Painting Feathered Dinosaurs with James Gurney

[@dylangeltzeiler946]

Huh? Oh! Another Documentary. "I Think." You've out done yourself once again Mr. Gurney. I see your Illustrating another Yutyrannus. Only this one's having a dust bath. Not going stealing someone else's kill. Still, It's nice like you did in Tyrannosaurs. Um, Will this be out on DVD too? I was just asking since I'm a fan of one of the Great Paleoartists. Speaking of which, I'll send you a list of the other Great Paleoartists who did different but great Illustrations of the Dinosaurs like what you've done & what you did here.

[@JamesGurney]

Thanks, Dylan. I didn't shoot enough footage on these paintings to make a documentary, so everything I got is in this free YT video. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@dylangeltzeiler946]

Oh! Mr. Gurney! What a surprise. It's been a while since I replied nice comments & you responded back. Ahem! Well, Sorry to hear there's no enough footage for another Documentary. Again, The new Illustration of Yutyrannus looks pretty good. Just like the last one along with a trio of it's cousin Dilong. Well, I'll Email you nice messages some other time. One more thing, I trust you read & liked my Email message about the "Calla Edition" 3 days ago.

[@basteagui]

@@JamesGurney you should plug your book and any dvds u have in a short ad in your videos. just an idea!

[@Francois2144]

I admire and appreciate people who restore dinosaurs as real animals doing real animal behaviour, instead of the unreal restorations that depict dinosaurs battling and roaring at each other.

[@thefoxialbunny]

I love this guy.

[@victortoledo1047]

everybody loves gurney

[@mamezofl-wdmn8672]

researching process is incredible, now i know how the true master prepares to work on a painting

[@CalvinHikes]

My new favorite dinosaur is that dust bath T-Rex type fella.

[@dapeach06]

I would love it if you updated Dinotopia, all of the books, with feathers and modern reconstructions of all the dinosaurs appearances. I know that a lot of people like the things that they grew up with in their childhood not to change, but I absolutely love Dinotopia, and it would be amazing to see that world with the understanding of dinosaurs that we have now

[@hugoalvord2779]

I've been having a lot of trouble making art recently but watching these videos has helped inspired my art and make me excited to try new techniques in painting. Thank you for the free videos :) You have always been my favorite artist

[@Mayhyn]

Ah sweet! Hard to find dinos doing casual things and accurately presented!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Right, we've had enough with the chasing Jeeps and biting heads off poor guys in the porta potty!!

[@NatashaGarciayarini]

My son and I were patiently waiting for this one to be uploaded! :) again, another inspiring video and the beautiful work you do. This was very much worth the wait.

[@MontMarteArt]

THANK YOU! This made my day James. Your movies are so well thought out and brilliantly filmed and edited, a real treat to watch. Cant wait for more. Thanks again. Joe

[@dave5194]

Your dinosaur series is my favorite by far. I'm absolutely fascinated by your process of building the maquette first and using that as a reference for lighting and pose, and the wealth of research and knowledge you put into your pieces. This is your most in depth one yet.

[@catherinecervas3726]

Fabulous work--I love the way you put so much into the process to get believable lighting and detail. Thank you!

[@robertsalgado6707]

Your dinos are the best Mr.Gurney! :)

[@dabroenia9064]

I bought your two books and they gave me a lot of 'aha' moments. Seeing your process in video is another revelation. Thank you Mr. Gurney for sharing all your valuable experience. Greetings from Belgium.

[@steampoweredmaniac5359]

8:00 Yep, just a typical backyard bird.

[@clunky9072]

I love the amount of effort put into these videos. I am glad people are finally starting to recognise you for the legend you are.

[@SkinSvin]

I hope you never stop painting dinosaurs, really gorgeous!

[@lauriann5695]

You are my absolute favourite dinosaur painter i love seeing this brings out my inner kid wanted to learn about those beautiful animals

[@crystalheart9]

I love watching these videos where you explain how you create your amazing dinosaur paintings. I have loved learning about dinosaurs since I was a kid and would try and draw them form a book I had.

