes and gratitudes to you master Gurney.
Wonderful....I have watched your snow pile in the parking lot many times and it's a big favorite :) Now the woodpile is added to my favorite list :). Always learning....thank you James for your generous videos.
Thank you so much for your videos! I'm trying to get back into gouache these days after a biiig big art block filled with a lot of insecurities. This helps! so thank you!
As an artist, I guess you also choose what to see and not to see. I also think that other artist may see other things than I do, as if we are all wearing different filtered glasses, and that's ok. It's one of the aspects that makes us all different artists.
We paint what we think, even artists have diferent ways of think about what is being seen. Even our mood can change the way we see/think. Great thought
I started this journey with this channel with a meme about a frog's perception as the artist wonders what it sees. I have not regretted investing further than that meme. God bless you James, you make great content, keep it up :)
Such a great video! As my skills have developed, that I see details that I used to miss and my ability to parse out angles and shapes has improved. Hearing about the “top down” model of vision makes sense-I think much of my being an artist has been getting past my brain’s models for things to actually observe what’s truly there instead. 👍 I still struggle with complex scenes like this wood pile. Watching how you tackled it was very helpful! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! 🪵
It's interesting how our mood and our situation on each moment affects the art we create. Because we're a senscient creature. We relate ourselves to the world through feelings. And artists have their history as well, have their traumas, have all the things we bring with us through life, the good and the bad as imperfect humans. All these are placed within the art we create. That's one of the reasons I like impressionism so much, because it is sort of a well balanced blend between realism and feelings. It allows us some abstraction but without falling into something all abstract, you know. There's still some sort of a more clear material connection to the world we live so people who sees the work can relate themselves to it easier. And by the way, I don't want to criticize both the realism and the abstractionism with my statement, I just want to point out some of the relevant things that impressionism can bring us as well. I think all forms of art complement each other. Art have been helping me a lot to relieve my problems I have in life, I wish I was a better artist with thr proper discipline and techniques. But I have this strong thing in my soul asking me, bringing me into painting. This need inside me to express myself, to feel the paint in the brush, to relieve it in the canvas. It's such an instint, just like the thirsty for a glass of water. I hope the art I make could be of some use for others as well. Just like your art inspired me.
Thank you! That’s exactly what I wonder: what does the artist “see?” I wonder what I see, and how can I break it into pieces as you have done? It’s fascinating. Thanks!
As usual very inspiring and interesting, thank you dear James!
3 роки тому
I'm the other way around, I see the colours first and then I go to the shapes and details. But it's the colours with its shades and lights what catches my attention first and decides me to paint something (or not).
I started my painting journey last year watching vids like yours. The first rule I created for myself was #1 Paint what you see. Not what you think you see. An example is to look at something like a pot, cellphone or whatever. Look at it in detail. Then go into another room without the object and try to paint or draw it. Now go back to the pot and compare the painting / drawing to it. You should realize that it looks like a simplified take on the object. Whenever you take your eyes off the subject for, in my case, 4 seconds, while paining; you are NOT PAINTING WHAT YOU ARE SEEING but WHAT YOU THINK YOU SAW. The brain super simplified that object when it was being processed and removed the details. So when you recall it, you lost most of the details. It's similar to taking a picture and then making it small. Saving it. Then trying to blow it back up again. It lost the details when it was shrunk. Now it looks like a pixelated mess when you try to increase the size. I try to make the parallel on how our computer screens work. Think about playing a first person shooter game and having the screen refresh every 5-10 seconds. Do you think that will help you make the best decision on the thing in front of you? So why are you doing that while painting? Your eyes should be shifting back and forth from the subject to the painting while your hands move in free flow. Do not overthink your hand movements otherwise you'll start painting what you THINK you saw. Do not stare at the canvas for too long or you will start to paint what YOU THINK YOU SAW. This rule helped me get far in the painting process in 7 months. The