Jessica Henry Gray

Classical Impressionist Artist

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Welcome to my Epiphany page! I invite you to think of this video collection as a unique art bookshop, with hallways of many doors that open to new worlds, each taking you on a distinct journey. Every “door” is labeled with a topic that I studied, worked with and taught for over 30 years. I offer videos featuring topics such as portraiture, painting animals, land/seascape/plein air, Victorian watercolor, foundational drawing, composition and technical nuts and bolts – plus more to come! My teaching style is easy to follow, comprehensive as well as supportive, encouraging you to develop the confidence you need to paint and create whatever interests you! More videos and some live sessions will be added every month to keep you inspired and motivated!

In time, I hope you’ll explore them all. A well-rounded art education will help you improve in other areas of your artistic endeavor, no matter which path you choose to take. The comprehensive study of art will give you a wide array of techniques and disciplines, and you may discover new joys of other mediums and interpretations. I have developed a systematic way of teaching these different artistic disciplines that I know you will find informative and inspiring. I have seen incredible results from students from all over the world utilizing the methods and techniques waiting to be discovered behind every door!

While you’re here, I hope you’ll peek into each room to see what is available right now, and what is coming in the future. The videos in each section are listed in order of progression. I encourage you to watch the first video, “Introduction to Jessica Henry Fine Art: Artist, Know Thyself,” describing what to expect from my Epiphany Fine Art library.

So, please enjoy browsing my art bookshop, all open to you!

Jeanne Rosier Smith Pastel lessons

If we haven’t yet covered a topic you’d like to see let us know and we’ll add it to the list  Thanks! Send us an email

Materials
Jessica Henry Gray’s Materials List
Jessica Henry Gray Painting

Paintings by Jessica Henry Gray

Jessica Henry Gray Painting
Jessica Henry Gray Painting

Introduction to Jessica Henry Fine Art

Artist Know thyself

Welcome! Thanks for checking out my Epiphany page! What is art? It is the means of communicating something of value from one heart to another through creativity. Knowing who you are and how to express the beauty that you enjoy in the world around you are the essence of our journey. This introductory video will explain to you why I feel that a solid well-rounded art education is so vital to every artist. I will clarify how I want to help you along in your journey to better communicate how to tell your story with your own art. Thanks for watching and I look forward to getting to know you better!

1 video found
Artist Jessica Henry Gray
6:34
Artist Know Thyself
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187views
Welcome!!

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Reference Materials

Jessica Henry Gray Materials List
Materials List

Free Videos

2 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray fall color demo painting
1:34:00
Jessica Henry Gray-Fall Colors Demo – Sept 16
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329views
Capturing the beauty of changing trees in reflected water, using photo reference
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo picture
1:02:58
Jessica Henry Gray-Q&A 6/10/2023: Depicting Distance
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228views
Our growing group of Epiphany and Newsletter subscribers asked Jessica about converting plein air "studies" into studio paintings, colors of shadows, and more…. In Jessica's demo, she shows how to convey distance between objects in plein air paintings.

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Jeanne Rosier Smith pastel painting

painting by Jessica Henry Gray

Silver Subscription Videos

Videos Added in the Past Three Months

7 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray
24:38
JHG-Color Mixing: Meet All Your Plein Air Needs with a Seven-Color Palette (part 1)
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6views
Discover how a simple, easy-to-manage palette of seven colors can produce any color you desire. Jessica draws on her many years of plein air painting to give you the best of all worlds: few colors to manage, and a full spectrum of colors to capture ...
Jessica Henry Gray
23:54
JHG-Color Mixing: Meet All Your Plein Air Needs with a Seven-Color Palette (part 2)
•
3views
Part 2. Discover how a simple, easy-to-manage palette of seven colors can produce any color you desire. Jessica draws on her many years of plein air painting to give you the best of all worlds: few colors to manage, and a full spectrum of colors to ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
29:13
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 1)
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1views
Every portrait tells a story about its subject. But sometimes the story is so rich and vital that the artist becomes editor, deciding not just how to capture their subject's character, but how to present their story. Join Jessica as she talks about ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
27:19
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 2)
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2views
In Part 2, Jessica continues blocking in Sean's portrait using a limited palette.
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
30:29
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 3)
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1views
Part 3 covers painting hands and a background scene of a field behind the castle, with a dark history.
Jessica Henry Gray paints a portrait
34:23
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 4)
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1views
In Part 4, Jessica completes the background and starts making final decisions about furnishings.
Jessica Henry Gray portrait
26:10
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 5)
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1views
Jessica wraps up Sean's portrait in Part 5, making finishing touches on facial features and hands.

