Gurney Journey

Dinotopia World Beneath, Episode 12

Published: April 21, 2015 | 09:15

It's Tuesday, time for Episode 12 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath. Sorry, the track was only available for a week, but check this week for the latest one.

A scene of the pod village of Bonabba, where Will is learning more about piloting skybaxes. Arthur tries to sell the locals on the mechanical strutters that he found in The World Beneath.

But they have a way of getting out of control, as these robot dinosaurs have a mind of their own. When I did these paintings in 1993, I had no idea we would see semi-sentient autonomous walkers within two decades.

This audio re-creation was produced by ZBS Productions. Audio wizard Tom Lopez and composer Tim Clark created many layers of sound to make Dinotopia come alive to the ears.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 13 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

2 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

Dinotopia: World Beneath, Episode 11

Published: April 14, 2015 | 11:08

It's Tuesday, time for Episode 11 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath. Edit: The track was only available for one week, but see below where you can find out more about the entire podcast.

The dino-strutters emerge in the Rainy Basin, which is inhabited by tyrannosaurs.

ZBS producer Tom Lopez extends the story of the illustrated book into the audio dimension, adding layers of mood and emotion, greatly enhanced by the composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 12 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

3 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Dinosaurs Dinotopia

Dinotopia World Beneath, Episode 10

Published: April 07, 2015 | 08:12

It's Tuesday, time for Episode 10 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath. You can listen to the track by clicking on the play button below, or by following the direct link to SoundCloud.

As they search for the legendary treasure of King Ogthar, Arthur, Oriana, Bix, and Crabb find a mothball fleet of biomechanical walkers, whose design is based on trilobites and dinosaurs.

Back in the early 1990s, when I was painting these images, not many people called such things "steampunk," but they were definitely inspired by Victorian mechanics.

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 11 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

2 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

Dinotopia: World Beneath, Episode 9

Published: March 31, 2015 | 08:12

It's Tuesday, time for Episode 9 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath. You can listen to the track by clicking on the play button below, or by following the direct link to SoundCloud.

Arthur, Oriana, Bix, and Crabb explore further into the caverns, and in the process, each of them discovers more about their own inner lives.

This part of the episode was inspired by a research expedition that I took into the Camuy caves of Puerto Rico.

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 10 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

1 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

World Beneath Podcast, Episode 8

Published: March 24, 2015 | 08:15

It's Tuesday, time for Episode 8 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath. Sorry, the track was only available for a week.

Will Denison prepares his skybax for a dangerous mission into the Rainy Basin.

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 9 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

0 Comments labels (1)Flag

All Dinotopia

Dinotopia: World Beneath Podcast #7

Published: March 17, 2015 | 09:18

This week we aired Episode 7 of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath, but we're sorry, the episode was only available for a week.

While explorer Arthur Denison is leading an expedition to the ancient caverns beneath the island of Dinotopia, while his son Will is above ground learning to fly on a skybax.

Will's adventures take place in the pod village of Bonabba.

In this flying scene, note the speed blur effect in the clouds in the lower right.

The acting troupe presents a puppet show called "Little Simon and the Tyrannosaur."

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 8 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

1 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

Sunken Entrance to the World Beneath

Published: March 10, 2015 | 12:23

A flock of ammonoids drifts toward shipwrecks of galleons. In the right, the submersible cruises toward the entrance to the World Beneath.

In keeping with the authenticity of the creatures of Dinotopia, several of the animals that Arthur Denison notates in his sketchbook are actual fossils from the Devonian Burgess Shale. The animal on the right is a eurypterid, also known as a sea scorpion, an extinct form that sometimes grew larger than a man. This is the New York State fossil.

"Doorway to Mystery" from Dinotopia: The World Beneath, oil on board.

"At the top of the steps was massive, ancient door...." For this painting I stayed within the narrow color gamut of this entire sequence, and contrasted the blue ambient light with a greenish upwash lighting on the side columns and warm light on the doorway.

Yes, it's Podcast Tuesday! Here's the newest episode of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath—but sorry, the episode was only online for a week.

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 7 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

4 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

Eye Level in Complex Street Scenes

Published: March 07, 2015 | 10:19

In the upcoming issue of International Artist magazine (April/May 2015, Issue #102), I'll present an article about how to establish the eye level line in a scene, and why it's important.

If you were standing in front of an ocean or a flat desert, the eye level would be the same thing as the horizon. But in many scenes, the horizon is not visible. So you can think of the eye level as the line of your level gaze, where the horizon line would be if you could remove everything in front of it.

Layout sketch for Dinosaur Boulevard, pencil on tracing paper, 5 x 10 in.

