Live Animals Sketching at the Zoo: Watercolor | Gouache Painting a moving target

Hey Art-family!
It has been beautiful and sunny and I decided to take my kids to the zoo. I thought I'd do a little demo on sketching a moving animal since it comes up a lot in classes and workshops I've taught. In the video I talk about trying to keep the shapes simple and knowing some basic rules of light that you can apply to form. The main piece of advice I give is to lower your standard and try to just have fun with it. Sometimes an animal will just up and walk away when you're halfway through a drawing. Learning to move on and not get attached to individual drawings is a big threshold you have to cross with art.
For more advice I encourage you to check out Aaron Blaise and Proko's videos on zoo sketching. Those two dudes make some of the best art content on the internet and they're remarkable talents.

Good luck out there and happy sketching!
-Jared

insta: jaredcullum
twitter: jared_cullum

[SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Absolutely wonderful video Jared. Very clear instruction on an incredibly difficult place to work. I've done plein air horse painting and that was possibly the most difficult plein air I've ever done... including painting the Grand Canyon. New Subscriber...and thanks for being so generous with your knowledge!

[jorgenbech]

Oh my god, you just saved my belief in gouache again. Amazing sketches.

[tjs]

I watched this while painting a bird and suddenly it all seemed really clear to me, and my painting turned at great for a change.

[jensheart]

Well...This video is definitely goes into the rewatch 10 or 1000 times list. I'm at that point where I'm only starting to approach light and how to manipulate it and properly observe/understand. Thank you for lil squeezed in tutorial, I'll try it for myself!! Also oh my finally! Always watching these plein airs from the zoo and feeling so lost to get how artist manage to deal with such a moving things. U explained enough for me to try and start using my cat as a ref for practice. Thank you for keeping up with youtube. I learn a lot from you and constantly get motivated :)

[Sandrinesgallery]

Beautiful and very informative. Thank you for sharing.

[jennifernewmanart]

Absolutely beautiful work, the light is fantastic and I really enjoyed watching how you put down the paint

[houseplant]

Every time I watch your video I feel the need to pick up my paint brush and paint hehe. (which I wish I could but i need to do my Art history essay which is due in a few hours *cries*) Because of your videos my passion and love for painting grew. From each and every process video you uploaded, I learned so many things!! Your explanation for your thought process is always so informative! Thank you again for recording, filming and editing everything!!!! :D

[brianashmorestudio]

I enjoyed this SO MUCH! I loved your insights and instruction. The tiger turned out gorgeous. Watching you paint makes me want to get out somewhere and paint, so bad. The line, "Looks like a weird dog." Ha ha ha! 😂

[MCMarts]

This is amazing. Really makes me want to try gouache! Just watercolor, for now, but your work is an inspiration.

[nmonteiro]

Your videos are so informative. I’m really happy that I found your channel.

[robbielu]

Thank You What i needed to start my morning yes i will rewatch it again!

[someonenew]

Thank you - a very helpful video; especially for the zoo and other situations were the living beings just won't hold still! lol ... I like the octopus as a subject, here at our local zoo - he/she stays put mostly - though the octopus IS watching me as intently as I watch him/her!
Oh - never forget to show the art to the octopus - I swear it recognized itself.

[daliaabdelshafi]

You are awesome and I think you are totally underrated.

[SarahBurnsStudio]

Such an excellent tutorial!! Thank you so much.

[Lemn]

You are a big inspiration to me! Thanks for uploading this video. :)

[DuffyWybieBigReputation]

I have been struggling with understanding how to use watercolor to show lighting and shadows and make the local color work and after watching this I’m inspired to attempt watercolor again! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge; I always learn something new from your videos.
On a separate note; what basic gouache colors do you use? Which do you recommend because I want to get only the colors I will need. Thanks again!:)))

[norhankhorshid]

I'm in love with ur strokes, stunning work man
what's the name of the soundtrack in the back?

[BenedicteGele]

Well done! This was not easy but you managed wonderfully!

[jorgelozanoprol]

Thanks Jared, this is one of the most amazing videos on watercolour painting on youtube. Ive watched it like a zillion times. Ive checked that you put a nice reply to everybody that writes a comment, thats very nice from your side. I was just wondering the materials youve used, it seems a escoda perla brush (no fancy hair in it, but well enough to deal with the white gouache mixed with the watercolours). Could i possibly know the brand of sketchbook you are using? It seems heavy paper but with no tooth in it. Thanks for helping the artist to be or to try to be community :-)

[tericarter]

Hi Very informative video Where can I find the laws of light and shadow that you discuss ? I think I need to read it and think about it over again slowly to really take it in