other rule that helped me was not lying to myself when I got the form wrong. I didn't want to admit that the form I started with was not a good foundation. Then I spent countless hours trying to fix the painting. I should have just analyzed what I did right and wrong then restarted again or moved on to the next. Anyway rule #2 was #2 Learn your materials well so you know exactly how they work and how they react. So that when you are in the middle of painting something you are not surprised by the outcome. I took something simple and learned how to mix colors, use the tools to see what they do on canvas. This also includes building that muscle memory on moving your hand strokes to get desired results. My third rule was #3 #3 Only put the details that matter in the painting. I was painting an old man with a lot of wrinkles. The first time I tried I got hung up on the details I blasted through form/structure, lighting and shadows, etc. Just to get into painting in the wrinkles. The painting was a disaster. It was then I realized that I should, simplify the subject into simple shapes at the start of the painting. Then continue to add smaller shapes that start defining the subject. Then once I can see a resemblance of what I was painting, THEN add in the details... NOT ALL OF THEM!!! JUST THE ONES THAT DEFINE THE SUBJECT!!! I don't need 100 wrinkles to show that he is old....I only need 15 in the right locations. In about a year I was able to go from nothing to pretty decent getting like 75%-85% likeness. To me it's a fight between what my mind tries to simplify and process and what I actually see in front of me. Most veteran artists have the upper hand in this fight. They have many tools at their disposal. For example, one tool is learning anatomy. This helps put quick place holders on what should be in a certain painting for you to go back to and clean up and shape it to the subject you are painting. I am not versed well in anatomy so when I paint muscles, I only keep their shapes and hide my inefficiencies by keeping the painting a bit loose. Some artists know how they sit on the skeleton and make those muscles look wonderful.
out of all the artists who share their process and tips, yours has always been the most helpful; the most inspiring. thank you for sharing!!
Great tutorial messed around with most mediums from being a kid many moons ago, you have really inspired me to get seriously back into water colour 👍
Oh, yes. I often find myself wanting to fix something that another artist painted during a speedpaint or mater class. There is no such feeling on the finished image, but it is during the process that I understand that I would have got a completely different result, because I would never in my life do the way the artist does on the video, I would do it differently. This is our difference. Drawing ten of us the same thing, we would never get the same result. Especially in paints, since there is a run not only in tone, but also in color.
Every artist see differently. Two artists see differently too.
That’s so funny ! I find myself imploring the screen, “No !! Leave it ! Leave it ! That stroke is PERfect. Sometimes the painter changes it and I tell myself it’s a reminder to me not to interfere with my next “chance” brushstroke. . 🤣
and so many different techniques.
Hi James, looking at your videos I'm always struck by the quality of your painting, the elegance of your script, the profoundness of your insights, your general ability for unceasing associative learning, etc. All of which must be the fruit of decades of disciplined hard work. Stopping short of writing a love letter I guess I'm just dropping by to say thanks for being on this website and sharing your knowledge. All the best, Elie
Wow, thank you! It's often frustrating for me to try to translate my thought process into words, because in reality my brain feels so chaotic when I'm painting. But I'm glad if you can glean some useful insights from these presentation.
@@JamesGurney I can't talk when I draw or paint. I simply can't. I immediately stop seeing what's there and lose focus.
@@ptaylor4923 Same! It tears me out of the zone & snaps me back into reality. YUK!!
Came for the woodpile tutorial, left with a profound realization about “paint/draw/etc what you see”. James has the best way of explaining how the brain translates what we see and how we then create a unique shorthand as visual notation.
This was some of the best teaching and explanation that I've ever seen on how to translate complicated reality to a cohesive, representative painting. Brilliantly done!
That doggie was working hard to photo bomb his way into the composition. Thank you for another great tutorial
Smooth.
Beautiful boy.
this made my day haha
May it's try to paint bomb ☺️
I've never been so early to a James Gurney video!
I got here within 12 hours and almost 1,500 people beat me 😂
I've never been so late to a James Gurney Video!
Yuuuuup I’m starting to “see” differently
Before even watching this, the title, Do Artists See Differently ?
YES. It’s the first lesson my mom taught me.
