Pen Over Watercolor | A Strategy for Sketching for Complex Subjects

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  • Опубліковано 29 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 130

  • @cherilynne1946
    @cherilynne1946 Рік тому +9

    Anytime I want to shut off the chaotic world and invite creativity and its cathartic processes to take over, James Gurney’s videos have become my go-to place to breathe.

  • @StarlordStavanger
    @StarlordStavanger Рік тому +19

    man don't take this the wrong way, i know ur older than me, but i hope ur around for a long long time so we can enjoy your amazing videos for many many years to come! to good health and gouache!

  • @katarinamor
    @katarinamor Рік тому +165

    I find every video on this channel truly inspiring. I always find myself paralized by all those other channels that use titles like "The list of things you must do as an artist" and "The list of DON'Ts for an artist". While here everything is more like "Hey, look, that's what you can do", and it really speaks to the curious child I once was. Thank you, sir!

    • @satexas
      @satexas Рік тому +2

      This is Bob Ross's brother

  • @ChristinaTodd1970
    @ChristinaTodd1970 Рік тому +34

    Mr. Gurney, you're a legend and we all are so blessed that you spend time with us and always offer sound advise. Thank you from one artist to another.

  • @valeriekellum6552
    @valeriekellum6552 Рік тому +36

    I like your philosophy about watercolor and gouache being “watercolor” until you add white, then it becomes gouache, and your combining of the two so freely.

  • @a.b9893
    @a.b9893 Рік тому +9

    Hi James. I've been doing digital art for two years. Yesterday, I graduated from university and bought my first gouache set. Your channel has been a huge inspiration to me for a long time, and I want to thank you for that.

  • @KitKatWiffleBallBat
    @KitKatWiffleBallBat Рік тому +21

    This is why I love UA-cam, right here. Just wanna learn a little by watching a fantastic artist paint using whatever they so choose.
    James always delivers some cozy, enjoyable content. I grab a cup of coffee and usually warm up while I watch these. Thanks, James!
    😁🤜💥🤛🙏

  • @MelitaBintoro
    @MelitaBintoro Рік тому +12

    makes it look dreamy, what a great way to incorporate both looseness and detail. and that you can take your time deciding on the focus after the paints do their thing

  • @ZER0--
    @ZER0-- Рік тому +1

    This guy is one of my favourite artists. You know someone is good when they make you think "I could do that. Looks easy". It ain't.

  • @Surai00
    @Surai00 Рік тому +1

    James has taught me that there is no restriction on how many kinds of paint and ink you can use in one painting. Fantastic, as always!

  • @anthonybarsness1462
    @anthonybarsness1462 Рік тому +64

    You’re as creative with your content as you are with your art work. Always enjoy your videos

  • @JeffLafferty
    @JeffLafferty Рік тому +2

    Awesome piece. I lost track of your channel for a while, glad to see your still making videos!

    • @DeadGuye1995
      @DeadGuye1995 Рік тому +1

      If u dont pump out new ones per day, UA-cam hides ur ass, rip lol

  • @stephaniegrehan9084
    @stephaniegrehan9084 Рік тому +3

    I love your cheeky use of greenscreen in your editing. Your videos are so nice to listen to, so calm and confident.

  • @kllokoq
    @kllokoq 9 місяців тому +1

    your paintings look wonderful also when you are zoomed in. This is what truly fascinates me!

  • @alex_montoya
    @alex_montoya Рік тому +1

    Your videos are fantastic, James. I own two of your books and they have proven invaluable as a deep-layered source to which I return again and again.
    Thanks a lot for everything!

  • @LoveBystroem
    @LoveBystroem Рік тому +3

    it is always a joy when you get that notification of a new video from James, delivering intrigue and passion straight into my eyeballs.

  • @Rollyourown1
    @Rollyourown1 Рік тому +1

    James for 3 years now you are by far my favorite painter / artist here on UA-cam and you manage in your friendly way and your talent to inspire me again and again!

  • @mihailkondratyev8435
    @mihailkondratyev8435 Рік тому +2

    Nice trick with the green screen in the beginning!

