Painting with John S1-2

Painting With John was Rotten Tomatoes’ 14th best new series of 2021 and their 29th best TV series of 2021 overall, with a 100% critics rating. As the critics consensus there says, “A celebration of art and life through the eyes of a delightful curmudgeon, Painting with John is a surprising, intimate feat of TV joy.” 

Written, directed by and starring John Lurie, co-founder of musical group The Lounge Lizards, the series is part meditative tutorial, part fireside chat. Each episode has John at his worktable at his home in the Caribbean, honing his watercolour techniques and sharing what he’s learned about life, reminding us to prioritise some time every day for creativity, fun and a bit of mischief.

“I was hoping this show would be educational, but I really don’t know what the f*ck I’m doing,” says John. He adds, “My hope is to make a TV show where people see it and say, ‘I have no idea what I just saw, but I couldn’t stop watching it and it was wonderful… I think I can get there in season two.”

The Playlist hailed Season 1 as “one of the smartest shows on television,” placing it seventh on their best TV shows of 2021 list, and adding, “It’s a show about painting that’s not really about painting. Lurie uses the time to ponder questions about life, music, and art. It becomes a series of deeply personal conversations with a genius as Lurie opens up about his own life, including his cancer treatment. We may have all been alone in January 2021, but John Lurie made that isolation easier to take.”