Landscape Painting with David Dunlop - From Realism to Abstraction 

When I was writing screenplays I would use a similar technique to allow my subconscious to structure/resolve the story line or problems in specific scenes. Because I wrote early every morning, I would begin thinking about the screenplay I was working on as soon as I began to rouse from sleep. I'd make notes about the scenes I was planning and when I got stuck or couldn't remember how my subconscious had suggested the plot continue, I allow myself to drift off to sleep again *while thinking about the scene*. When I had the idea I needed again, I would "resurface". This continued for a good half an hour nearly every morning and my subconscious never failed me, coming up with jaw-dropping solutions sometimes that I know I would never have conceived of in my fully conscious state. Thanks, Mr. Dunlop!

I think these forms of paintings may be the representation of the Spirit and Soul of the True Painter/Artist.

As a landscape artist recently dabbling in more abstraction, your video comes at the perfect time for me. I’m going to have to watch it again and take notes! So much content here; thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously!!!

Thank goodness your back...missed these inspiring tutorials. Thanks Daviid

Thank you so much for your videos...I love your history of Art lesson while painting and breakdown of technique. All the best from Italy

Nothing like listening to another artist that grabs your attention with what they have to say, thank you for this wonderful video!

Watching David is like auditing and participating in a master's art class. Loved this time

Thanks for both of you....teaching in an amusing way ....& to filming in a successful way

Learned so very much from this David, thank you! You (and Rebecca too) give the greatest treasure of all to us when you gift your time and share these with us. Very appreciative, will watching this one again and again. Thank you.

Such a joyful presentation. Thank you. I love how you include a little art history and literature too.

Love the deep psychological insights into all this!!! Thank you for sharing.

I’m so excited to find you. I’m getting liberated. Thank you. 🕊️💞🕊️🕊️

Thank you, David! Love your work always! This Painting Is a Beautiful example of/for your educational, inspiration, and motivational session on Abstraction. You give so much of yourself and your knowledge I just love you, your voice, your enthusiasm, and humor as an educator and “Masterful Painter”. Thank you

I learn so much from watching. Some of what you have shown, I am trying to consciously develop into my paintings. However, it is the half thoughts when I am not thinking about it, that are providing me with the most creative information. Just like you said. ..I thank you for your entertaining and informative demonstration. I love learning from you.

Wow!! The big reveal!!

I always like David not only is he a talented artist but he knows the history of all the great Masters and many quotes attributed to some of the Masters

David, I have been painting a little over a year and have just watched this video. I wish I had picked up brushes 30 years ago. I understand what you talk and find it fascinating. The chalkboard is a great idea, I come up with changes and other pictures inside my head and have to stop and pull out my sketch book. There is much to be learned now that I have discovered you. Thank you.

I feel like I just discovered a treasure ! and at just the perfect time ! Ive been trying to paint an abstract underwater scene where there exists some Branch Coral. I went down the rabbit hole & ended up with something that was way too representational No longer stuck I now know how to resolve the problem . I was riveted to your every word & learned so much ! With gratitude , I remain your loyal fan !

You're the best teacher I've ever seen or heard.

Hahahaha !! Love watching you and listening to your hilarious commentary xx

How fun! Just listening to you talk helps me relax and go with the flow-and not just in painting

If only I had the teacher like you in high-school I would have never abandoned drawing and painting. You are a great story teller and inspire me.

Loved the lecture, for me it rang true. Love the painting too

This is truly a goldmine , can’t thank you enough.

I followed the whole process and always got amazed by how many decisions you need to make and how 'simple' each stroke would change the story.. Thank you so much for walking through the whole process with such an enthusiasm!

Mr. Dunlop, your hour video is the most entertaining, educational, and Fun combination of topics that I have seen. Worthy of PBS and beyond.

Wow I love this guy, learning and having fun…perfection !

Wow!! That blew my mind!

Thank you, good to see another presentation, I love the way you communicate and find your passion inspiring, more please

Just wonderful, thank you for such a day brightener!