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COMING SOON:

  • Drawing Using the Comparative Method
  • Drawing from the Still Life
  • Victorian Watercolor
  • Plein Air: Thumbnail Sketches and Composition
  • Foundations and Introduction to Still Life Painting
  • Setting Up a Still Life
  • Portraiture: Mixing Skin Tones
  • Making Everything Better: Color Theory and Mixing
  • Making Everything Better: Finding Inspiration In Nature
  • Making Everything Better: Composition
  • Making Everything Better: Efficiency (“The Triangle” and more….)

SPECIAL EVENTS:

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Archived Demos and Q&A Sessions with Jessica

Reference Images

11 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray oil painting demo
1:41:14
JHG-Painting Spring Flowers
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5views
Each season presents plein air artists with unique colors that can stretch their color-mixing skills. For her spring studio demo, Jessica will select a scene of typical early-season colors.
Jessica Henry Gray fall color demo painting
1:34:00
Jessica Henry Gray-Fall Colors Demo – Sept 16
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329views
Capturing the beauty of changing trees in reflected water, using photo reference
Jessica Henry Gray fall color demo
38:10
Jessica Henry Gray-Q&A Demo 8/12/23: Mixing Greens & Fall Colors
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103views
In this Demo, Jessica talks from behind the camera, pointing to several of the diverse greens in her scene, and explaining her method of mixing them on her palette.
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo picture
1:02:58
Jessica Henry Gray-Q&A 6/10/2023: Depicting Distance
•
228views
Our growing group of Epiphany and Newsletter subscribers asked Jessica about converting plein air "studies" into studio paintings, colors of shadows, and more…. In Jessica's demo, she shows how to convey distance between objects in plein air paintings.
Jessica Henry Gray painting reference
1:12:28
JHG-PPV 5/13/2023: Painting Underwater Rocks
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16views
We again welcomed Epiphany and Newsletter subscribers. I critiqued two participants' paintings and answered questions. I did a live commentary as we watchd a recent video, showing how to paint underwater rocks. The full video is being released as a ...
Jessica Henry Gray still life demo painting
1:25:35
JHG-PPV with Artist Group: Still Life 4/22/2023
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6views
Too often, artists undervalue still life. In this session, I discuss how the process of selecting, lighting, arranging and painting still life presents artists with rewarding challenges that both develop their skills and yield beautiful works of art!
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo
1:19:19
JHG-PPV with Artist Group: Art as Therapy 3/18/2023
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8views
We welcomed Newsletter subscribers to this session. It was a great group of old friends and new faces! I critiqued two lovely paintings by group members and then spoke on how, without knowing we're doing it, we can turn art into a source of stress ...
Jessica Henry Gray image
1:30:06
JHG-PPV with Artist Group: Efficiency (2/25/2003
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15views
In this session I critiqued four paintings from the group and we talked about efficiency -- a key to enjoying painting more and getting better results. Then I did a one-hour demo of a scene I loved, from a great trip to Ireland last summer.
Jessica Henry Gray plein air painting at Epiphany Fine Art
1:31:56
JHG-PPV Three Day Workshop Day 1 – at Epiphany Fine Art Studios
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12views
Join Jessica for an inspirational three-day workshop at Epiphany Fine Art in beautiful Norton Massachusetts, painting stunning fall colors! In this workshop Jessica will demonstrate how to select a scene, establish your composition, and develop your ...
Jessica Henry Gray plein air demonstration painting
1:15:49
JHG-PPV Three Day Workshop Day 2 – at Sheep Farm Easton Ma
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9views
Join Jessica for an inspirational three-day workshop at Epiphany Fine Art in beautiful Norton Massachusetts, painting stunning fall colors! In this workshop Jessica will demonstrate how to select a scene, establish your composition, and develop your ...
Jessica Henry Gray plein air demonstration painting
1:41:17
JHG-PPV Three Day Workshop Day 3 – at Borderland State Park MA
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5views
Join Jessica for an inspirational three-day workshop at Epiphany Fine Art in beautiful Norton Massachusetts, painting stunning fall colors! In this workshop Jessica will demonstrate how to select a scene, establish your composition, and develop your ...