I forgot to include results of a study that did eyetracking of artists vs. non artists: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2009/11/do-artists-see-differently.html
@@JamesGurney Whoa ! Righr on Grrrr, I have a graphic arts background as well as painting etc and I silently lose it when people leave my window blinds crooked, carelessly nail a notice off kilter, arrange patio pavers out of horizontal plumb. OMG I don’t have OCD it just looks horrible to me. It’s as offensive as bad kerning in my book.
@@JamesGurney wow great website/ blog
@@JamesGurney I just remembered about this video:
ua-cam.com/video/nzO5ViO_y8Y/v-deo.html
It's about how kids and artists see.
I think is really similar to that study! I think this topics about how artists analyze images are quite interesting ^^
@@ARIANA-eh2qt thank you I looked at that Video . Really good
I am a detail person. You help me to see it differently so I don't have to put in every leaf and twig to make a good picture. Thank you for all you do for us!
I am so moved, intellectually, emotionally and aesthetically by your sharing of your knowledge, your fine work, your sensitive and generous spirit. I am a beginner and I’m fillled with gratitude that I can simply flip on UA-cam and have the awesome opportunity to enter your world Mr Gurney! That I’ve subscribed is a mute point; that I’m now privy to your thought and feelings about painting is a treasure of a gift. Thank you.
What a treat when you see a notification from James Gurney pop on the phone. It feels truly special.
As a beginner artist still in the learning phase, it seems to me that not only do artists see differently, but artists also think differently about what they see.
I like the way you put that. That's it, exactly. And it's what comes from training and practice.
This is only 11 mins long but somehow is one of the most informative paintings videos I've seen. It puts words to what painting is like. Thank you for another amazing video!
3:54 regarding seeing colours in photos that aren’t there...i have a short story i want to share.
I was in St Augustine, FL a while back and was driving on the Bridge of Lions. It was cloudy with some sun rays/streaks peaking out from behind some clouds, and it had just begun to rain. There was slow traffic, so i was able to look past the bridge rails into the water, and i promise you, the scene looked amazing and immediately saw/imagined it...
...as an epic image from Pirates of the Caribbean or some other majestic fantasy movie. It was just beautiful and other worldly and just perfect. I couldn’t stop on the bridge to get a photo, and parking down the street was hard to find.
I went back a few days later and was disappointed to find that that unique look was gone. This happens to me often; seeing a more exaggerated image of an already beautiful scene in my head. It also happened to me in DC...I’ve forgotten the name of the bridge there.
Does this ever happen to anyone else?
Also, thank you so much for this video. It really helps me reimagine my subjects and how i start drawing them. I usually draw without my glasses because my sight is blurry without them (and this helps a lot), but I’ve never started with geometric shapes before. Maybe that’s one of my problems. Hahaha.
I love to see artists show us the beauty in the seemingly unbeautiful. you are so good at helping new artists realize how your thought process works. I too taught art, talked about learning to 'see' right off the bat, and drawing loosely to block in before putting details. only one word I want us all to start saying/using in perception or execution is: (from your video)
"the brain is providing us with models of what we're seeing and this is largely "subconscious" so that this fills in ... " 'unconscious' is the guy waiting for the ambulance, 'subconscious' (or subconsciously) is the guy painting and all his knowledge from experience or education is coming to the surface naturally.
I bought your book Color and Light recently and it's already been helping so much! Then I discovered you have a channel here and immediately subscribed. Thank you for everything!
I've got Color and Light also. Amazing book.
That book is a CLASSIC! Required reading, so to speak!
You explain in detail everything you do as you're doing it. I find that SO HELPFUL. You must get so much joy of accomplishment as your beautiful artwork comes to fruition.
You are so much appreciated. Thank you James.
In the past three years I’ve been learning and studying how to draw, paint and see. I’ve always been a detail oriented person but I look even closer than ever at what appears to define an edge of the subject, the edge colors, the variance of colors that compose the highlights, shadows, and the spectrum in between. This heightened focus is now something I can’t “turn off.”
Thank you for taking the time to share with us.
