Painting with John

"Painting with John" starts its season off with a declaration that many may dislike, "Bob Ross was wrong. Everyone can't paint." John then explains that everyone cannot paint because all too often we lose the childlike creativity that probably drove us to pick up a paintbrush the first time. This show isn't a tutorial on painting, and I think it's something much better because of its musings/ramblings about creativity and the beautiful way the show is shot. I'm not a painter, but this show made me do something Bob Ross's work could never do. After the first episode I scrounged around for some old paint, and just screw around and see why came out. I think this show is less about strictly painting and more of a catalyst for creativity. I hope you like the poem from the first episode.

John Lurie is a fascinating guy and a considerable talent. The first episode of the his new show sees him bumming around his seaside home in borderline pyjamas; painting, musing, joking, observing. It's not exactly a courtroom thriller but what did you expect? I appreciate some new television that isn't edited at a frenetic pace.

Moving forward, maybe we'll see some interesting guests, but even if it remains just John, the man is quirky enough to capture my attention for twenty minutes.

Check it out.

This is the ultimate pandemic comfort watch. A few years back, musician, actor, producer, and painter John Lurie went into seclusion on an island in the Caribbean. Now that we're all in seclusion due to COVID, John's showed up back in the television world to show us how to make the most of it -- dedicating ourselves to whatever art we can, and doing at least one fun and ridiculous things every day (in John's case, rolling tires down hills, finding a tree branch that looks like an elephant trunk and cosplaying an elephant all day, etc). Mixed between John's ruminations on life and art are his gorgeous watercolor paintings being done in real-time, and the stellar jazz music from his pre-painting days ensemble, The Lounge Lizards (along with a few Marvin Pontiac gems, too). If you're a fan of John's, you'll be delighted -- he presents himself here as the older, funny, grumpy, genius artist uncle you never knew you really wished you'd had -- and if you're new to his work, maybe his dedication to the divine connections that can be made through art will help you through your own seclusion in these weird pandemic days. Either way, watch. It's a delight.

I wasn't sure what to expect and even when it started I wasn't sure what I was watching. If your looking for a "point" I don't think this is for you. To me, it was about art...the laughter and breath of it. I will watch again. When it was over I was just a little more relaxed. It's for the eyes and ears...to me.

Very interesting, informative and entertaining. But, here's the thing : it's success has as much - if not more - to do with the personality (John Lurie) doing the painting and talking than with the content. Even if most of us could paint as well and/or had the same kinds of anecdotes, a similar show would be a failure. But he makes it work.