When I planned the painting "Dinosaur Boulevard" for Dinotopia, I did a lot of small layout studies like this one. The eye level is drawn right through the whole scene, and marked "EL." The eye level is important here because it establishes the height of the viewer in relation to the scene. The line intersects all the forms—human and saurian—about five and a half feet.

Dinosaur Parade Layout, pencil layout, 7 x 14 inches

Here's an early sketch for Dinosaur Parade, drawn in pencil from my imagination, before I sought out any references. The actual ground plane shifts as the figures descend the stairs, but the eye level is still essential for the construction of the perspective and the placement of the figures.
-----
This will be my 34th consecutive article for International Artist, the magazine which GurneyJourney readers rated #1 overall.
-----
The paintings in the article are all currently on view in Stamford, Connecticut through May 25.
I cover this topic in Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist
It's also covered in How to Draw by Scott Robertson
------

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

11 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Dinotopia Perspective

Dinotopia: World Beneath Episode 4

Published: February 24, 2015 | 08:52

It's Podcast Tuesday! This week we shared the newest episode of the serialized audio dramatization of Dinotopia: The World Beneath, but, sorry, it was only up for the week.

"Trust old Crabb," says Lee as they approach Black Fish Tavern by the light of the moon.

Oriana proves herself to be a valuable member of the expedition. Producer Tom Lopez had fun elaborating the colorful characters.

The Podcast Series
This acoustic adventure was produced by Tom Lopez, mastermind of the ZBS Foundation, with an original music track by composer Tim Clark.

The Christian Science Monitor called this production "A dazzling soundscape that does full justice to Gurney’s wondrous lost world… perfect family listening.”

Episode 5 arrives in a week. Each short episode will only be live online for one week, and then it will disappear.

If you'd like to purchase the full two-hour World Beneath podcast right now and hear all fifteen episodes back to back in a feature-length production, check out The World Beneath at ZBS Foundation website for the MP3 download. It's also available as a CD.

The Book
You can also order the original printed book from my web store and I'll sign it for you. (It ships via Media Mail within 24 hours of your order. US orders only for the book, please). The book is also available from Amazon in a 20th Anniversary Edition with lots of extras.

The Museum Exhibition is now on view
Many of these paintings are now on view at the Dinotopia exhibition at the Stamford Art Museum and Nature Center through May 25. I'll be in attendance at events on Feb. 28 and March 1. Gentleman-cartoonist Jared Cullum is organizing a gathering of GurneyJourneyers for sketching and coffee before or after the events on Sunday.

Read more about the events here on this blog.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

4 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Audio Dinotopia

A Visit to the Dinotopia Exhibition

Published: February 19, 2015 | 10:54

Yesterday we visited the Dinotopia show in Stamford, Connecticut in preparation for the events that are coming up in a couple of weeks.

Over 50 original paintings are presented in several big rooms of the museum. For those who saw the Lyman Allyn show in eastern Connecticut a couple of years ago, this is a completely different show—all different artwork.

Most of the major paintings are here, such as Dinosaur Parade, Dinosaur Boulevard, Skybax Rider, and Waterfall City. Some of the paintings are paired with the original reference maquettes.

Throughout the exhibition are display cases showing some of the Museum's fine collection of dinosaur bones and trackways, Pleistocene mammals, and invertebrate fossils, as well as fossilized plants (above). Throughout the exhibition, you can see original specimens similar to the ones that inspired the fantasy world.

At the Farm to Table Supper on February 28, I'll be taking guests through the show on a private tour, telling some of the stories behind the creation of the paintings. This will be an informal event (with very delicious artisanal food), and will be a memorable event for a fantasy or art fan of any age.

On Sunday, March 1, I'll be leading a hands-on Fantasy Drawing Workshop. We'll be drawing with water-soluble colored pencils. Materials will be provided. I'll do a very brief digital presentation and demo, and then let the attendees get to work.

Curator Kirsten Brophy took us behind the scenes to select specimens and still life objects that we will borrow from the museum's collection and set up in the workshop room. This will be a rare chance to draw from real specimens.

They have also got some exquisite bisque sculpts by Jonas Studios of mammals, and we'll borrow a few of those, too. If you're interested in the workshop, you might want to act today, because I'm told there are only two spots left.

If you want to see a Dinotopia exhibition in your region, please contact your local art museum's curator or director and tell them you want to see "Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney" travel there, and that you'll rally your friends, too. A couple of GurneyJourney readers have actually done this and we're in discussions with their city's museums, so it can really happen.

Info and links

Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center

The exhibit will continue until May 25.

Fantasy Drawing Workshop, March 1 (almost sold out)

Purchase tickets for the Feb. 28 Farm to Table Supper at this link or call Madeline Raleigh at 203.977.6546.

The exhibition is curated and traveled by the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Source: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com

9 Comments labels (2)Flag

All Dinotopia Museum Visits