How to Light a Landscape

James Gurney demonstrates an essential principle of landscape painting: how to selectively illuminate a landscape. Instead of lighting a scene evenly, you can put the spotlight on the foreground, middle ground or background. As he paints a plein-air landscape he answers questions from followers.
CASEIN AND OTHER MATERIALS
Casein basic set of 6 colors: bit.ly/3EF4o11
Casein underpainting set of 6: bit.ly/3PDNcQ0
Titanium white: tinyurl.com/4n...
Cadmium yellow light: tinyurl.com/yc...
Cadmium orange: tinyurl.com/ys...
Golden ochre: tinyurl.com/y7...
Cadmium green: tinyurl.com/45...
Cerulean blue: tinyurl.com/2b...
Ultramarine blue: tinyurl.com/2x...
Cadmium red scarlet: tinyurl.com/mr...
Venetian red: tinyurl.com/kx...
Casein emulsion: bit.ly/3RoP4gz
Winsor and Newton gloss varnish: tinyurl.com/2j...
Travel brush set: bit.ly/46fkdXY
Plein-air tripod: tinyurl.com/mr...
BOOK I MENTIONED
Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting: amzn.to/3k1zAOw
VIDEO TUTORIALS:
Sample from the new video tutorial "Gradients": gurneyjourney....
“Casein Painting in the Wild” (Download on Gumroad): gumroad.com/l/...
“How to Make a Sketch Easel” (DVD): kunaki.com/Sale...
BLOG POSTS WITH MORE GEAR INFO:
Gouache Materials List: gurneyjourney.b...
BOOKS BY JAMES GURNEY:
Color and Light: A Guide for Realist Painters: amzn.to/2JhWtfc
Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn’t Exist: amzn.to/2LbVHhc
Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time: amzn.to/2xyamRM
OTHER OFFICIAL SITES
Instagram: / jamesgurneyart
Pinterest: / gurneyjourney
GurneyJourney Blog: gurneyjourney.b...
JamesGurney Website: jamesgurney.com/
Facebook group "Sketch Easel Builders": www.facebook.c...
Facebook group "Color in Practice": / 160510955315435
Music by Kevin MacLeod, incompetech.com

[@JamesGurney]

Paola Carboni asked about the glazing at the end. Key detail I forgot to mention: I did the glaze with acrylic and a little gloss medium, and then varnished the whole painting with Krylon spray finish varnish to make it look like oil.

[@tericarter2886]

Thanks I was wondering that as well Do you usually carry acrylics with you on your plein air trips ?

[@tiagodagostini]

It always amazes me how Smoothe is patient with you. My now deceased dear pug used to bark as soon as he saw me grab a brush. He did not want me doing anythign he knew would take focus from him for too long.

[@JamesGurney]

Smooth does get impatient sometimes, but he usually just stares at us, like a wolf.

[@JiveDadson]

Imagine trying to practice saxophone.

[@libellula3313]

How wonderful to be able to sit and paint beside your partner! Thanks for the tutorial again. X

[@Shuvah2Him]

I really like seeing what Jeanette does also :)

[@truecuckoo]

Nice! This is a great example of painting vs photography. You really left your emotional mark in the painting. I love that gentle pale light in the sky. The reference footage of the location is bland at best. You made this place feel really special.

[@DannySabraArt]

Totally agree! This shows the potential of painting. That you can imbue the normal and typical with a feeling or emotion or significance that is meaningful to the artist and the viewer. Will we see more of your art Cuckoo! I loved watching your portrait you painted (and of course all your music!)

[@varuntulsyan2558]

Not only are your free videos some of the most valuable learning tools I've ever found, they're also sooo peaceful and calming as art vlogs. I can't express how much I love these and you James! Thanks for everything!❤️

[@miqf914]

Agreed! I am always wowed by his clarity and generosity in sharing his knowledge and skills.

[@theheronhero125]

Can I make a recommendation to Mr. Gurney? I've bought quite a few of his painting videos, especially the dinosaur ones but there is one complaint I have. They're too light on the actual painting. They're super fun, and the content is outstanding but everything is edited super short. His KZbin videos are like that but I think he underestimates the attention span of those of us that buy the videos. For example, I wish there was a director's cut of the Tyrannosaur video that was like a sixtysix million hours long. Lol!

[@JamesGurney]

Point taken, and I will be making longer videos with longer takes. I think the whole trend with KZbin is more in-depth content, and I've got some ideas for delivering exactly that.

[@telldpablo]

Ditto to theheronhero’s comment.

[@heyryanisonx3141]

@@JamesGurney thank you Mr Gurney! :D

[@swordandsorcerergaming]

the dog was rendered so well, as was everything else

[@mordheimdime]

Just a heads up for anyone else looking for "Elementary Principles of Landscape Painting" by John F. Carlson, it was revised and retitled to "Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting".