[@poobertop]

I love your models, they have some much personality but are dead simple. Great work Gurney, thanks for sharing.

[@fabpicture_com]

Amazing work ! You're the uncle we all dreamed about ;)

[@jacobsanchez266]

I had not ever thought that will be a man capable to create a fantastic world recreating nature as you actually do your work is very inspiring

[@KAC2689]

Honestly sometimes I cry because he’s so brilliant. Genius truly. I hope we cross paths one day

[@ronschlorff7089]

Nice! Very good how you just "eliminated" three dinosaurs with a few strokes of a green paint loaded brush!! Such awesome power an artist has, you know, moving mountains and such! Love these paintings and the reminder of my early days of painting wildlife, and making clay and card models of them for shadows and such as you did. Also painted them on paper or clear plastic and moved them around a blocked in background scene to see where they fit best In the composition. Good stuff!!

[@lturner7159]

You sir have this down to a science (LITERALLY) 💯🔥🔥🔥 and your techniques are truely amazing

[@Rebikbok]

this was an absolute joy to watch! i particularly like how you tackled the backgrounds to imitate nature photographs. i'd never thought of it before but it adds an element of believability to your paintings and makes them feel so much more lifelike!

[@TrOuTster5]

I simply can't get enough of you vids. So informative and fun. Thank you.

[@kosinus]

thx a lot for beeing so open and honest about your work process.

[@robertsloan8923]

One of your best videos yet! I always love it when you do dinosaurs.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Wow! Just wow! You are an amazing artist and it is so much fun to watch ANY of your videos. The dedication you put into everything is inspiring. Our family loved watching Dinotopia so thanks for that too!

[@virberrocalart]

Draw, paint, sculpture, photography...what amazing process!! Love your work Sir ☺️. Greetings from Spain.

[@rtkartist]

I learned so much from this video, from terminology to painting feathers!

[@xh7385]

This is the spirit which we call "craftsmanship" and "artisanship".

[@samueljaysonfoote]

Very educational and inspiring! Great work all around. Thanks for this

[@astrid5126]

The dust bath dino is my favorite! Love the longer format of the video :D

[@MsLoveDance1]

James Gurney has been my inspiration for a fantasized land called Ahmanzí I created. It's a tropical forest like area where tribes live with dinosaurs. Id love to put inspiration from real dinos and put a fantasy touch on it. I have recently created a feathered dino called a Cheiera. James Gurney has inspired me to study deeply the anatomy of dinos although I doubt I will ever reach the level and passion Gurney had.

[@SDW90808]

Riveting! So much excellent information. Thank you for sharing your techniques for study and execution. Also, loved your comments around 4:19 (Dr Seuss character eyes!). Refreshing to know I'm not the only one who has to repeatedly erase sometimes to get something right. I feel inspired.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Right, and about revisions; good to remember YOU own the painting,.. not the other way around!!

[@basteagui]

amazing work! going the extra mile with the model was seriously top notch

[@DaveChurchill]

This was fascinating, thank you for the detailed explanation!

[@luxor106]

I really love seeing you creative process it definitely reminds me to take my time, do several put in the work and see it from all perspectives .... and to not be afraid to do several different renditions before committing to a final piece

[@jurassicnicomon8361]

Thank you so much, this was very helpful! and Dinotopia is also a really great example of your great paintings, thank you for everything!

[@jurassicnicomon8361]

The Yutyrannus is great!

[@PraiseLordJesus4110]

so freaking cool! thank you for being awesome :D

[@stripeytapir]

Thank you for sharing! It's so interesting and encouraging to see your work and your process!!

[@abbassyed8414]

You are such an inspiration James ❤️

[@TheSangson]

Generally I hold James Gurney very dear ever since my childhood with Dinotopia, I got into sculpting because of Imaginary Realism, to make maquettes - but the part around 2:50 about Sculpey as a base and something else on top was a big, very big "WAIT WHAT" moment. I've sculpted in detail, extreme detail, and Sculpey allows for all of it, while the maquette shown at that point...well, it's always quite educational for me to see how little is needed to serve its purpose, but that's the point: Compared to what you can do with Sculpey, that isn't even in the general ballpark of "detail". This really made me wonder whether I might have surpassed my idol, though only the regard of having my Sculpey in a better shape or knowing how to work with it better. Generally, if anything allows for greater detail than Sculpey, it means something's wrong with your Sculpey. I should be a sales agent for them I guess...

