Oil Techniques: Experimenting with Black and White

If you want to try out a new painting medium, start with black and white. By ignoring color at first, you can concentrate on the basic mechanics of paint mixing and application. James Gurney demonstrates a variety of methods of paint application, using black and white oil paint to simplify and clarify each approach, and then applies those techniques to three paintings of T.rex that he produced for Ranger Rick Magazine. Some are time-honored painting techniques, such as glazing, scumbling, and oiling up. Others are tips and tricks that Gurney has developed from almost 40 years of professional work, including pre-texturing, side-dragging, and palette-knife blending. Learning these secrets helps you achieve a rich and realistic paint surface, regardless of the subject matter you prefer to paint.
"UNCONVENTIONAL OIL TECHNIQUES" with J.G. Voiceover
Download at Gumroad: gum.co/oiltechniques
Download at Sellfy: sellfy.com/p/zowT/
DVD Edition from manufacturer: kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z...
DVD on Amazon: amzn.to/30qb0uZ
LIQUID MATERIALS for OIL
Liquin (alkyd painting medium): amzn.to/2VFSW0g
Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits): amzn.to/2J5diJP
or Turpenoid (odorless mineral spirits): amzn.to/2V50Alm
Modeling paste: amzn.to/2XZvA3w
Acrylic matte medium: amzn.to/2VBc6Ex
Cobalt drier: amzn.to/2PEiWUw
Workable fixative: amzn.to/2VDSKPc
Kamar varnish: amzn.to/2DFaQWU
Titanium white oil paint: amzn.to/2J5WC4X
Ivory black (oil paint) amzn.to/2Lf4zHO
Cheap set of oil colors (Winton set of 10): amzn.to/2XSAWx6
Better quality set of oil colors (Gamblin set of 9): amzn.to/2LeneDt
OTHER TOOLS
Water-soluble colored pencils set: amzn.to/2DKmT5o
Palette knife: amzn.to/2J8gmVI
Palette cups: amzn.to/2J7e3SD
Gray palette paper: amzn.to/2VGSbE8
Wax paper: amzn.to/2DHS695
Blue painter's tape: amzn.to/2VHJSrI
GOUACHE AND WATERCOLOR
Shinhan Pass (watercolor/gouache hybrid): amzn.to/2xw7EvV
Watercolor pan set: amzn.to/2IN7zJe
Holbein (gouache): amzn.to/2JhMCWK
M. Graham (gouache): amzn.to/2JpBAyy
Winsor & Newton (gouache): amzn.to/2JiDMbo
BRUSHES
Winsor Newton series 995 flat: amzn.to/2DGYH3P
Winsor Newton long flat bristle brush #8: amzn.to/2DGyItg
DRAWING TOOLS
Water brush: amzn.to/2J6ICb4
Water-soluble colored pencil: amzn.to/2J4QTJJ
Fountain pen: amzn.to/2J7eWum
CAMERAS and AUDIO:
Canon M6 (time lapse, video, and stills): amzn.to/2J4RTgX
Canon PowerShot Elph (point-and-shoot): amzn.to/2Ji1Vid
Zoom H2N digital audio recorder: amzn.to/2XXAOfP
Rode Video Mic GO (microphone): amzn.to/2UQGTc9
VIDEO TUTORIALS:
"Gouache in the Wild" (Download on Gumroad): gumroad.com/l/gouache
"Gouache in the Wild" on (DVD): amzn.to/2kF4YD0
“Casein Painting in the Wild” (Download on Gumroad): gumroad.com/l/casein
“How to Make a Sketch Easel” (DVD): amzn.to/2smDVAG
“Watercolor in the Wild” (Download) gumroad.com/l/watercolor
BLOG POSTS WITH MORE GEAR INFO:
Gouache Materials List: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/201...
Watercolor Materials: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/201...
BOOKS:
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
Blog: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/
Website: jamesgurney.com/site/shop
Facebook group "Sketch Easel Builders": groups/40300...

[@Chill1332]

I just now bought my first set of oil paints. I'm excited to use them but I know so little about the medium that I am a complete noob. Thank you for making this helpful video!

