Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
James Gurney shows how to paint an optical illusion in acrylic. The cylinder is covered with a checkerboard of light and dark squares arranged so that the dark square in light is the same paint mixture as the light square in shadow. The diagram demonstrates how our visual system uses context cues to override the raw information coming from our eyes.
Sample from the new video tutorial "Gradients: Color, Form, Illusion." Download or stream at Gumroad: gurneyjourney.gumroad.com/l/ElCti
Also available as a DVD: jamesgurney.com/products/gradients-color-form-illusion
International DVD sales: Kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=136361
STEP-BY-STEP METHOD
● Draw it first with pencil on watercolor paper or illustration board.
● Paint the gradients for the light tones first.
● While painting the cylinder, paint the background tones and cast shadow, too.
● When those passages are dry, paint the darker squares.
● The cylinder appears to be lit from the left with warm light and cool shadows.
● The light yellow squares become darker and cooler as they transition to the shadow side,
becoming that neutral gray.
● Mix plenty of that gray because you'll need it for the other squares..
● The dark squares in that shadow side get warmer and lighter as they transition to the light side.
● I used Tri-Arts liquid acrylic: Cobalt blue, Ultramarine blue, Cadmium yellow medium, Raw sienna, Red oxide, Quinacridone red, Ivory black, Titanium white, Neutral gray (about equal to Pantone 424C Pantone color swatch book: amzn.to/3hqz2QH )
MATERIALS
You can use other brands of acrylic, gouache, casein, or oil, as long as it's opaque.
Liquitex acrylic basics neutral gray: amzn.to/3twZ6hW
Golden fluid acrylic set: amzn.to/3yZQYHR
Acrylic gesso: amzn.to/3jZIkVt
Richeson casein paint set: amzn.to/2L02U6R
Pentalic watercolor sketchbook: amzn.to/2L989y2
Water cup: amzn.to/2soTw2L
Rigger brush (for fine lines): amzn.to/2YPm9JA
Richeson travel brush set: amzn.to/2xwq1Rr
Richeson “Grey Matters” brush set: amzn.to/2YeNO0P
• M. Graham gouache primary set: amzn.to/2Zwd6rt
• Winsor & Newton gouache primary set: amzn.to/2JiDMbo
• Holbein gouache set: amzn.to/2KW4s1j
• Royal Talens gouache set (8 colors): amzn.to/2MGftGf
• Shinhan Pass watercolor/gouache hybrid set: amzn.to/2xw7EvV
OTHER VIDEO TUTORIALS:
“How to Make a Sketch Easel” (DVD): kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z4M3X
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: instagram.com/jamesgurneyart
Pinterest: pinterest.com/GurneyJourney
GurneyJourney Blog: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com
JamesGurney Website: jamesgurney.com
Facebook group "Sketch Easel Builders": facebook.com/groups/403006076777641/?source_id=121255121263267
Facebook group "Color in Practice": facebook.com/groups/160510955315435
Some links are Amazon affiliate links. I receive a small royalty at no cost to you.
James Gurney shows how to paint an optical illusion in acrylic. The cylinder is covered with a checkerboard of light and dark squares arranged so that the dark square in light is the same paint mixture as the light square in shadow. The diagram demonstrates how our visual system uses context cues to override the raw information coming from our eyes.
Sample from the new video tutorial "Gradients: Color, Form, Illusion." Download or stream at Gumroad: gurneyjourney.gumroad.com/l/ElCti
Also available as a DVD: jamesgurney.com/products/gradients-color-form-illusion
International DVD sales: Kunaki.com/MSales.asp?PublisherId=136361
STEP-BY-STEP METHOD
● Draw it first with pencil on watercolor paper or illustration board.
● Paint the gradients for the light tones first.
● While painting the cylinder, paint the background tones and cast shadow, too.
● When those passages are dry, paint the darker squares.
● The cylinder appears to be lit from the left with warm light and cool shadows.
● The light yellow squares become darker and cooler as they transition to the shadow side,
becoming that neutral gray.
● Mix plenty of that gray because you'll need it for the other squares..
● The dark squares in that shadow side get warmer and lighter as they transition to the light side.
● I used Tri-Arts liquid acrylic: Cobalt blue, Ultramarine blue, Cadmium yellow medium, Raw sienna, Red oxide, Quinacridone red, Ivory black, Titanium white, Neutral gray (about equal to Pantone 424C Pantone color swatch book: amzn.to/3hqz2QH )
MATERIALS
You can use other brands of acrylic, gouache, casein, or oil, as long as it's opaque.
Liquitex acrylic basics neutral gray: amzn.to/3twZ6hW
Golden fluid acrylic set: amzn.to/3yZQYHR
Acrylic gesso: amzn.to/3jZIkVt
Richeson casein paint set: amzn.to/2L02U6R
Pentalic watercolor sketchbook: amzn.to/2L989y2
Water cup: amzn.to/2soTw2L
Rigger brush (for fine lines): amzn.to/2YPm9JA
Richeson travel brush set: amzn.to/2xwq1Rr
Richeson “Grey Matters” brush set: amzn.to/2YeNO0P
• M. Graham gouache primary set: amzn.to/2Zwd6rt
• Winsor & Newton gouache primary set: amzn.to/2JiDMbo
• Holbein gouache set: amzn.to/2KW4s1j
• Royal Talens gouache set (8 colors): amzn.to/2MGftGf
• Shinhan Pass watercolor/gouache hybrid set: amzn.to/2xw7EvV
OTHER VIDEO TUTORIALS:
“How to Make a Sketch Easel” (DVD): kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z4M3X
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: instagram.com/jamesgurneyart
Pinterest: pinterest.com/GurneyJourney
GurneyJourney Blog: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com
JamesGurney Website: jamesgurney.com
Facebook group "Sketch Easel Builders": facebook.com/groups/403006076777641/?source_id=121255121263267
Facebook group "Color in Practice": facebook.com/groups/160510955315435
Some links are Amazon affiliate links. I receive a small royalty at no cost to you.