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Picture of Artist Jessica Henry Gray
Reference Images

Drawing

There is no other discipline in the two-dimensional art world so important as the ability to draw. No matter what you wish to accomplish with your art, learning to see and understand visually what you are looking at is at the heartbeat of every form of art. In this session, I endeavor to “draw” upon my 28 years of teaching all age levels. I have seen even children grasp difficult concepts of drawing because the process was broken down into simplistic steps that are easily understood. Bear with me in this process. I know the lessons begin with a very elementary foundation; however, I utilize those methods throughout every one of my future videos across all areas of interest. These foundational skills will be the bedrock upon which you build all your precepts of drawing and painting going forward. Think of these beginning lessons as scales that every great musician was required to master. The more fluid you become at mastering these steps, the more success you will see for yourself as a developed artist.

Fundamentals of Drawing Worksheet

8 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
30:05
JHG-Drawing a Horse: The Structural Basics Part1
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19views
There is a lifetime of subject matter to study when it comes to understanding the horse and working out its descriptive form. But we must begin somewhere! I will be adding more equine videos in the future, but for now, we begin here. In this first ...
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
30:58
JHG-Drawing a Horse: Internal Facial Features Part 2
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12views
Working on the internal features of the face we break down the form of the eyes, muzzle and the ears.
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
40:05
JHG-Drawing a Horse: End to End-Top to Bottom Part 3
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14views
This video covered the basics of understanding how a mane and tail function and lay on a horse. I also demonstrate how to draw the hoof, its function and mobility.
Jessica Henry Gray Drawing Video
32:44
JHG-Foundations of Drawing: The Four Major Tools
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30views
Every discipline must begin with the understanding of some basic principles. This video demonstrates the basic principles of drawing that will carry you through all your artistic disciplines, with practice.
Jessica Henry Gray demonstration
25:35
JHG-Drawing a Tree in the Forest
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22views
Most of us have some extra waiting time every now and then. What better exercise for the artistic mind than to practice some quick drawings while out and about. In this video I show you how to capture a quick tree from life.
Jessica Henry Gray Drawing Demonstration
30:54
JHG-Drawing Sight Size (part 1)
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19views
This first lesson in a three-part series is the preliminary stages of a portrait demonstrating Sight-size drawing technique. A portrait was chosen because I want to demonstrate that the process of drawing is not complicated, but rather a series of ...
Jessica Henry Gray Drawing Demonstration
33:22
JHG-Drawing Sight Size (part 2)
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12views
In the second video of this three-part series, we will work further on the portrait that was begun in the first lesson. I will develop the portrait working out the contours of the face and begin laying in the values.
Jessica Henry Gray Drawing Demonstration
24:06
JHG-Drawing Sight Size (part 3)
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6views
In this final drawing sight size video, I work to finish the portrait drawing. I hope that you will see that there is nothing complicated or daunting about drawing anything you want! Its all a matter of observation, taking your time and careful ...

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Fundamentals of Drawing Worksheet

Drawing
Topic Videos in order:

  • Fundamentals of Drawing: The Four Major Tools
  • Drawing Sight-Size
  • Drawing Using the Comparative Method
  • Drawing from the Still Life
  • Drawing from Nature
  • Drawing Horses
  • Drawing Human Anatomy, Part 1: Hands
  • Drawing Human Anatomy, Part 2: Torso
  • Drawing Human Anatomy, Part 3: Legs and Feet
  • Drawing the Portrait, Part 1: Bone Structure
  • Drawing the Portrait, Part 2: Features
  • Drawing the Portrait, Part 3: Features (continued)
  • Drawing the Portrait, Part 4: Capturing Expression
  • Drawing with Pen and Ink
  • more to come….
Jessica Henry Gray drawing of a young boy
Drawing by Jessica Henry Gray

Watercolor

4 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray demo of packing for watercolor plein air
24:13
JHG-Packing for Watercolor Plein Air
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7views
In this video I will share with you what I carry with me when I want to do a little plein air work with my watercolors. It's a fun treasure hunt example for the individual looking to set up their own plein air kit of watercolor and pen and ink ...
Jessica Henry Gray Introduction to Watercolor demo
23:11
JHG-Introduction to Watercolor (part 1)
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6views
Watercolor painting is such a delightful painting medium with ease of materials, packing and accessibility. Many people feel intimidated by it's unpredictability and permanence. In this video, Jessica will demonstrate the basics of Victorian ...
Jessica Henry Gray Introduction to Watercolor demo
21:35
JHG-Introduction to Watercolor (part 2)
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6views
Jessica continues to present basic watercolor techniques such as broken color. Master these basic essentials, and there isn't anything you can't watercolor paint! Soon you'll be packing up your watercolor kit to take with you anywhere!
JHG-Building On What You Know
37:31
JHG-Building On What You Know
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10views
In this Victorian Watercolor video, we use the techniques from the Watercolor Foundations Lessons 1 and 2. Together we paint a lovely fall scene of a lakeshore cabin and a small boat. Be sure to pause the video when more time is needed.

