Painting with John

I never knew much about John. I first learned of him from the movies - I was into some indie films back in the day and remember him from them. I also remember Fishing With John, which I also adored. My friend has HBO and when I saw this pop up, I couldn't believe it. I've watched it all twice now already, and can't wait for another season.

I have also listened to his book "The History of Bones" and highly recommend that you do, too.

Until now, I knew nothing about him, but was always a fan. I had no idea he created a band, or was even a musician. I just thought he was a wacky guy, and that's true but wow - he has led one crazy life! I always liked him and now I like him even more.

I like this show because it seems that he has finally been given his own artistic voice. I hope this is true, but it seems that this show is all him - his art, his music or his music choices, his own stories, his own wackiness. It's so genuine and sweet and funny and weird and that's about what John seems like to me and everyone needs more of that in their life, so please watch this show!

This show is just so soothing - John paints some, talks some, there is some neat music, art is shown, stories are told, little odd artistic bits are thrown in. It's a jumbled mess of awesomeness and you need to see it. I even like the end credits with that beautiful music and the slideshow of his art. I paint in oils myself, but haven't done much lately. This show and the music have inspired me to get back at it, and I'm making good stuff.

I mean, John is an artist. In music, in paintings, and now in this show. After listening to his book, I know John was screwed over hard by so many people in the entertainment industry. It makes you sick to learn it, but it is something we should all know. This is why I say I hope John is happy now and is happy with this show. I know I am. We love you John - keep at it!!!!

This is Lurie doing My Dinner With Andre without Andre if dinner lasted only 20 minutes. It's jazz-cool, it's word-jazz, it's hauntingly self-promoting of his 2D art, as if his agent or gallery connection said "John, we gotta find a way to drive up your prices on your pieces."

"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.

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.