Painting a Weird Forest in Gouache

James Gurney searches out the weird as he demos a small gouache landscape study in the wilderness of the Hudson Valley, New York. He carries his sketchbook and homemade easel far into the woods to paint an overgrown forest trail. He uses a limited palette of gouache over a casein underpainting. Along the way he faces several challenges: mud, ticks, centipedes, and rain, as well as the visual complexity of the three-dimensional depth of the vines and branches. His companion is the husky dog "Smooth."
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[F.M.H-zs]

Can we all appreciate how good his filming and editing are, so creative! & I cannot skip one video of yours, i learned a lot

[AITullball]

Smooth's patience and cooperativeness is exemplary.

[yasao_art]

Your narration is just as beautiful as the painting. Thank you for the amazing video ♥

[GregBainArt]

Thank you James. You're an inspiration. I feel empowered every time I watch one of your vids.

[thephantomtimelord]

Just discovered this guy, and I just love the little interruptions to give updates on what his dog is doing. Gives off Bob Ross vibes.

[sharronboxenbaum]

Love how you tackled that complexity with the roots and vines

[KimberlyCrick]

As primarily a watercolor artist used to transparent layers, I've arrived at your channel while trying to get a better understanding of approaching layering in gouache. I think I came to the right place! Your dog is so patient and looks to be having a nice time outdoors while you're painting, it's lovely to watch :)

[StonemonkeyTube]

I seriously thought you were going to grab a twig, some of Smooths fur and make a brush. It seems like something you would do.

[Mordhelm]

Smooth knows you can make brushes from chipmunks

[matthieukiriyama]

I just read a 1837 poem by Victor Hugo, written as a tribute to Albrecht Dürer. While I love Durer, the poem didn't really make me think of him. However, I think that there are many aspects that work really well with you in mind, James. So, here is my attempt at translating the first two stanzas:

In old forests, where the flowing sap
Runs from the alder’s black shaft to the birches’ white trunks,
Many times, have you not? Across the clearing,
Pale, frightened, daring not to look back,
You’ve hurried, trembling, and with a nervous stride
,
O my master Albrecht Dürer, o old pensive painter!

One senses before your revered paintings,
That in the black thickets your visionary eye
Distinctly saw, all covered in shade,
The webbed-fingered faun, the green-eyed sylvan,
Pan, who adorns with flowers the cave where you meditate,
And the ancient dryad with hands full of leaves
.

[birgitblume]

You're a poet!!! I love to see your love for Smooth ❤

[red]

You were brave going through the forest with mud, insects, ticks, and rain! Well done. Thanks for sharing tips and painting techniques, really appreciate your help. JB England

[Peachmiilk]

Watching his videos always makes me want to go out and paint something, thank you for motivating me :)

[buenjosefandrade]

I always love James' philosophical ruminations at the end of his videos

[bryancoombesart]

So cool James, the complexity of forest scenes can be so daunting. I love how you broke it up into 3 to 4 layers, coolest and lightest value farthest back.

[fragwagon]

I'd love to see a gallery full of your sketchbooks!

[strange-universe]

I am a big fan of videos that are short and sweet, and to the point. You are an exception, from the process to the narration, and of course the sketches, this is wonderful. I could watch for hours.

[john]

Hello from the UK, I'm learning so much from your videos with gouache but I'm finding my self watching one video after another then it's bed time 😂and I have no time then to paint, keep them videos coming 👍

[alexandrbravo]

Как важно найти место, которое вдохновит. Спасибо за урок👍👍👍👏👏

[kyletwebster]

Wonderful simplification of those fallen trees.