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Watercolor
Topic Videos in order:

  • Introduction to Watercolor
  • Building on What You Know
  • Victorian Watercolor
  • Victorian Watercolor: Pen and Ink
  • Watercolor Journaling

Landscape Plein Air

25 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray oil painting
21:47
JHG-Living Waters (part1)
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8views
"Living Waters" is one of Jessica's most intricate landscape paintings. Drawing her inspiration from a rushing river in Glacier National Park, Jessica shows you how to capture cascading and still water, underwater objects, sky, forests and the people ...
Jessica Henry Gray oil painting
23:29
JHG-Living Waters (part 2)
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7views
"Living Waters" is one of Jessica's most intricate landscape paintings. Drawing her inspiration from a rushing river in Glacier National Park, Jessica shows you how to capture cascading and still water, underwater objects, sky, forests and the people ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting demonstration
32:32
JHG-Olmsted Falls Waterfall in Spring (part 1)
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8views
This is the complete lesson, shown in part in our May 13th Q&A. In it, I paint a lovely scene of a natural waterfall near a historic sandstone quary in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. In my voiceover, you'll learn how I make decisions about composition, ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting demonstration
33:27
JHG-Olmsted Falls Waterfall in Spring (part 2)
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7views
Join me as I finish the waterfall plein air. In part two, I focus on the underwater portion of the scene, painting the bottom, the water itself, the reflections and the object that emerge above the water level.
Jessica Henry Gray Painting shimmering water image
36:13
JHG-Painting Shimmering Water (part 1)
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9views
On a warm, sunny, February afternoon in Northern Ohio (a phrase I've never used before), I went to plein aire at a nearby wildlife habitat. The video opens with my search for a great scene to paint. Finding a view full of your "loves" -- interesting ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting shimmering water image
38:15
JHG-Painting Shimmering Water (part 2)
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6views
In Part 2, I finish the painting following the plan I laid out in the thumbnail sketch. Boisterous geese, local row boaters and some camera-toppling wind gusts, make it another great plein air experience.
Jessica Henry Gray painting
41:33
JHG-Forest Creek (Part 1)
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21views
I open with two short "Special Features." In the first, I discuss scene selection. I had hiked down a beautiful wooded creek with many interesting and beautiful potential subjects. I briefly discuss how I arrived and my decision about what I would ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting
41:29
JHG-Forest Creek (Part 2)
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8views
In part two, I add the details and textures that will help me arrive at "what I loved" about this view. You are welcome to paint along with me, or find a scene that you love, and enjoy the process of capturing it on canvas
Jessica Henry Gray pictured with a plein air painting
33:57
JHG-Misty Woodland River – Capturing Atmosphere (part 1)
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11views
In Part 1, I introduce you to this beautiful, misty river scene. I talk about how I decided on this particular composition, working through a thumbnail sketch that helps guide me throughout the rest of my painting. I finish Part 1 by showing you how ...
Jessica Henry Gray pictured with a plein air painting
41:20
JHG-Misty Woodland River – Capturing Atmosphere (part 2)
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10views
Part 2 will show you how to mix and block in colors. I also paint in the starkly beautiful winter tree branches.
Jessica Henry Gray pictured with a plein air painting
38:30
JHG-Misty Woodland River – Capturing Atmosphere (part 3)
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6views
In Part 3, I add details to the water and branches and check to be sure I've accomplished my goals for the painting. …and get a visit from a local trout!
Jessica Henry Gray Plein Air Seascape Painting
39:06
JHG-Seascape Plein Air – Cannon Beach Oregon (Part 1)
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15views
In this first part, I demonstrate how to sketch out a composition and use paint to lay in the design on canvas. Working through the changing mist and sky, I share how you can efficiently make your work capture your initial impression faster.
Jessica Henry Gray Plein Air Seascape Painting
39:47
JHG-Seascape Plein Air – Cannon Beach Oregon (Part 2)
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13views