  • @DB-zo5ng
    @DB-zo5ng Рік тому +1

    I don't comment much, but would like to say thank you for the years of producing videos and making the time to discuss not just techniques, but a little art history, a little philosophy, talking to passersby. It makes the world a little bit better place. Much appreciated.

  • @Netbug
    @Netbug Рік тому +2

    7:07 If I had skipped his ad I'd have missed out on another one of his signature practical effects.

  • @christophedevos3760
    @christophedevos3760 Рік тому +1

    Stunning. The approach reminds me off cell coloring of animation or in comic strips, very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

  • @chrisbockman6771
    @chrisbockman6771 Рік тому

    so absolutely cool!! We love you at LightBox Expo James!!

  • @victor_on_cartooning
    @victor_on_cartooning Рік тому +5

    Let’s gooo! Another video!

  • @ChristinaMandy_art
    @ChristinaMandy_art Рік тому +11

    So happy you still make new videos for us here on UA-cam. I really enjoy watching you work, but also listen to some of your tips while I work on my illustrations. Your work is inspiring! 👩🏻‍🎨

    • @DeadGuye1995
      @DeadGuye1995 Рік тому +1

      While others may rise and fall. Gurney is immutable haha xD

  • @hippopotamusbosch
    @hippopotamusbosch Рік тому +3

    I was expecting Jeanette Gurney to be teaching us pen and wash lesson today.

  • @MichaelRpdx
    @MichaelRpdx Рік тому +1

    Great to see you back again.

  • @user-sb3wh3dd4v
    @user-sb3wh3dd4v Рік тому +2

    Totally missed the meditating Buddha statue on the left, positioned at the golden section. Only AFTER watching the whole video and pausing, did that jump out. As always James, AMAZING work. THANK YOU for all your wonderful insights!

  • @sanzoy
    @sanzoy Рік тому +5

    This approach is brilliant. It still requires thoughts and skills to lay down the colors. But the process is much more manageable than laying down the lines first. I re-watched the key steps multiple times already.

  • @jazw4649
    @jazw4649 Рік тому

    I thought you had on a Canadian Mountie outfit in the thumbnail! 😆
    5:10 impasto areas with white acrylic paint! 💡 Great idea

  • @m.rutherford9997
    @m.rutherford9997 Рік тому +2

    I love, love the idea of using white acrylic paint to add as a texture, mixed along with the illusion of texture that a watercolor brush makes and the ink pen makes.

  • @Shebacca6000
    @Shebacca6000 Рік тому +1

    Yayyyyy what a nice treat on my break at work ❤

  • @cgsales559
    @cgsales559 Рік тому +4

    Amazing, as always! I truly appreciate Mr. Gurney's work and work ethic. (And in case you're wondering, his gumroad videos are absolutely worth checking out!)

  • @garydrawsandpaints7745
    @garydrawsandpaints7745 Рік тому +3

    Great video so far James. I was showing my students a couple of gouache layout video a couple of days ago. They said to say hello!

  • @deborahgoodwin3426
    @deborahgoodwin3426 Рік тому +1

    Oh my goodness, there is nothing that makes me happier than seeing a new video posted by James Gurney! And this one is nothing short of fantabulous!! With great pleasure, I have already watched this wonderful rendition of the proverbial wood pile, so very well known to those of us who reside in New England. Warm hugs and mugs of hot chocolate.....I am going back to watch it again. Bless you Mr. Gurney, you have no idea how very much I have learned from you. 👩‍🦳🖌️

  • @randominternetuser2
    @randominternetuser2 Рік тому

    James rocking the Land's End jacket, style! i love to see it!

  • @donmarchini43
    @donmarchini43 Рік тому

    Mr. Gurney, thank you for these vids. I still have a copy of your Artist’s Guide to Sketching…so to get to see you work and hear your commentary is some good stuff!

  • @Albinojackrussel
    @Albinojackrussel Рік тому

    That final image is so soothing to look at

  • @Netbug
    @Netbug Рік тому +1

    Always a pleasure! Thanks.