[@beccanope5453]

A 22 minute video??! OH MY GOD THANK YOU

[@SarahAndBoston]

So kind of T Rex to hold the mic for you. Also, thank you. These fundamentals videos are so helpful.

[@plaidklaus3407]

James, I would like to thank you for bringing this valuable information to other artists. It's always refreshing to experience the knowledge from the masters. Your videos have excellent pacing, clear sound, and wonderful information.

[@catherinecervas3726]

I love your comment at the end about experimentation being the key. Full video is well done and thorough. Thank you for your work on this.

[@CharleyWang]

I have always liked your videos very much, especially the content of outdoor sketching, humorous and relaxed, full of wisdom and joy, and the language is kind. Especially when you fully display the scene and how to transform the scene into a sketching work, you are the most capable, very hard to let us understand how you do it, and you have good sustainability, I counted it. You have done 10 years, 258, this is a great project. I was inspired by you and began to imitate your practice. It also made me realize that this is a very hard thing, pay tribute to you! I really understand the two indoor programs you have recently done.我一直非常喜欢你的视频，尤其是户外写生的内容，幽默轻松，充满了智慧和喜悦，语言亲切。尤其是在充分展示现场，并将现场如何转化成写生作品方面，你是最有能力的，很用心的让我们明白你是如何做的，并且你有很好的持续力，我数了一下，你已经做了10年，258期，这是一项伟大的工程。我受你的鼓舞也开始模仿你的做法，也让我体会到这是一件很辛苦的事，向你致敬！我非常理解你最近做的两期室内节目。

[@loribrackett7820]

I love the tip with the wax paper. Thanks so much - your videos are wonderful and inspiring!

[@dougg1075]

James!!! I love you man! You are probably the and I mean theeee artist on KZbin. An artist’s artist.. thank you so much.

[@DeVon675]

I just recently discovered this channel and I already love James Gurney. What a great artist and how jealous do I feel of his talent

[@MJ-fn4pu]

Your videos are wonderful and so helpful to anyone wanting to learn@

[@crisalidathomassie1811]

Great demos! I truly appreciate the demos, very useful to integrate in any subject.

[@Nonorama]

Liked the full tutorial. Already tried the palette knife for my latest piece and got me some other ideas set up to implement the tutorials. Keep doing what you’re doing.

[@TimothyONeill_84.]

Very helpful, gives me a whole lot more techniques to try out, thank you

[@janvibhatt8829]

This is what I was searching for from a long time. Thank you very much!

[@picklesdill9138]

I just love these videos. Aa a new artist (always painted but just making it a carreer now ) and self taught- who is just getting into oils from water color and gouache...you help me alot! Im grateful for your videos!

[@crisalidathomassie1811]

This is truly going back to basics! How awesome! Thanks so much for the video and all the info. Very much appreciated and as usual very inspiring. Blessings.

[@TobermoryCat]

Super clear demo. Suspect many will be tempted to have a go! Well done.

[@JamesGurney]

Thanks for watching.

[@virginiarinkel7544]

Again, thank you for these techniques. Love watching you work.

[@danifercb]

I love your videos soo much! Lately I been using just watercolors to paint, and haven't touch oils in years, but this video makes me want to try them again. You are the best!! Greetings from Chile.

[@CharleyWang]

我喜欢看你画画，安静的看，简单的看，听你讲解，但明天我要去一个我不能看KZbin 的地方10天。这是10个画家朋友一起约定的计划，所以，10天之后来看你的新视频。I like to watch your paintings, look quietly, simply look at them, listen to you, but tomorrow I am going to a place where I can't watch KZbin for 10 days. This is a plan agreed by 10 painter friends, so look at your new video after 10 days.

[@renaissancebotticelli7104]

Thoroughly enjoy James' videos.