4:00 I don't paint outside for various reasons, but this is one of my big frustrations with the photos I take to paint from reference
I really love rewatching all your vids mr. gurney, I hope I could meet you some time soon
learning to see was so vague to me for the longest time, and then I hit me, seeing is noticing things that you see, and learning to see things in the right order.
Well said, that's it exactly.
It is obvious, for sure, how different the colors always are on photos, after you painted during a plain air! I've started having more and more plain airs because of James Gurney, and I'm very thankful for his existence!!! He brings a lot of motivation, knowledge and overall happiness with his videos! I've even started a you-tube channel inspired by James the Great!)
12 seconds ago, I'm so early!
I've been waiting for another video, I love them so much! Thank you for teaching us James Gurney :D
James you are genius! If you are reading this I will be so lucky.. I am from Mumbai India, 52 years old, just started painted 6 months back... I learn so much from you, can't put it into words. Love you and your work and wholehearted tututorials.
Thank you. Over the last few years I have become a big fan of your videos. They have taught me a lot. Thanks
Very informative video, I 100% agree that painting from photos seems to lack the same vibrance and color that you get from life
for me it's a simplification of shapes and forms i see, tubes, boxes and ovals are the most basic which help you ease into showing the perspective and position of the objects, then you can also dive into re designing these forms/shapes more to the character of what you're drawing, although human body parts or any animal's have quite specific and varied design (a lot of rythms and patterns too) that i would say having a source to learn from will accelerate the process of you managing to draw those usually (my only recommendation to this day is steve huston tbh). when you make art, you express yourself and the way you choose to see and translate life into the representational abstraction that it is! so each artist *will* see and do things as they feel and differently, i think that's the beauty of it, plus sharing it with other so relatable artists...
if we see our mental model, then artists have a different mental model. Where others see logs, you see shapes and values and contrast and edges and options for composition and so on.
I see you doing great work and sharing generously. 1000 thanks.
James, I always appreciate your insight into your thinking, perspective, and processes. It makes me think and adds a philosophical element to your videos that I very much enjoy.
I could watch you paint all day. How you make a pile of split wood come to life is mesmerizing. I could almost smell the aroma of it, too.
Now to listen to you again without watching…it’s how my mind weeds out distractions. Then on to the podcasts…unless you need help stacking all that.
Henry Ford said “Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice”. But it’s much more than that…much, much more.
Thank you for an enlightening video!
Things at the art desk are making so much more sense now. Thank you so much.
Thanks for those excellent close-ups. Breaking down that pile of wood into manageable blocks (no puns intended, LOL) of shapes and tones onto the paper really brings order to what could be a chaotic and overwhelming painting experience. Very helpful. Same with the foliage which I still sometimes struggle with. What a good boy Smooth is.
The attention to detail Gurney puts into everything he does is just mind-blowing... I mean even in the description box he carefully gathers a lot of relevant information related to the video.
That attention to detail for sure makes a difference.
Absolutely the best art teacher I've ever had.
When you are faster than the youtube notification... thank you Mr. Gurney for posting.
Artist absolutely see more and differently! thank you
So true that a photo doesn't show the colours that you can see in real life looking at a subject . Thanks James , great video
truly loved this video! and thank you so much for all the resources linked as well
I have learned so many truly insightful things watching your videos over the last few years. The Philosophy and Physiology of vision, and our perception of reality is a fascinating subject. Learning to narrow it down over time and honing in, is the biggest take away for me so far, and it has changed how I perceive creating in general.
I really like how these videos are done! This one is a really thorough and unique way to show people your process - thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this video sir. I’m not able to paint right now; this pandemic has not been easy. I am thankful I have not lost anyone close but I haven’t had the thing that I love doing most. Watching your videos helps tremendously. I feel the soul of discovery and your work is a refreshing breath of a true painting spirit. I send my well wishes and gratitudes to you master Gurney.
Phantastic video...as usual! You made me really happy again!
The pup sniffing was well needed and very appreciated!
One of my favourite painters talking about one of my favourite scientists (Hoffman)....! Man, doesn't get better than that!
Wonderful....I have watched your snow pile in the parking lot many times and it's a big favorite :) Now the woodpile is added to my favorite list :). Always learning....thank you James for your generous videos.
