Painting the 'Big-Box' Franchise Landscape

James Gurney paints an urban scene with franchise stores such as "Bed Bath and Beyond," "Barnes & Noble," and "Five Guys Burgers" from a rooftop level view. Topics covered: underpainting color, preliminary drawing, limited palette, capturing detail in gouache (opaque watercolor).

72 minute tutorial "Gouache in the Wild" available at:
James Gurney shows how he creates a plein air painting of old houses on location in East Durham, New York. The technique uses just three colors of casein, an opaque water medium similar to gouache.
Art tutorial "Gouache in the Wild"

[sherrierichard]

Agree with all—you make the most mundane beautiful! Your making a history of our culture with all your buildings and the scene around them. Thanks!

[prt-qlcv]

There is unexplained pleasure and bliss in watching you paint

[LukenUSee]

Aside from a splendid, "Hopperesque" rendering of a seemingly mundane scene, your stuck to your task and got the surprisingly beautiful painting done, despite oncoming rain. Thank you!

[cameronpfiffner]

Looking at Rembrandt’s pen drawings of farmsteads, I marvel at his aesthetic sense, but also at the feeling of the building itself, its proportions and intentions, their integration into the landscape. You are attempting to carry the observational acuity of his work into the present, but are faced with the blunt force trauma of capitalist architecture, its attempt to dominate, its disregard of its surroundings. You are nonetheless determined to experience it as an aesthetic event, and to express it. Bravo, James Gurney!

[chinmay]

A huge admirer Mr.Gurney ! Please keep uploading more painting and drawing videos. Your insight is invaluable.

Wishing you the best of luck !

[harryflynn]

You turn everything beautiful, thank you so much for making these for us. I respect you to no end!

[darthaardvark]

Thanks for making your videos.  They are extremely helpful!  Sometimes all the books in the world just can't give what watching over the shoulder of someone skilled and experienced can.  Your books are really good too though.

I have heard it said that a great portion of art is problem-solving.  I like how you focus on process in your videos.  Seeing you approach different situations with different limitations has been very enlightening.  Thanks for doing what you do! :)

[sprucehouse]

Your work always inspires me. I've gone over to "The Gouache Side" since watching your videos and have never looked back. I love painting with them! This was a fun video and a lot of good info in a short span of time. Thank you for sharing your work with us!

[josephlowry]

After watching an few of your other Gouache landscape painting videos I'm started to like Gouache.

[julieannakessler]

Goodness gracious, I never would have seen that beautiful composition in a strip mall. Thanks for the inspiration!

[JoeJoe-ycdu]

You Vidoes are all great to watch and learn also you approach and passion about life and art is great...I Subscribed because you add value to art
Thank You James

[omairjamal]

So Beautiful! I'm still working on watercolors but hope to get into gouache. Thank you for the great video sample. God bless!

[vhbaske]

These paintings of you are like "abstracts over realism", a concept I have not seen anywhere else, the brain fills the imaginary with real memories and the painting tends to look like a realist one. Beautiful!

[nosomocorro]

this is beautiful, must say that I became addicted to your videos. cheers from argentina

[rickl.orchids]

.a great view, many would pass by, love your work!

[Cruspitt]

El gran Canaletto de nuestros tiempos!
Gracias James!
Nowadays great Canaletto!
Thank you James!

[trevormurrey]

I long for more Gurney wisdom. When is a new video coming? :)

[zacheryredden]

Yesss. Your videos always make my day.

[dmmmm]

Amazing! How do you choose the color of the casein under layer for your paintings?

[krautgraphics]

Wow, awesome. You truly are the master. Starting over a toned paper is definitely forcing you to cover everything in solid opaque colors. I have tried gouache after purchasing your tutorial last month, and I always fall into the use of transparency. Gotta try the underpainting!