While finishing the study, I discuss the use of values and colors to achieve distance and atmosphere. I then talk about utilizing the correct amount of detail to capture interest in your focal area by making selective choices and eliminating extra ...
Jessica Henry Gray Landscape Painting
33:52
JHG-Mixing Fall Colors
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16views
Join me as I demonstrate how to mix the beautiful colors of fall, whilst outdoors using my favorite method! I use my standard limited palette to arrive at a wide array of the gorgeous colors of autumn.
Jessica Henry Gray Landscape Painting
21:38
JHG-Selecting the Scene: Composition and the Thumbnail Sketch
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18views
There are some steps In every plein air painters routine that are a must if you are looking to increase your efficiency in the field; and that is the practice of doing a thumbnail sketch before every painting. By doing a sketch ahead of time, you ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
41:53
JHG-Palette Knife Painting: Lavender Field (part 1)
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13views
In this three-part video series, I share the method of working with a palette knife. The use of a palette knife is very different than using a brush, and I hope to demonstrate in this video, the many different ways to hold and manipulate the knife ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
33:36
JHG-Palette Knife Painting: Lavender Field (part 2)
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10views
In Part 2, I continue painting distant fields, the trees behind the lavender and begin laying in the lavender rows.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
16:15
JHG-Palette Knife Painting: Lavender Field (part 3)
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7views
In Part 3, I lay in the lavender rows and the grassy aisles between them. I show techniques for using the palette knife to depict the rows' shape and direction. Finally, I zoom in on the details showing how short strokes with a dry knife added texture.
Jessica Henry Gray packing for Plein Air
28:27
Packing for Plein Air
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14views
Efficiently packing for plein air painting is the first step to having a successful time enjoying the great outdoors doing what you love. In this short video I will show you the best options for keeping your equipment lightweight and essential.
Jessica Henry Gray landscape painting plein air demo
22:20
Getting Started With Plein Air (part 1)
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18views
In this video I will demonstrate how to find a scene to paint in a park setting, develop your thumbnail sketch and block in the values on canvas
Jessica Henry Gray landscape painting plein air demo
35:54
Getting Started With Plein Air (part 2)
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12views
This lesson will see you through blocking in the value and color masses, mixing greens and will further develop the painting begun in lesson 1.
Jessica Henry Gray landscape painting plein air demo
29:11
Getting Started With Plein Air (part 3)
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8views
Wrapping up the painting from lessons 1 and 2, this video will demonstrate how to work through keeping your first vision, tightening up the composition and how to know when you’re finished.
Jessica Henry Gray plein air oil painting demo
39:13
JHG-Painting Water Reflections and Fall Color (part 1)
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13views
Everyone loves fall colors, water and reflections. In this video series, I will demonstrate how to capture a lovely fall pond scene with simple basic steps so you can confidently master plein air painting fall color, water and reflections. Starting ...
Jessica Henry Gray plein air oil painting demo
25:02
JHG-Painting Water Reflections and Fall Color (part 2)
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7views
Working through the painting in the first video, I demonstrate the middle passages of this forest, water and reflections scene. There are definitely layers of a complicated scene and I break down those complexities to show you an easy process.
Jessica Henry Gray plein air oil painting demo
31:20
JHG-Painting Water Reflections and Fall Color (part 3)
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6views
Wrapping up the set of three videos on painting fall colors, water and reflections, I share the finishing touches of capturing the life and energy of a forest scene. Often people ask how you can know when you’re finished and I share how you can know ...

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Landscape Plein Air
Topic Videos in order:

  • Packing for Plein Air
  • Thumbnail Sketches and Composition
  • Getting Started with Plein Air Painting
  • Painting Water, Reflections and Fall Colors
  • Painting Trees
  • Painting Water
  • Painting Skies and Clouds
  • Painting Cityscapes
  • Painting from Photos
  • more to come….