  • @tanagreen6571
    @tanagreen6571 Рік тому +2

    All your videos have such a warm feeling to them, enjoying absolutely every second of it. Thank so much for the tips!!

  • @ladyethyme
    @ladyethyme Рік тому

    Learn from the ultimate master!!! Thank you!!❤❤

  • @tomhoward8304
    @tomhoward8304 Рік тому +2

    You're inspiring to watch James. I take notes and try to implement them in my work, thank you.

  • @PopTartNeko
    @PopTartNeko Рік тому

    Awesome stuff. Bought a book of yours called Color and Light like 10 years ago. Been a fan since.!

  • @grahamnightingale9513
    @grahamnightingale9513 Рік тому +1

    Thank you James ever helpful and its always appreciated too!

  • @victor1804
    @victor1804 Рік тому +1

    Amazing as always! Thanks from Chile for all the knowlege you're sharing with us in these videos.

  • @fuzzydragons
    @fuzzydragons Рік тому

    great job on the wood detail, and captured the colours of th3e scene perfectly 😀

  • @13noman1
    @13noman1 Рік тому

    Oh, I LIKE that approach. I'm pretty new to art (upon retirement), tackled drawing/sketching first (pencil, charcoal and pen and ink) and rather like pen and ink. I'm now adding watercolor to my repertoire and was debating using a mixed media approach like this - it solves a host of (detail) problems!

  • @Azidust
    @Azidust Рік тому

    I love pen and watercolor together it give a more modern feel to the painting

  • @BrailleScale
    @BrailleScale Рік тому

    Seems like a great way to quickly capture the lighting with paint and then worry about the fine detail whenever. Thansk for sharing! I have learned so much about capturing big shapes and then moving towards the smaller details from watching your content over the years.

  • @therupoe
    @therupoe Рік тому

    Always a treat when one of your videos pop up! Thank you

  • @boya2monkae
    @boya2monkae Рік тому

    I love this process video. Every time I see an artist use ink and watercolour it is often ink first then watercolour. So this was really eye opening to see the reverse and how it doesn't limit the artist.

  • @vicnn1571
    @vicnn1571 Рік тому

    I loooooove how creative and experimental and educational and and clever your videos are!

  • @vonjess9
    @vonjess9 9 місяців тому

    Thank you for sharing your talent!

  • @jenslingspaint3523
    @jenslingspaint3523 Рік тому +1

    A quality entry as always. So glad to get a new video from you! Especially this subject. It is so easy to get overwhelmed in the details of a scene that complex.

  • @dmcdaniel2009
    @dmcdaniel2009 Рік тому

    AS ALWAYS, SUPERB !!

  • @ZzDe0
    @ZzDe0 Рік тому

    mr. gurney this is truly exquisite!

  • @PleaseNThankYou
    @PleaseNThankYou Рік тому +3

    I think I go into some sort of trace when I watch you paint and hear your voice.

  • @HalfWarrior
    @HalfWarrior Рік тому

    When you mentioned filmmaking, James; my mind jumped to a video done by Aaron Blaise where he mentioned that you did the background painting in some older Disney animated films ,which I thought was really cool and wonderful because I didn’t know that. Thank you sir for your work and instruction; much appreciated!

  • @dfinchermd
    @dfinchermd Рік тому

    Glad I stumbled on to your site. I have a hard time with limiting detail and over drawing. This technique should be helpful. I also like the gouache and WC combination and your minimalist pallette.

  • @LarsRichterMedia
    @LarsRichterMedia Рік тому +1

    I have to try this!

  • @faithmorante
    @faithmorante Рік тому

    What an amazing composition! I usually dont like ink and paint, but this one is so well done

  • @misty-step
    @misty-step Рік тому

    I like your advice about choosing what you want to focus in on, and then spend your time putting detail in that area then let the rest go with paint strokes. I will try to employ this technique/philosophy :) Thank you for sharing!

  • @clintondavis3363
    @clintondavis3363 Рік тому

    Thank you for the ideas and demonstrations. So far, I’ve done pen-and-ink drawing first, then come in with watercolor, and finishing with gouache. I can see how your approach here would work with some subjects.
    Again thank you for sharing your ideas, tools and methods.