[@ErikBongers]

"What were you thinking?" "Eh...I wasn't really thinking...." Perhaps that sums up the difference between you two: the analyzing and synthesizing artist versus just drawing without thinking about it.

[@RLDSTUDIO]

In addition to the great lesson on lighting, it's just really pleasant to see you all enjoying the outdoors and painting together. I really appreciate how you captured Smooth with just the dots to start and also the idea of just adding details to the grass where the eye expects it. Very practical advice.

[@melanieopperman6688]

Look who made it into the painting 🐕 handsome Smoothe. Photo bomb success. I love the light and life in this painting- looking forward to this.

[@michaelavolio]

I love you "bumping" the other pencil in the background at 0:06 - such a fun detail. I remember you doing that trick before. Delightful.

[@nguyentai464]

I watch every single video in your channel

[@SiningniSing]

That was really nice. How long did it take you to finish the painting on location? You and Jeanette can really paint so fast and the results are always amazing.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I can feel the pure joy coming from Jaenette at the end 🥰🥰🥰

[@redbeard365]

I get strong PBS vibes from every James Gurney video, but it's just over-the-top when he brings out the life size pencils. Aside from the University level education he provides on drawing/painting, I watch these videos because he has giant pencils, art dept. attire and homemade art tools. This guy is my hero.

[@mrussoart]

We all appreciate the boldness James brushwork, but boy what a delicate and beautiful work Jeanette put up.

[@sergiowalgood3019]

This is so inspiring! Love is all we need in this journey! That is the message I'm getting in this video, not only because of the painting but because the way you and your partner are together out there doing what you most love! Its so beautiful and I thank you for this! Great lesson!

[@telldpablo]

I have been enjoying your videos for awhile now, but including your better half adds something. It’s a joy to see couples who share their lives together! My wife and I are on our way to our 34th year of marriage. Couldn’t be happier! Each year just gets better! Keep up the great work guys!

[@bruceosborne1892]

Another great video James. Thank you and your wife. Also, Smooth.

[@tiffannyvarga]

you and Jeanette are absolutely lovely together. I find these videos educational and heartwarming.

[@joushinjo]

I just want to say I've been so obsessed with all of your videos and I just found out your channel very recently. I've watched most of them over and over again, and learned so much from them. Now I'm so eager to do plein air painting that I bought a plain air easel after watching all of your videos! Just want to say thank you for being such an inspiration, and sharing your processes. This lighting technique has also amazed me! Something I've never learned from the art school!

[@kellywang7370]

The giant pencil 😂😂

[@greenmacaroni8872]

Hi James, I am always inspired by your wonderful paintings and have started using gouache because of you. Jeanette is beautiful inside and out and I really enjoy seeing her work as well. Your videos make my day. Thank you. Julie 🥰

[@prettyeve55]

It's 4:00 am here and yes I haven't slept yet

[@twycross3]

Can't wait to see the gradient techniques!! I'm terrible at making them with watercolor

[@JamesGurney]

I was terrible at first too, and it took a bit of practice and some coaching from Jeanette.

[@twycross3]

@@JamesGurney I got your video! Can't wait to watch it

[@chrishomel9558]

James.. You brightened my day and made me look even more forward to when I can again leave the office and go paint. Cheers.

[@OneMoreJames]

I'm just looking at your simple, quick "just dots" until you get it to look right add-in of Smooth. And... Good god, man. I love your work, your skill, your talents, your teaching ability, your video presence and the time spent watching. Thank you.

[@ikkiiiieee]

I hope you will cover in detail how to keep colors lively when highlighting (adding white) like in the centerly lit spot. it looks so sunny! :D

[@ogulcanyolcu8714]

The grass look more yellow than being added just white. You can use green with lemon yellow or cadmium yellow and white, depends on the need. Play with the colors, you'll find what you need.

[@b3n3d1ct10n]

Excited for this 😀

[@rojastegulu]

What irks me about scheduled videos and premieres is that if you hide them from your subscription feed, it won't appear again when the video goes up, so you either miss the video or have them sitting around in your feed. Oh well-

[@mypointofview9794]

You could add it to your watch later playlist

[@mazjoachin]

Just found your videos! You are such an amazing teacher!! God bless you!

[@vermis8344]

"Wow, James really got busy, showing a lot of videos at once! Well here I go... no wait... oh." (Literally 'no, wait'! 😃)

[@aa_gg]

Book : Elementary principles of landscape painting John f carlson

[@rutbrea8796]

You're a great teacher! Your paintings are amazing! Thank you for your kindness 😊

[@Micro_hubble]

Thanks JG for putting together this amazing video for us to learn from and Enjoy. I just have feedback, I usually buy your videos and I would love if I can get more content and longer videos of paintings to understand the process as compared to your free KZbin videos.