Painting Animals

9 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
30:05
JHG-Drawing a Horse: The Structural Basics Part1
•
19views
There is a lifetime of subject matter to study when it comes to understanding the horse and working out its descriptive form. But we must begin somewhere! I will be adding more equine videos in the future, but for now, we begin here. In this first ...
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
30:58
JHG-Drawing a Horse: Internal Facial Features Part 2
•
12views
Working on the internal features of the face we break down the form of the eyes, muzzle and the ears.
Jessica Henry Gray Horse Drawing
40:05
JHG-Drawing a Horse: End to End-Top to Bottom Part 3
•
14views
This video covered the basics of understanding how a mane and tail function and lay on a horse. I also demonstrate how to draw the hoof, its function and mobility.
Jessica Henry Gray painting of a border collie
28:16
JHG-Border Collie (part 1)
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14views
Capturing our furry friends on canvas is the artistic desire of many! In this set of three videos, I demonstrate my simple approach to capturing a likeness of a sweet border collie. No matter what animal you’d like to paint, the principles are all ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting of a border collie
38:35
JHG-Border Collie (part 2)
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5views
In this second video of painting animals, I demonstrate the middle passages of working through more of the blocking in of values of the Border Collie. I also show how you can use brushwork to demonstrate the flow of animal hair and develop form. ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting of a border collie
21:03
JHG-Border Collie (part 3)
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3views
In this third and final video of painting the Border Collie, I share how to finish the eyes, nose and all the remaining details that make up the character of the animal.
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo of a white horse
36:27
JHG-White Horse Head (part 1)
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14views
Nothing says majesty and grace like the noble horse. I am excited to share with you a clear simple step-by-step process to capturing a horse head portrait in this video set of three. (Please note: In this video series, my canvas is slightly tilted ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo of a white horse
30:21
JHG-White Horse Head (part 2)
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7views
In this second video of painting the horse head, I will carry you through the process of blocking in the values and refining the form with brushwork.
Jessica Henry Gray painting demo of a white horse
36:22
JHG-White Horse Head (part 3)
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8views
With the values in place for this third and final video of painting the horse head, I will wrap up the portrait with finishing touches of correcting any issues, developing more of the character around the eyes and painting the sculptural, cool ...

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Painting Animals
Topic Videos in order:

  • Border Collie
  • White Horse Head
  • more to come…

The effort of every artist is to convey what moves them through a means of selection, color and light. Studying the still life has a profound impact on the artists ability to clarify those elements that are vital to demonstrate the simple truths in nature.

When a still life takes on that feeling of transcending reality it becomes a painting of a moment recorded in history of beauty, captured and bathed in immortal temporal light. There is an unbearable stillness to the movement and energy created by the eye, hand and heart of the artist who can see beyond the surface. Nothing is arbitrary. Everything becomes poetry.

Still Life

9 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray Still life painting demo
29:08
JHG-Still Life Foundations: Apple and Lime Part 1
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26views
In this first video of a two-part series, I will explain the very basics of beginning a still life. This is part 1, where I demonstrate toning a canvas, blocking in, and massing in colors and values
Jessica Henry Gray Still life painting demo
33:33
JHG-Still Life Foundations: Apple and Lime Part 2
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15views
Part 2, of the first lesson in still life foundations will focus of further developing the apple and lime still life. I will show more about mixing colors, establishing light, dimension and will cover use of brushwork. These first two still lifes ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
6:00
JHG-The Day is Done (part1): Intro
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8views
Jessica introduces this 7-part series on her still life, "The Day is Done." Most often, you'll see Jessica outdoors, painting plein air studies where changing conditions make quick decisions and rapid brushwork essential. But she also loves settling ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
26:37
JHG-The Day is Done (part2): Setting Up & the Sketch
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8views
Jessica shares her method for still life set up, including lighting, backgrounds, object selection and how to arrange the objects to create visual flow. Once arranged, she creates a thumbnail sketch framing the scene in a way that allows the objects ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
37:17
JHG-The Day is Done (part 3): Learning from a Quick Study & a Short Intro to the Final Painting
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8views
Jessica paints a "study" of the still life, working quickly in the style of plein air paintings. Critiquing her study, she plans improvements to be applied to the final painting. This video ends with a 3-minute overview of the 20 hours of painting ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
53:36
JHG-Day is Done part 4: Vase, Hourglass, and Feather
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1views
Although Jessica paints multi-part subjects by moving around the canvas, developing each object a little more with each pass, we edited this video to isolate her work on each object. In Part 4, we show Jessica's work on the vase, the hourglass and ...
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
42:46
JHG-Day in Done part 5: Tea Cup
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2views
In Part 5, we show how Jessica paints the tea cup, with it's fine porceline design, delicate gold leaf, translucient tea and even a hint of steam. It's a master class on fine detail in still life
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
44:01
Day is Done (Part 6) the Book
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1views
Watch as Jessica paints a classic older book, with engraving, script title and gold guilded pages.
Jessica Henry Gray Painting
1:21:52
JHG-Day is Done (Part 7) Cloth and Background
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1views
In this final episode of the Day is Done series, Jessica shows you how to paint and sheer cloth that runs through the arrangement, and the background -- and how she makes changes as she evaluates how the background should best support the subjects of ...