  • @susankrzywicki
    @susankrzywicki Рік тому

    Beautiful and inspiring

  • @alatacak6270
    @alatacak6270 Рік тому

    I absolutely love your videos

  • @graciousmom4127
    @graciousmom4127 Рік тому

    Lovet as always! 🙏👍😍

  • @t0raneko
    @t0raneko Рік тому

    Finally, he's back!

  • @sugaryxegnirys
    @sugaryxegnirys Рік тому

    I look forward to trying this!!

  • @Patxi__
    @Patxi__ Рік тому

    Great video, I love your channel and your work, it is so inspiring and informative.

  • @richvanatte3947
    @richvanatte3947 Рік тому

    Brilliant!

  • @osks
    @osks Рік тому

    Vert nicely done!

  • @patmcdonagh8939
    @patmcdonagh8939 Рік тому

    Wonderful video, thank you so much

  • @mato579
    @mato579 Рік тому

    insanely beautiful technique :)

  • @BlancaVarguesArt
    @BlancaVarguesArt Рік тому

    Wonderful painting as always, your technique is so attractive that it encourages me to try painting😍😍

  • @kapildebnath386
    @kapildebnath386 Рік тому +1

    I watch each and every video of yours and try to learn, please make more art videos, we are waiting🙏

  • @ember1794
    @ember1794 Рік тому

    Amazing!

  • @CathyJohnson
    @CathyJohnson Рік тому +1

    What fun and how inspiring, James, as always! Quick question...your pen has a flex nib, but the Waterman pen in the ad doesn't. Where would I find Waterman with a nib like that, please? Or is it what I call a Frankenpen, that you've added a different nib to?

  • @aeastman59
    @aeastman59 Рік тому

    I didnt see the star of the videos in this one (smooth)... the colors in this are beautiful!

  • @aliceprofitt8506
    @aliceprofitt8506 Рік тому

    Very helpful! Thank You.

  • @DannySabraArt
    @DannySabraArt Рік тому +5

    So cool to learn about some of those painters from history James! And the trick with the acrylic paint was a cool idea! I’ll have to try that. Does the acrylic resist watercolor?

    • @DeadGuye1995
      @DeadGuye1995 Рік тому

      They have water soluble and non, They even have water soulable oil? I guess so,i bought it, and it works but im no chemist, and it was only invented recently.

  • @ingidraws
    @ingidraws Рік тому

    ... when you said "Pen and Ink" > I was reminded of its meaning in Cockney rhyme-slang as > Stink :)
    Your videos have taught me so much -- and I honestly think that it's not only down to the techniques used, but the delivery, editing and humour 💪❤

  • @anishsomanoff
    @anishsomanoff Рік тому

    Amazing👍👍👍 😀

  • @КонстантинРязанов-г8е

    Вы смелый и классный,у вас правдивая...я бы сказал очень честная гуашь,увидел ваши некоторые рисунки!Спасибо.

  • @Ou_phrontis
    @Ou_phrontis Рік тому

    I love this! I find that when I try to do pen and wash I get too caught up in the details. Laying down the color first looks to be a good way to break me of that habit.

  • @dorisdavidson7849
    @dorisdavidson7849 Рік тому +1

    Thanks that was interesting

  • @littlesparrowlisa
    @littlesparrowlisa Рік тому

    Love it! Thanks for another great video! I haven't done much with watercolor and ink, but now I'm inspired to try. Do you think you'll do a video someday about the first method of putting down ink first, then watercolor?

  • @j.pearce3981
    @j.pearce3981 Рік тому

    i love love this method. so much fun
    i gotta ask about the buddha statue on the woodpile though...?

  • @derekfernandez7701
    @derekfernandez7701 Рік тому

    I love your videos so much James!😍I learn so much from you thank you! (I just purchased your 'Colour in Practice' Gumroad tutorial - can't wait!)

  • @garthok6224
    @garthok6224 Рік тому

    Looking our hero getting old. I was worried after 2 months. I hope James stay healthy for many years.

