Painting with John Season 1 Episode 3 Elephant

Painting With John is a highly-anticipated HBO series that features musician, actor, and artist John Lurie as he shares his love for art, life, and humor. Each episode, Lurie spends half an hour painting whatever comes to his mind, invites special guests, and narrates his thoughts on art, philosophy, and the mundanity of everyday life. In the third episode entitled Elephant, he begins by painting a simple drawing of an elephant in a minimalistic, childlike style, utilizing bright yellow, red, and black hues. He describes how he finds comfort in drawing the same subject repeatedly and enjoying the process rather than focusing on the result.

Lurie’s guests for this episode are his longtime friends, actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo, and the renowned painter and sculptor, Jim Jarmusch. As they have been friends for almost 40 years, the three of them have an organic and easy chemistry, allowing the conversation to flow freely.

The episode begins with Lurie introducing Garofalo and Jarmusch and discussing their relationships with art. Garofalo is more interested in literature, comedy, and performing arts, while Jarmusch has spent much of his life painting and creating music. Lurie then asks both of them if they can draw an elephant and had them sketch an elephant on a piece of paper during the show.

Jarmusch, an abstract painter, describes how painting animals or objects in a realistic manner can be challenging for him, but he found it exciting to draw an elephant from his memory with little reference. He also describes how he found inspiration in cave art and early human’s depiction of animals, which are often symbolic and mysterious.

Garofalo, a self-proclaimed terrible artist, confesses that she used to be very self-conscious when it comes to painting and drawing, to which Lurie commiserates. He explains how he used to give up on painting because he was too critical of his work and felt like he was not good enough. It wasn't until he realized he only needed to enjoy the process and not worry about what the outcome would be that he found joy in creating again. Lurie encourages Garofalo to draw more and not worry about the results.

The trio also discusses their favorite painters and how they influence their works. Jarmusch admires the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat for his energy and rawness, while Garofalo is a big fan of Georgia O'Keeffe's landscapes. Lurie mentions that he used to copy Vincent van Gogh's paintings as a boy because he was fascinated by his colors. They also talked about the differences between abstract art and figurative art, and each of their personal interpretations of what it represents.

In typical Lurie fashion, the conversation takes some unexpected turns and includes a dose of humor. He shares a story about how he was once offered to paint a mural on a wall in a fancy Beverly Hills bookstore. However, as he didn't have any prior experience in doing so, he ended up creating a wall that looked like it had been blown up from the inside. He describes his thought process when painting, which is to “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks.”

The episode ends with Lurie finishing his painting of the elephant, which has now evolved into a more elaborate and detailed piece than he initially intended. He reflects on how the painting is not perfect, but it’s where he is at in the moment, and that is good enough for him.

Overall, Painting With John season 1 episode 3 entitled Elephant provides a refreshing and insightful glimpse into the world of art, humor, and friendship. Whether you are an art enthusiast or not, the conversations and paintings created in this episode are sure to amuse and inspire you to pick up a pencil and try drawing an elephant yourself.