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Still Life
Topic Videos in order:

  • Foundations and Introduction to Still Life Painting
  • Setting Up a Still Life
  • Developing a Concept
  • Painting Light
  • Painting Air
  • Painting Dimension
  • Painting Space
  • Capturing a Mood
  • Plein Air Still Life
  • more to come….
Jessica Henry Gray Still life painting
Jessica Henry Gray Still life painting

Master Copies

Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” When working to master a skill, say learning to play the piano, no one expects the beginner to compose and develop their own symphony. The student will study Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart. There is no difference in the efforts of an art student. We learn best by studying the masters and strive to understand what they did, why they did it and how they managed to arrive at their approaches and conclusions. In this series I will demonstrate master copies of varying artists, discipline and subjects.

No videos found
Jessica Henry Gray artist master copy painting
Jessica Henry Gray artist master copy painting
Master copy videos will be uploaded shortly

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Master Copies
Topic Videos in order:

  • Sargent – Master Copy
  • Peder Mork Munsted – Master Copy
  • more to come….

Portraiture

13 videos found
Jess
37:28
JHG-Painting Eyes in Portrait Settings
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12views
Painting portraits may seem a daunting challenge, but I want to show you that it can be managed with the understanding of some essential concepts. In this video I discuss how I go about smiling painting eyes with life and sparkle.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
23:57
JHG-Foundations in Portraiture (part 1)
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7views
Painting the portrait is one of the most challenging disciplines of painting known to artists. In this section of painting portraits, I begin with the foundations of portraiture. We first discus the skull, and I demonstrate a simple sketch of a skull ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
28:37
JHG-Foundations in Portraiture (part 2)
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4views
In this second video lesson of the foundations of portrait painting, I begin the painting of this gentleman by toning the canvas and demonstrate how to use my comparative drawing method to capture his likeness on the canvas.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
31:45
JHG-Foundations in Portraiture (part 3)
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3views
In this final video of the foundations of portraiture, I will demonstrate the finishing touches of sculpting out the form by using three basic values (light, middle tone and dark) to create the illusion of depth and facial topography.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
27:58
JHG-Portrait of a Young Woman: Color and Character (part 1)
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10views
In this three-part video series, Color and Character, I will carry you through the next stage of portrait painting with working through color mixing! First, we begin with the drawing of our subject. I demonstrate in this first lesson, again the ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
37:22
JHG-Portrait of a Young Woman: Color and Character (part 2)
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5views
In this second video lesson of the Portrait studies, Color and Character, we delve into the weeds of really looking at mixing color. I explain the use of cool and warm color and I block in the foundation. I also begin to work through the capturing of ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
32:21
JHG-Portrait of a Young Woman: Color and Character (part 3)
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5views
Wrapping up the final video of this set of three in our Color and Character study, I demonstrate the importance of refining, looking and checking all areas that will need work. Then I isolate passages that need accents, and ask the question, “Did I capture
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
43:35
JHG-Painting a Child: Sunlight Study (part 1)
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11views
This delightful three-part series in painting the portrait, I take you on a journey of painting a sweet little girl. This series will focus on using your brushwork to create form, understanding cool and warm in painting portraits while still ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
50:34
JHG-Painting a Child: Sunlight Study (part 2)
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9views
In this second video of painting this sweet little girl, we take a closer look at refining the form and capturing the look of a child. There are wonderful palette shots demonstrating mixing skin tones. Edge work is also discussed as it pertains to ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
36:36
JHG-Painting a Child: Sunlight Study (part 3)
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5views
In this final video of panting a young child, we polish up the structure, push the cool and warm vibrancy and finish painting her hair, clothes and develop a simple background that does not distract and enhances the glow of the child.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
22:36
JHG-Seafaring Man: Sculptural Form (part 1)
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4views
In this three-part video series, I break down the process of portrait painting as it is more like sculpture than drawing. I want to emphasize the importance of considering facial topography in these videos. This first lesson will cover the likeness ...
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
39:36
JHG-Seafaring Man: Sculptural Form (part 2)
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3views
The second video lesson in this series about sculpting form will see the portrait come to life more by developing the three main values and building some descriptive form using color and brushwork.
Jessica Henry Gray Portrait painting
34:40
JHG-Seafaring Man: Sculptural Form (part 3)
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1views
In this final video lesson about sculpting the portrait, we will see this painting come to a close with the addition of some final touches, discussion on paint quality, and using backgrounds to define edges and create atmosphere.