  • @roeyfitzpatrick5899
    @roeyfitzpatrick5899 Рік тому +1

    I love this technique. You are using a fountain pen but the ink appears to be waterproof when dry. What type of ink dries waterproof but doesn't clog up the pen? Thanks.

    • @JamesGurney
      @JamesGurney  Рік тому +1

      A lot of artists use Noodler ink, which is at least water resistant. I use a watersoluble ink to keep my pen from clogging. If you put a wash over those ink lines, they will blur or dissolve, so I only rewet them if I want to soften the lines.

    • @76tygfgug
      @76tygfgug 6 місяців тому

      ​@@JamesGurney , I am using a same Pilot 912 pen with yama-guri ink, but it appears much bolder on the painted surface than on the plain paper. Even the back of the tip is too bold for a finer lines. How did you solve this?

  • @OatGouache
    @OatGouache Рік тому

    i miss your job painting. James

  • @timsimmons7916
    @timsimmons7916 Рік тому

    Please explain why you use the White Acrylic. Why acrylic?

  • @Lauli55
    @Lauli55 Рік тому

    I really like going wet in wet with a fountain pen! More like "damp in wet" I guess, but you get the idea haha.

  • @BHARGAV_GAJJAR
    @BHARGAV_GAJJAR Рік тому

    So basically make shadows with a nib pen ?

  • @daniellof453
    @daniellof453 Рік тому +1

    What ink did you use for the fountainpen? Most are dye based, so they don't like water at all.

    • @JamesGurney
      @JamesGurney  Рік тому +3

      Most of the time I use Higgins sepia or Higgins Eternal. You're right: they dissolve under washes, which is another reason I do the lines last.

  • @steztoyz
    @steztoyz Рік тому

    Mr. Gurney,
    What pens and nibs are you using in this? Also what inks?
    It looks like one of the pens is a fountain pen and the other is a dip pen, but I can't see the specific pens or nibs.
    Also, what type of watercolor paper are you using?

  • @sky0kast0
    @sky0kast0 Рік тому

    Me and my brother love dinotopia and would be interested in a general setting book for roleplaying

  • @Artistjmorgan
    @Artistjmorgan Рік тому

    How did you make those painting timelapses in the start without showing the hand or brush ?? :0

    • @JamesGurney
      @JamesGurney  Рік тому

      Draw a little, pull back hand, snap photo, repeat.

    • @Artistjmorgan
      @Artistjmorgan Рік тому

      @@JamesGurney Stop motion ! I should have thought of that .. awesome

  • @jesuscarmelorodriguezlem-id2vu

    Genial 👍👍👍👍

  • @catoblepag
    @catoblepag Рік тому +1

    Nice work! I see you've used some kind of brown ink, right? That might be another reason for doing watercolour first and ink later, 'cause most color inks aren't waterproof.

    • @DeadGuye1995
      @DeadGuye1995 Рік тому

      And explains the meticulous way of older european artists painting around their ink, aka using delicate light washes. Aka making the paint colour fade and not looking so good later. Im sure wet ink into wet colour aint good. But Gurney knows what up lol

  • @mikedameron602
    @mikedameron602 Рік тому

    Not familiar with your videos, yet. I've been doing ink and watercolor for quite a while (decades) and found the video interesting. I even took a "Great Courses" class and a formal class, years ago; both included the technique. It's a useful tool en plein aire to speed a painting. I was wondering why you use a fountain pen instead of a felt tip. I like the variety of felt tip sizes that are readily available and readily give the drawing a "textured" quality with the various line sizes. It can be easily overdone, but it has worked. I did a series of drawings based on some by Henri Matisse, and used the technique to add my "take" to several drawings. I also noticed the ink added into wet paper. I wondered if you use water-based ink or not. I'll have to do some tests on that, I have both in the studio. I get a similar effect from water soluble graphite that I use for sketching before adding paint. The graphite diffuses for shadow, etc. I'll look over your videos. Your presentation looks to be easy to follow without a lot of chatter that I see in many "how to" presentations.