I’m a two year old Bob Ross student. This is a whole new level Thank you. You’re blowing my mind with JOY. 🕊️💞🕊️

Always nice to get some new material from David. Thanks!

Fantastic. Thank you for this.

Thank you...I learnd much at once....I ll try (cause you mentioning being happy and meditative🤗🙏)

so refreshing. david reminds me of a great teacher that spent an hour telling us of what we could not do, then describe the surface prep of the canvas and then cut us loose. amazing the number of totally different directions that came out of those instructions. his name was Gene Edwards. have lost contact so many years ago. it's been since the mid 1960's. never forgot him.

So nice to see you again!...I missed your youtube sessions. Thank you for sharing your deep knowledge of art.

A fountain of knowledge and the humour to go with it.

I rarely find another another human being as fascinating to listen to than David Dunlop. He's articulate, knowledgeable and interesting about art history and practical technique but in a way that's refreshingly unpretentious, engaging and winsome. His enthusiasm and love for all things aesthetic is completely infectious. When David speaks about art we'd do well to listen carefully. His surname suggests Scottish ancestry, which is perhaps why he's so good at what he does 😀. I'm a proud Scot who lives a very short drive from the town of Dunlop in East Ayrshire here in Scotland. Sadly this tenuous link with Mr Dunlop has in no way helped me in my own pitiful attempts at painting! 😀 Thanks for the videos, and please keep them coming, David.

Oh man, David, this was an incredible presentation. Thank You!!

I possess no adjectives that do justice to the genius of what I just witnessed. Add to that the fact that I possess no words of gratitude sufficient to the gift. Here, then, are those inadequacies: "Phenomenal. Thank you for this."

I feel like I just entered a University art class. I never went to art school and since I started painting, I have wished I would have. By watching videos like this….I feel like I’m getting educated. This was so informative! Thank you.

You are awesome sir!

Excellent explanations 😊

Really enjoyed this process.

I so enjoyed your teaching style; light and happy and yet so informative! This is the 1st time I’ve seen you. I have some Gamblin oils that I will bring out and try something along your teaching . I’ve been recently interested in trying my oils as I’ve been using acrylics for a while and need to learn about my oils. I have subscribed to your channel and will be delighted to learn more from you. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

David, you are a treasure. So much fun and informative.

Time: 6:57 am - Fortunately, before my brain was overloaded with Stuff...I came across this video of yours. Knowing that "man does not live by bread alone" and being hungry, I devoured your delicious words. Many decades ago, I was told by a Wise man, "when the student is ready, the Teacher will appear." Thank you for being the Bridge that we need.

Another lesson I'm going to have to think about. Thank you David, I'm getting excited about painting again. Cheers

Liberating ! : )

Hello David! I love watching your videos and want to learn how to paint abstract and impressionist paintings. Today you also took me back to my distant childhood, where I, too, had my favorite stream with a clear spring pond. I often loved to dip into this invigorating, transparently cold water. Now I have a desire, by all means, to paint a picture of my stream according to your video lesson. I will be revisiting this most valuable video of yours many more times. Thank you for this wonderful workshop!

David, we need you back on PBS or Create TV.

Thanks!

I just love watching and listening to your thoughts when you paint! I paint watercolor landscapes and seascapes. I never have understood abstract concepts and never could fathom how to begin. You are inspiring me to try! Probably with gouache or acrylic because those are the only opaque so have. Thank you.

Welcome back and a huge THANK YOU Sir! Wonderful!!!

Virtuoso - Bravo

Thank you, thank you David! You are a great educator and inspiration - love this painting.

Oh David David. you are amazing.

Thank you! I needed to see this and hear this today!

Sooooo love your videos.... Fantastic information and inspiration. At any one moment I'm in a university at lecture, then at a comedy show, then a meditation class, a therapy session, then a wonderful art demonstration. Thank you for your talent.

magnificent!

All of it - beautiful

Amazing information, so clear and easy to understand and makes such a good sense thank you so much David

This is like a gift of knowledge which will give me a mind shift. Thank you

This gives me life. Thank you

I have been meditating for over 20 years. Fast forward with my art, I kept journals with drawings that I was going to paint. But guess what I never used the drawings. So then I began to question what I was creating. Then I had an aha moment that I was always in meditation when painting.