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Portraiture
Topic Videos in order:

  • Foundations in Portraiture
  • Painting a Young Woman – Color and Character
  • Painting a Child – Sunlight Study
  • Seafaring Man – Sculptural Form
  • Mixing Skin Tones
  • Portrait Features: Eyes
  • Portrait Features: Nose
  • Portrait Features: Mouth
  • Portrait Features: Ears and Jewelry
  • Portrait Features: Hair and Beards
  • Portrait Features: Fabric
  • Capturing Personality
  • more to come….

Paintings That Tell a Story:

Narrative Paintings

5 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
29:13
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 1)
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1views
Every portrait tells a story about its subject. But sometimes the story is so rich and vital that the artist becomes editor, deciding not just how to capture their subject's character, but how to present their story. Join Jessica as she talks about ...
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
27:19
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 2)
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2views
In Part 2, Jessica continues blocking in Sean's portrait using a limited palette.
Jessica Henry Gray painting a portrait
30:29
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 3)
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1views
Part 3 covers painting hands and a background scene of a field behind the castle, with a dark history.
Jessica Henry Gray paints a portrait
34:23
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 4)
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1views
In Part 4, Jessica completes the background and starts making final decisions about furnishings.
Jessica Henry Gray portrait
26:10
JHG-Sean Ryan Portrait (part 5)
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1views
Jessica wraps up Sean's portrait in Part 5, making finishing touches on facial features and hands.

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Narrative Paintings
Topic Videos in order:

  • Developing the Story
  • Working Through the Middle
  • Finishing – Knowing When to Stop
  • more to come….
Jessica Henry Gray artist painting
Jessica Henry Gray artist painting
Paintings by Jessica Henry Gray

Making Everything Better:

The Nuts and Bolts of Great Paintings

This video section will contain useful topics for every student who wants to broaden their understanding of composition, perspective, art materials, painting surfaces, lighting, brushes; shopping for, sizes, and care of, varnishes and mediums, color theory and mixing, travel, and much more. Check here for any sort of studio help that doesn’t involve the explanation of painting any thing in particular. 

4 videos found
Jessica Henry Gray
24:38
JHG-Color Mixing: Meet All Your Plein Air Needs with a Seven-Color Palette (part 1)
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6views
Discover how a simple, easy-to-manage palette of seven colors can produce any color you desire. Jessica draws on her many years of plein air painting to give you the best of all worlds: few colors to manage, and a full spectrum of colors to capture ...
Jessica Henry Gray
23:54
JHG-Color Mixing: Meet All Your Plein Air Needs with a Seven-Color Palette (part 2)
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3views
Part 2. Discover how a simple, easy-to-manage palette of seven colors can produce any color you desire. Jessica draws on her many years of plein air painting to give you the best of all worlds: few colors to manage, and a full spectrum of colors to ...
Jessica Henry Gray Landscape Painting
33:52
JHG-Mixing Fall Colors
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16views
Join me as I demonstrate how to mix the beautiful colors of fall, whilst outdoors using my favorite method! I use my standard limited palette to arrive at a wide array of the gorgeous colors of autumn.
Jessica Henry Gray Landscape Painting
21:38
JHG-Selecting the Scene: Composition and the Thumbnail Sketch
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18views
There are some steps In every plein air painters routine that are a must if you are looking to increase your efficiency in the field; and that is the practice of doing a thumbnail sketch before every painting. By doing a sketch ahead of time, you ...

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Nuts and Bolts of Great Paintings
Topic Videos in order:

  • Color Theory and Mixing
  • Finding Inspiration In Nature
  • Composition
  • Efficiency (“The Triangle” and more….)
  • Troubleshooting Your Paintings: Being Your Own Teacher
  • Painting Surfaces
  • Perspective
  • Watercolor Pochade: A Complete Kit for Plein Air Watercolor
  • more to come….
Jessica Henry Gray artist picture