[@ryanchristensen5266]

James, I'm an artist and a huge admirer of your work and your discipline. All your videos are spectacular and I know I'm not alone in my appreciation for your effort producing them. I don't know, however, whether I've seen you discuss one of the most important (in my mind) elements of the artistic journey; the psychology of art. I realize it is a labyrinthine, nebulous subject and it varies wildly based upon the individual, physiology, emotional intelligence, self awareness and the culmination of ones life experiences.. but I feel like you have the perfect chemistry of a highly analytical mind and an empathetic artist's heart to speak on the subject with the necessary tact and acumen. I have been struggling severely with my professional art career and hearing you turn your focus to the dissemination of the mental and emotional side of your art would be valuable insight. I share your passion and enthusiasm for discovery and experimentation... but there is another side to the creative spirit and it isn't all rainbows and sunshine. How have you learned to manage existential/artistic fear? How do you persevere through crushing self doubt? Where is your implacable determination rooted from? You've undoubtedly addressed this type of query somewhere, at some time, and I apologize if so.. but if you ever wanted to direct some of that evidently bottomless energy reserve into a video expressly discussing the subject, I'd be thrilled to see it. Please keep up the amazing work. You're a power for good on this insane planet... Sorry for the platitudes, it's just true.

[@nomerianojr.delacruz7756]

Thank you so much Sir for a wonderful tips.

[@geckibutt]

Genius as always!

[@RenatoOak]

Very good class ...

[@thetawaves48]

what a great teacher!

[@Gringle_]

This video is truly a gift

[@crm3985]

sir you deserve more

[@catherineupton6574]

Many thanks, very clear and patient!

[@Siggi-Bear]

Love this

[@viniciusgarcia1404]

Thank you so Much!

[@michaelmcewan432]

Great help, thanks 😁

[@Dragonknight761]

Using asmr to its full potential.

[@leokimboy]

Amazing video

[@alanrothsman1751]

Talking of Terminator lines "I'll be back" subbed. :-)

[@armenshah3849]

Thank You 🧡

[@alexcalistru_art]

Thanks for the lesson! I'm thinking about going into oils, with only pencil/charcoal and digital I feel like I'm missing out.

[@alexanderquiroz9275]

Gracias máster por los tips

[@sukilu1964]

Brilliant.

[@avibenso]

Thank you 🙏❤️

[@artistinspiration]

Thank you so much

[@victorsanchez7055]

¡Maravilloso!

[@ramizshould]

Awesome

[@EllessarfromtheNorth]

Hail to the King!.Tnx Great Master...its much appreciated

[@sparta117corza]

damn its a bit late here in Australia... I wish you luck on the stream Mr Gurney!

[@JamesGurney]

Sorry about that. What's the best time for everybody in future?

[@dougg1075]

Brilliant

[@burakburhan5097]

THANK YOU

[@joannehopper261]

I Loved your full-length video! I have 2 questions please? Are you not concerned about the toxicity of Liquin? Also - what kind of illustration or watercolor board do you use please? I didn’t see it in the materials PDF. Thank you Very much!

[@BigBoss-ti2xm]

I've been experimenting with black and white only painting, and its really suit to ghost and liminal space paintings.

[@kairus1]

wow

[@MuhammadIqbal-dp2es]

This guy is big deal

[@alonsoLujan]

Hi James, Thank you so much for the video. I had a question. Why did you use the Acrylic Matte Medium? Is it to 'prime' the black cardboard? And can one use Acrylic Matte Medium to prime any surface, say paper, if one wanted to keep a sketchbook for oil paintings? Thank you.

[@LI-kb3jy]

Hi guys... does anyone know where is more in the video about this brush cleaning system? I’m interested in it. Thanks to whoever can help

[@toddbowlin5844]

I bought the video. I never noticed when you use fixative. Also, do you use matt medium instead of gesso?

[@JamesGurney]

Yes, first I use fixative to keep the drawing from smudging, then I use matte medium to seal the drawing and the surface.

[@keng8259]

Seriously you good son

[@katesill1987]

🍁🌻🍂✨🌟

[@lylylylylunonomdhdk6939]

You should be a college art teacher

[@keng8259]

Your good son have you tried painting and decorating give us a call I was thinking of magnolia like to hear your thoughts

[@DTHRocket]

I use acrylics. Basically tempera paint for adults... heehee

[@louisyates6697]

Did I just hear WestWorld?

[@M.r..R.i.c.e.]

22nd

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

Oil mono chrome lol