This was so fabulous. I learn so much from your videos and instruction. Thank you.

I find that the first half hour after waking in the morning, still a little sleepy ideas for my art pour into my head…

You inspire with your words. Excellent teacher.

Fascinating ! Thank you so much David

love it love it love it

Really good work.I am an abstract painter and much appreciate your ideas.....Thank you!

David thanks for your videos. I found you on PBS and am always entertained by your passion for the subject of painting. I'm trying to learn painting on my own and I'm more of an A-Z learner but your lessons always give me something new to internalize or think about.

Really full of useful, practical info., presented in a fun way. I am inspired to do more oil painting! Thanks so MUCH. I will watch more of your lessons.😊

So insightful for where I am at this time ! I am trying to get away from realism and embrace impressionism as it allows the beholder to participate in the art . So wonderful is that.

Fantastic Presentation. Thank you.

Solid gold

Excellent. So well explained.

Thank you

David, I have a sign I put up over my easel that says..... ENJOY THE PROCESS !!! to remind me to slow down.

Loving your video. So enthusiastic and inspiring. It’s the very first I have seen and my third time of watching it. I will be following you more. Thanks.

You are an amazing painter! Thanks ❤

wonderful wonderful!!!!

I’ve always liked your teaching and stories. But this? I love ❤ My issue is that I’m a watercolor artist. I just don’t use oils. Maybe I can try this in acrylics 🤔

love your lessons! now more focussed on what I want to do! xx

What a wonderful video. Well done, sir. 👍👍

Thank you, this was fun and informative and extremely helpful!

So good. Thanks

I got something so valuable, though I still could not define it, it forms inside me about abstract painting. I'm a dummy in this field and have no prior knowledge about it. Well, thank you so much Mr. David for your inspirational tutorial and excellent painting!!

Fascinating as always.

The Bronx boy is a riot! Your works are absolutely enchanting. Going to try your mental as well as physical painting. We Jerome Ave people are pretty smart too😏

You are an excellent teacher!

Thank you very much for making this video. You are amazing. The way you share such a valutabeleid knowledge. 🥰 All the best to you. Greetings from The Netherlands.🥰

I love this! I haven't ever studied abstract art, it's been, too abstract frankly for me to understand it. Yet because of your instruction in these videos, I think Im beginning to understand how to think about it.Yep, I love what you are showing me and I am able to relate to the relax, play, aspect and see what the paint is showing me, and where it wants to take me. Having a mantra running in the background...very helpful. so many tips for managing the energy, and remembering all the principles of color. I haven't tried to paint on metals and Im curious to see if I can recreate some of these techniques on silky smooth canvas panels. My brother loves abstract art and I would love to be able to paint him an abstract painting of mine. I'm going to play with it, see what happens. Thank you so much for inspiring me. Big Love to you.

Thank you. This is just what I needed to hear... Although I am a very poorly talented painter I've been enjoying it a lot lately, feeling great and happily surprised of some of the results... but it seems that's gone. It all started when I tried to paint what I see (a picture) instead of the places I imagine or dream about (or have seen and keep in my memory). This felt like hell and scared me. This teaching class explains my problems and gives me hope I'll be able to enjoy again. I'll calm down and wait :-)

Excellent! I am learning so much from you. Bought my first large brushes (after watching you paint) and I am excited and nervous to begin using them. Thank you for all the references to Gestalt. I am just thrilled to have found you and hope to do a workshop with you when they are available. Molla

Excellent explanations... Great David, thanks a lot

This is a very informative video! It is excellent. Thank you.

I love your videos, thanks for another amazing one. 17:00 blew my mind haha I cant wait to incorporate these ideas into my future work

I must drop into flow in two minutes, even after a house-member talks to me. But I don’t have friends over, since that WOULD be interruptive. I don’t even feel pain while painting, but I sure pay for it afterward!

Inspiring method!!1Thank you so much!!!