[@nelhurtado7767]

You are the best Mr. Gurney! Un ARTIST

[@madisonxyz9887]

nelson adolfo hurtado ordoñez lmao. Un changes the whole meaning of your comment.

[@nelhurtado7767]

Oh, that's right ...a typo...SORRY ! AN ARTIST 👨🏻‍🎨

[@mihancic]

Thanks for making these. It's so great to observe your process, I like the maquetts especially.

[@Patxi__]

So inspiring. Beautuful illustrations.

[@brucerobenalt8048]

Absolutely stunning work!

[@xh7385]

8:18 Your Fallout-styled mechanical gadget is interesting.

[@JeffLafferty]

Three great pieces James

[@CheSanassa]

I click "like" before the video done loading to start haha thanks Gurney

[@davidgeister]

Outstanding work and presentation, as always!

[@giulianacesca4711]

Man!!! I love your videos!!!

[@cdplus2339]

yeah you're my hero. thanks for getting kid-me into dinosaurs AND art

[@mitchcornacchia968]

MASTERFUL WORK!!!

[@CountZero]

Thank you Mr Gurney for this another video ! Best Likes/Views ratio on youtube so far :D

[@Антон-с5ь5и]

You are simply an amazing person!

[@OpenBiolabsGuy]

This guy is a master of world building right up there with some of the more popular fantasy authors.

[@DerBingle1]

Absolutely amazing! Great!

[@thedubstepaddict3675]

Beautiful work! I'm taking noted for my own artwork. one question tho: where did khaan's second-finger-feathers go?

[@rosariosmith2162]

I like this art Mr.Gurney I am very shocked at the level or detail

[@Cyriakx]

Love the way you say "maquette".

[@HaeBeautie]

Amazing as always! Thank you!

[@haram640]

These paintings are awesome! Also thank you so much for pronouncing Bokeh correctly...

[@buntUNDkreativ]

just wow!! amazing artworks!

[@abbystevens5693]

thanks I learn so much in which way to improviseren my own painting.

[@NoahCatan]

Amazing work, yet again :)

[@Zen-ep6mc]

You are my favourite artist since high shcool

[@sprucehouse9]

Fantastic! I never get tired of watching you create these paintings. I noticed at least one comment (on Facebook I think it was) from someone who said something like "birds didn't come from dinosaurs; God made birds all by themselves" , and I know one ornithologist (Kimball Garrett at the LA Natural History Museum) that pooh-poohs the idea as nonsense. But I have found the evidence too compelling and increasingly pervasive to ignore. Indeed, I only have to observe the ground-scurrying behavior of California Towhees or Northern Mockingbirds to convince me that birds evolved from reptilian dinosaurs; it is definitely lizard-like.

[@traekas7228]

Great tutorial, James! Unfortunately, I don’t use oil paints anymore. In the beginning, I discovered, almost right away that I couldn’t breathe around the turpentine or linseed oil. One of those. I only ever painted one oil painting, it was my only one,…ever. I don’t miss it. I’d rather breathe, tbh.

[@dainah105]

Just incredible

[@brettforsyth4842]

You sir have a subscriber!

[@PaleoEntertainment]

I LOVE your paleoart videos! Also, do you have any advice for aspiring paleoartists? I think I want to make a living as a paleoartist when I am older. I'm just not sure how...

[@JamesGurney]

I think it's important to understand the anatomy of dinosaurs, while also studying the morphology and behavior of living birds and other analogous animals.

[@JamesGurney]

I think it's important to study the fossils and read lots of books on dinosaurs, but it's equally important to know all you can about living animals, and how they move and behave. Watch birds and mammals and draw them all you can. It will help your paleoart immensely.

[@PaleoEntertainment]

@@JamesGurney Thank you so much for the advice. I'm definetly going to use it.

