Dinotopia's James Gurney Explains Imaginative Realism at CSUF

Last Thursday, the Visual Arts Department hosted James Gurney, creator of Dinotopia and award-winning illustrator, commissioned by National Geographic and the US Postal Service. Gurney discussed his background in archeology and art (he attended Art Center for two semesters), and how his interests led him to create Dinotopia. In addition to going to art school, he studied art by copying the masters, by reading the Famous Artist Course and books by Andrew Loomis, Howard Pyle, and many National Geographic magazines. In order to create “imaginary realism,” he encourages students to do lots of research (online, in books, through interviews with experts), to copy paintings from the old masters, to use maquettes and photos (from one’s scrap file, or from shooting reference with models), to go plein-air painting. Next, Gurney produces many preliminary sketches, and he likes to vary his media to make happy discoveries in that process. Gurney’s latest book further explores his approach to imaginative realism. This event was organized by the Pencil Mileage Club, Chuck Grieb, Cliff Cramp, and Dana Lamb. Photos of the event appear on the Pencil Mileage Club blog.