[@JamesGurney]

Awesome, thank you!

[@vaibhavsankhla948]

I got to know about your channel just 30 min ago , I'm an amateur , I want to learn painting , how to start ? I used to draw when I was a kid but I stopped many yrs ago , today I saw a quote from piccaso which made me want to start again.

[@DannySabraArt]

That’s awesome! My advice would be to resume with drawing and just focus on the process and experience rather than a specific outcome. Draw what you enjoy! If you want to move into painting maybe try painting with just black and white to get a handle. Check out some of Mr. Gurneys other tutorial videos on his gumroad site. The Color in Practice part 1 would be a great place to start. Good luck!

[@beckywebb1916]

Took my Golden Retriever, Claire, with me once and she was so excited I only got an underpainting in burnt umber done.

[@judithslawter372]

I enjoyed seeing Jeanette’s lovely little piece. Thank you for the instruction.

[@dianeo]

This looks like a very interesting tutorial. I love that you included Smooth in the painting and also showed Jeannette's work. Lovely all around.

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Really really nice! Love the addition of the dog ☺️

[@polobracher]

Your wife do very good paintings too! You could show more of them... :)

[@beckywebb1916]

Took my Golden Retriever with me once and she was so excited I only got an underpainting in burnt umber done.

[@juliecostello42]

This is so incredibly beautiful Mr. Gurney, keep up the good work

[@usaagima]

The painting looks beautiful!! As always 😊😘

[@randominternetuser2]

I have a reactive dog that I walk daily at a busy park, and we are constantly trying to get enough space from people. That alleviates the conspicuous, out-of-place feeling! LOL I can't really paint with him but I make the most of it and do quick ink wash drawings.

[@mungojerrie1538]

Discovered you accidentally a few weeks ago and I can't get enough of your videos. Used to draw and paint years ago but fell out of passion with it, but you inspired me to buy a gouache set and start painting again. The way you explain your thought process makes so much sense and makes it sound so easy, however I was humbled very quickly when I picked up the brush myself. Would love if you considered live streaming some of your paintings from start to finish so we could follow along in real time, I know I'd be there brush in hand. Just a thought! Keep up the great content.

[@andreasd1132]

Your videos are among the best Yt has to offer.

[@emilie5273]

Love your paintings. You really inspire me :)

[@elizzez8240]

Please tell us folks here in the Hudson Valley the locations your painting in, thanks James...

[@kingpen1179]

Can i be your apprentice Mr. Gurney?

[@eliminator7ful]

This is such a wonderful, instructive video for artists! Thank you.

[@davijoski]

Super painting, cool style and great vid! I just stumbled upon your channel. Did you say you're from the Hudson Valley? I'm a plein air painter from Saratoga Springs. Nice to find you. What a beautiful part of the world to paint, eh?

[@KayInMaine]

Thanks to the ending, I forgot your lesson and now am thinking how adorable you three are, James. LOL

[@artscience9981]

This is a wonderful video. I live in Tennessee, and in the summer there are just green trees and underbrush everywhere you look. I’ve often been frustrated trying to find a center of interest for my plein air paintings. This gives me an idea about how to enliven my outdoor scenes. Many thanks!

[@jakovj.m.5139]

The last shots of the video is a great motive for another painting...

[@VideoArmageddon]

You get a "like" for the giant pencil.

[@horohorosrin]

I love the excitement over the monarch at the end! I raise them and tag them for citizen science, so that would excite me, too! Can't wait to get my easel set up to paint on location soon!

[@nguyentai464]

Both of you are so lovely

[@nevertooldtolearnmore]

You mention tan. As an exclusively guache painter, I'm used to dealing with limited colors offered by seemingly all manufacturers; but even watercolor offerings lack a tan. Titan buff watercolor is the closest I've ever been ever to come. Sure we can mix something; but tan and its nearby relatives are so oftern needed, it would be a great help for those of us. Do you have any suggestions for a reliable mix?

[@vermis8344]

It's Saturday, and I'm stuck wallowing about the house with a cold. It's time to buy a James Gurney video.

[@karlab9557]

Wow, I enjoyed this. I felt like both yours and Jeanettes paintings were even more interesting than your scene. And I enjoyed the questions, as they actually helped highlight how you accomplished this.

[@annihull6373]

Thanks for exolaining your techniques in a way that makes the idea of drawing and painting more approachable. Thank you for keeping in the part where you resized your dog and how simple it was to adjust sizing. Thank you for the entertaining and informative way you share information. Blessings.