[@tsukinomiweasel551]

Could you explain your process of simplification of forms?

[@essietangle9931]

Hope it's okay to leave a note here. The Met has opened what looks to be fascinating information and research on the works of Hercules Segers. For his time and they say very little travel had quite an imagination. If you and your family have time for the exhibit I hope they allow you all to make a video on it.

[@fardeenhayat8240]

An inquiry, what do you use the spray adhesive for?

[@kuroo.o1304]

I've never been so glad to have followed the recommendation of a GG comment

[@pablobarrios7681]

Game grumps?

[@Tooradj]

James, as usual amazing. Have you considered Blender for trying modelling and lighting ideas? It gives you a lot of freedom and flexibility. I know it is not the real thing but with your experience, I am sure you can close the gap. I own your books. You certainly know how to teach without unnecessarily fluff. Thanks for sharing.

[@DJSHADDY2K7]

I enjoy watch that and also lending a lot.

[@sankarpandi5175]

I Love your painting

[@astrovert.ed2321]

Can't I just like this video twice?

[@amandaperry4328]

Question for you - I'm trying to deside whether I should purchase gouache or casein - which would you reccomend?

[@JamesGurney]

Amanda, I'd start with gouache. It combines well with watercolor and cleans up easily.

[@amandaperry4328]

James Gurney thanks! i don't have any artist quality watercolours at the moment so is this something I should purchase as well?

[@amandaperry4328]

James Gurney I use oils and acrylics mostly

[@simonjupin7609]

How do you paint vegetation ? I love your work, will you do some steampunk paintings ?

[@JamesGurney]

Poodan, try the Gurney Journey blog and put "foliage" into the search box. You can also put "steampunk" there and you'll get lots of results.

[@0181spikri]

Its so different than want Im focused on for the last 8 years, that Ive forgotten how life was without bullshit such as social demands and other nonsense that lingers in a teenager's head. You can be fine without the need of other's approval is what Im learning at the moment and somehow people like Gurney and older people show tranquillity in one's self. Hope that the spelling is not shit which it probably is.

[@echa9446]

do you receive interns? gosshhh i am in awe of your works

[@noahzoic4762]

Your videos always inspire me to start painting i just need to find the time.

[@thisisnotharvey]

This was pretty rad

[@basedjohnson3111]

WHERE CAN I BUY ARTWORK LIKE THIS?

[@gtracer6629]

Wouldn't it be cool if someone started making realistic (inexpensive) models of (At least) featherd dinosaurs. So instead of pink flamingos or Canada geese on your front lawn, you could have dinosaurs. Not T- Rex size, but perhaps Velociraptors size.

[@ronschlorff7089]

People do metal sculptures of them, some huge ones, seen in some garden stores here in AZ. Not inexpensive though or I'd get one or two. Plastic model assembly kits of dinosaurs are available on Amazon; but they are small. But would be good for making paintings from them.

[@AK-Drakoin]

I think part of drawing dinosaurs is like capturing something that was real but capturing it using your imagination. That's why people use birds as reference, because they were so similiar yet you can still make things accurate while using your imagination to do so.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Great news update folks, I recently found some, what appear to be half scale sized 'raptors at a garden shop near me. They are about 7-8 feet long and crouching to about 4-5 feet tall. All welded sheet metal construction and really so accurate looking! Best part is they are only 900 bucks each!!! My wife even gave me permission to get one! :D

[@GlassJoe-fgc]

4:39 I just give up when my paint looks like this

[@cheerubebayonettaholopaine2638]

this is passion

[@alexanderpalomarestello4392]

do you use watercolor or oil?

[@desertdarlene]

Nice. I want to try now.

[@gemsoundscool]

Please do more dinosaurs!

[@antonchikakchiev9394]

I've always wondered what steps the process of painting feathered dinos typically includes :D the joke aside, very professional work!

[@BooksRebound]

that was a lot of work dude wooow

[@prepperpov5852]

Woah! Cool

[@randalllaue4042]

Not to mention the new one’s being discovered!!!

[@sowiloi]

Hello Mr Gurney, are your models available? Greetings from Mesozoic Dinosaur World