Mr. Gourney you are a good teacher.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. The visuals really help with your explanations.
Thank you so much for your videos! I'm trying to get back into gouache these days after a biiig big art block filled with a lot of insecurities. This helps! so thank you!
Great Video James! The log analogy is just great as is drawing a distinction between learning to see and learning to handle paint.
You are my number one in watercolor and gouache, really enjoy your work!
What a guy. Even the shots and angles in the video are really well composed.
Thank you, James. You are the best art instructor!
James, that was a really outstanding video which made me think hard about the way I approach painting. Well done.
I love your painting channel. I paint in acrylic but just bought a water color kit to try this. Thank you
this is FANTASTIC explanation! thank you Sir!
I see this channel at first time and I'm happy
captivating... I would never tackle a wood pile... but you show it's not so difficult
I so love your videos! They are so expertly made. Your teaching and artwork is superb!
Brilliant video and great lesson in overall drawing 👍 needs to be seen by everyone!!
what a great painting and discussion on perception! Thanks for all the great art videos!
Thank you so much for this video and explanation! This 11-minutes shot gave more than courses and some books!
this video is so helpful, thank you!!
As an artist, I guess you also choose what to see and not to see. I also think that other artist may see other things than I do, as if we are all wearing different filtered glasses, and that's ok. It's one of the aspects that makes us all different artists.
Right on Erik 🤣 One artist’s Blue-Green is another artist’s Green-Blue
Hey, Eric, Well put. So much of focused seeing is choosing what to ignore.
WOW just WOW! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you James! A brilliant teacher and artist you are!😁👍🏻
I think it's really cool that my mind goes through each of these steps as well.
your videos are also a form of stored sunlight master James
This was so aptly described....I love your explanations sir!
Great insights, and well- articulated. I agree with your thought on the "magic" of painting. I look forward to your next video!
This is soooo on point. Great, great video and breakdown of the painting process.
We paint what we think, even artists have diferent ways of think about what is being seen. Even our mood can change the way we see/think. Great thought
The manipulated images/photographs are so helpful! I learned so many new things!
Beautiful!
Awesome artwork! Truly impressive... Thank you for sharing. 🤩🎨🤩
Very insightful, thank you for sharing this James!
Congratulations James, it's wonderful !
Thank you for the video! And I really enjoyed the podcasts and articles you shared with us, too. :)
I started this journey with this channel with a meme about a frog's perception as the artist wonders what it sees. I have not regretted investing further than that meme. God bless you James, you make great content, keep it up :)
Thank you for your great videos and links about the nature of reality. Wonderful!
Excellent as always!
Exactly so. Thank you!
Such a great video! As my skills have developed, that I see details that I used to miss and my ability to parse out angles and shapes has improved. Hearing about the “top down” model of vision makes sense-I think much of my being an artist has been getting past my brain’s models for things to actually observe what’s truly there instead. 👍 I still struggle with complex scenes like this wood pile. Watching how you tackled it was very helpful! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us! 🪵
Wonderful lesson and thought process.
It's interesting how our mood and our situation on each moment affects the art we create. Because we're a senscient creature. We relate ourselves to the world through feelings. And artists have their history as well, have their traumas, have all the things we bring with us through life, the good and the bad as imperfect humans. All these are placed within the art we create. That's one of the reasons I like impressionism so much, because it is sort of a well balanced blend between realism and feelings. It allows us some abstraction but without falling into something all abstract, you know. There's still some sort of a more clear material connection to the world we live so people who sees the work can relate themselves to it easier. And by the way, I don't want to criticize both the realism and the abstractionism with my statement, I just want to point out some of the relevant things that impressionism can bring us as well. I think all forms of art complement each other. Art have been helping me a lot to relieve my problems I have in life, I wish I was a better artist with thr proper discipline and techniques. But I have this strong thing in my soul asking me, bringing me into painting. This need inside me to express myself, to feel the paint in the brush, to relieve it in the canvas. It's such an instint, just like the thirsty for a glass of water. I hope the art I make could be of some use for others as well. Just like your art inspired me.