[@MarkNiceyard]

The right procedure: 1. Click on Gurney. 2. Click on like. 3. Watch the video. :)

[@patrickcharles7190]

Nice demo. ALL those green values can be tough. It would have been nice if that field of queen anne's lace would have been in the foreground. Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate. Thanks

[@crogo2004]

Very beautiful. I like your choice of colors. What is the name of the bright green that you used? Thank you.

[@kingpen1179]

4:30 book, value

[@saravasura1076]

Thank you. This was my first viewing of your tutorials. I will be watching you a lot in the future. I learned a lot just watching this one. Very impressive!

[@willrothfuss8470]

One of my favorites. Your handling of the warm/cools and values are inspiring.

[@tjduprey]

I feel like Smooth is no longer your son's dog lol

[@bryanodriscoll2123]

Impressive how you can take a relatively prosaic landscape and turn it into something so pleasing to the eye. I've only started to paint late in life and now can really begin to appreciate what good artists achieve.

[@roguesodyssey]

You are a fun couple to watch and learn from! Cheers from sunny Southern Utah!

[@15palmtree]

I often overlook getting in trouble for trespassing. I just do it. After all, on the other side of that “private property” sign it says nothing. Learned that from a song.

[@safir2241]

oh hey thats me, i wasnt expecting my voice in a video lol

[@LucasBell420]

Timestamp??!!

[@inxz_editz]

Love your Channel i know how to draw with you and others yotubers

[@adm58]

Thanks for sharing James, another excellent video.

[@dandansapainting]

So great your painting

[@shreyaprince6999]

What a beautiful video, thank you

[@ArtistYellow]

This was a very good informative video. The painting is beautiful and I love your dog.

[@allenvoss7977]

Great video. I’ll have to always remember to put in light even if there isn’t any ! Great 👍

[@sandjune2753]

Great Video, That lady was so sweet. The square tin you use to mix your paint, is that an old paint tin you have decided to use ?

[@miguelsuarez8010]

I've been looking for those giant pencils but I can't get them .....

[@yawza3280]

I am a beginner sir james, can you give me a tip on how to pick a color for my light and shadow?

[@luisarangorayme947]

❤ aún me sigue agradando sus obras muestro aprendí mucho de ud espero compartir parte de mi trabajo

[@claudiabarillari4626]

You make it looks so easy! ❤ thank you for your tutorials, I appreciate your talent.

[@kje3429]

Great video! Really enjoy them. Do you sell these paintings you do on KZbin? Thanks!

[@Amish-Kapoor]

I always get so happy when you upload your videos

[@markr.katzman3743]

Great video...very much appreciated..thanks.

[@michelecarroll8168]

🤣 love the huge pencil. Lol. Thanks so much for teaching this one!

[@amarchandnath7907]

It’s really a great tutorial Sir. Greetings from Chile 🇨🇱

[@YanasooSibarah]

His thumbnail sketch would be my “all I got” 😭

[@satwinderkaur5504]

Please your color and light landscape painting book in oil kahìan se meĺa ge

[@rantingdailymeomeo]

She's so beautiful, and your paintings too

[@desleykakoulidisgallaway3382]

Such a beautiful painting

[@robertterrell3065]

Do you really recommend that book, Elementary Principles of Landscape Painting, still? Because I just looked for it on Amazon and the cheapest "acceptable" used copy is (drumroll) $429!! Yikes. I'm always up for improving my painting, even though I finished art school in 1976, but that's more than I can afford, really :( I kept looking and found Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, in paperback, for $11.99. It was first published in 1973. I think I've heard other artists recommend it. Are you familiar with it, Mr. Gurney?

[@JamesGurney]

It's the same book, just edited and updated to make the language a bit more accessible. Carlson's Guide is fine.

[@marcosgoncalves1212]

O lugar e seu desenho são lindos ,Mr Gurney.

[@jenniferdaresparks7322]

Hi James, didn't you go to CAL in 1977 and wasn't Thomas K your dorm mate? I also ended up becoming a visual artist but mostly abstract. Take care! Jennifer

[@JamesGurney]

Yes, that's me. Sorry, I'm trying to remember where I met you....

[@msd9824]

So how do you light it. It looks like basically keep things general a bit more desaturated then use higher value/chroma where you want the light to be. Watch the reltion between you shadow and light values carefully.

[@hamfranky]

I was not expecting him to pick up that giant pencil, took me off guard lol

[@bermuydraws]

But, where can I get those giant pencil thou James!!!

[@helengauperaa4319]

It's always a joy to watch your videos James, and always learn something new. I'll be purchasing part 3!