FANTASY ART BIBLE

This impressive guidebook to techniques for an aspiring fantasy artist, covering traditional and digital media, features ideas for writing, graphics and movies. Many of the best fantasy paintings imply a narrative, with inspiration coming from childhood memories, dreams, books, movies, mythology, or other works of art, for instance the symbolism of pre-Raphaelite painters such as Burne Jones or mystics like William Blake. The important thing is to open your mind. Tools and techniques are many and varied, including pencil, charcoal, ink, markers, watercolour, acrylics, oils, digital tools and software. Many fantasy artists start in a traditional medium then scan the picture to be developed digitally. Among the examples is a Wizard created in ballpoint, watercolour, and gouache. A Fallen Angel starts with a photo, then a drawing and finally sophisticated digital refinement. Techniques made possible by software are dodge and burn, the brush smudge, hue brightness, and the use of different brush widths. Concepts include the creation of a humanoid starting with a life drawing, then using exaggeration and distortion, but stopping short of caricature. Anthropomorphism is often very effective, for instance a tree with face in the work of Arthur Rackham. Other popular motifs are swords and sorcery, dragons, enchantment, charms, and cliffs. People can be beautiful but the context, lighting and style might indicate whether they are to be trusted. 192pp, ringbound hard cover, colour illustrations on every page.