Thank you! That’s exactly what I wonder: what does the artist “see?” I wonder what I see, and how can I break it into pieces as you have done? It’s fascinating. Thanks!
I just love your painterly style!!!! It’s beautiful
I just looked up your channel right now to revisit it and you recently posted a video. What a coincidence!
Excellent works thank you kindly.
Very profound, perhaps. Thanks for sharing.
wow,, that was a great feeling to dive in your perceptions.. beautiful
what a legend. Had no idea you were on youtube! Instant sub.
Your channel is so wonderful. I always try to draw along with you when I watch 💕💕
As usual very inspiring and interesting, thank you dear James!
I'm the other way around, I see the colours first and then I go to the shapes and details. But it's the colours with its shades and lights what catches my attention first and decides me to paint something (or not).
Terrific. Great tips and insights. Thanks!
Thank you so much, that was beautiful!
I started my painting journey last year watching vids like yours. The first rule I created for myself was
#1 Paint what you see. Not what you think you see.
An example is to look at something like a pot, cellphone or whatever. Look at it in detail. Then go into another room without the object and try to paint or draw it.
Now go back to the pot and compare the painting / drawing to it. You should realize that it looks like a simplified take on the object.
Whenever you take your eyes off the subject for, in my case, 4 seconds, while paining; you are NOT PAINTING WHAT YOU ARE SEEING but WHAT YOU THINK YOU SAW. The brain super simplified that object when it was being processed and removed the details. So when you recall it, you lost most of the details. It's similar to taking a picture and then making it small. Saving it. Then trying to blow it back up again. It lost the details when it was shrunk. Now it looks like a pixelated mess when you try to increase the size.
I try to make the parallel on how our computer screens work. Think about playing a first person shooter game and having the screen refresh every 5-10 seconds. Do you think that will help you make the best decision on the thing in front of you? So why are you doing that while painting?
Your eyes should be shifting back and forth from the subject to the painting while your hands move in free flow. Do not overthink your hand movements otherwise you'll start painting what you THINK you saw. Do not stare at the canvas for too long or you will start to paint what YOU THINK YOU SAW.
This rule helped me get far in the painting process in 7 months.
The other rule that helped me was not lying to myself when I got the form wrong. I didn't want to admit that the form I started with was not a good foundation. Then I spent countless hours trying to fix the painting. I should have just analyzed what I did right and wrong then restarted again or moved on to the next.
Anyway rule #2 was
#2 Learn your materials well so you know exactly how they work and how they react. So that when you are in the middle of painting something you are not surprised by the outcome. I took something simple and learned how to mix colors, use the tools to see what they do on canvas. This also includes building that muscle memory on moving your hand strokes to get desired results.
My third rule was #3
#3 Only put the details that matter in the painting.
I was painting an old man with a lot of wrinkles. The first time I tried I got hung up on the details I blasted through form/structure, lighting and shadows, etc. Just to get into painting in the wrinkles. The painting was a disaster. It was then I realized that I should, simplify the subject into simple shapes at the start of the painting. Then continue to add smaller shapes that start defining the subject. Then once I can see a resemblance of what I was painting, THEN add in the details... NOT ALL OF THEM!!! JUST THE ONES THAT DEFINE THE SUBJECT!!!
I don't need 100 wrinkles to show that he is old....I only need 15 in the right locations.
In about a year I was able to go from nothing to pretty decent getting like 75%-85% likeness. To me it's a fight between what my mind tries to simplify and process and what I actually see in front of me.
Most veteran artists have the upper hand in this fight. They have many tools at their disposal. For example, one tool is learning anatomy. This helps put quick place holders on what should be in a certain painting for you to go back to and clean up and shape it to the subject you are painting.
I am not versed well in anatomy so when I paint muscles, I only keep their shapes and hide my inefficiencies by keeping the painting a bit loose. Some artists know how they sit on the skeleton and make those muscles look wonderful.
Beautiful thoughts and paintings as always
Appreciate how you explained it.