Imaginative Realism How to Paint What Doesnt Exist James Gurney Art
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(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
If you are a regular reader of James Gurney's blog, Gurney Journey, you would expect nothing less. This book is as proficient every bit I expected. He dispenses his cognition equally freely as he does on his blog. Hither'southward what he says about his own volume from the introduction:
This is non a volume about figure drawing, beefcake, or perspective. It'due south not a step-by-step guide on how to draw dinosaurs. It's also not a recipe book for a particular paint technique, although all these to
(More pictures at parkablogs.com)
If you are a regular reader of James Gurney's blog, Gurney Journey, you would expect nothing less. This book is as good equally I expected. He dispenses his knowledge as freely as he does on his weblog. Here's what he says nearly his own book from the introduction:
This is non a book almost effigy cartoon, anatomy, or perspective. It's not a step-by-footstep guide on how to draw dinosaurs. It's likewise non a recipe book for a particular paint technique, although all these topics are addressed in passing. What this book contains is a distillation of the fourth dimension-tested methods that I've found to be most helpful for achieving realism in imaginative pictures. — James Gurney
If y'all haven't got the hint from the title, this book is about making your fine art real and believable. In every affiliate, James Gurney shares with u.s.a. what he learned when creating his paintings. There are topics on people, dinosaurs, architecture, vehicles, limerick and his step-by-steps (not techniques simply process). The tips he gives can be applied on other subjects too.
The importance of research is emphasized and the amount of research he does really shows. While creating an illustration on ship wreckage for National Geographic, he talked to survivors to get an accurate account. He constitute out there's a drummer boy who used his drum as a bladder and drew that in. He likewise acted out the various poses of sailors in distress, rather than drawing them from imagination. The result is a painting that tells its story convincingly. The same goes for many of his other paintings.
Another interesting read is the story of him trying to design a Dinotopian burn engine. When he presented his concept art to a professional fire engine designer, it was critiqued to accept form but non function. There's lack of heat protection for the dinosaur, lack of understanding on how water hose works and a complicated h2o pump design. The revised concept is a huge improvement in believability that I thought information technology actually might work.
He has provided lots of photos and his own work in the book. You lot'll become to see how he stages the props for reference, sketches and drafts, enough of commissioned work (especially from National Geographic), the bird on his shoulder while he's drawing, the lousy-art incinerator he created from mirrors and other entertaining stuff.
Imaginative Realism is an enlightening and fun read. Highly recommended to professionals, showtime art students and those who wish to push their art to the next level in terms of depth.
Exist sure to check out more work and writing from James Gurney at gurneyjourney.blogspot.com. On his blog, he talks near his work, art theories, insights and news from the creative field.
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Reading the bo
I got this book because I thought my talented artist son (of Tunnel Sun Studios and Geek Fight blueprint/illustration fame) would savour adding it to his reference shelf. Now that I've been through it, I know he will admittedly dear it--but I loved it, also! I was absolutely enthralled by the book. I had no idea what goes into producing effective fantasy artwork, and now I can better appreciate my son's skill--and even remark on his technique instead of just proverb "that'south actually nice."Reading the book and comparing Gurney'southward works to my son's, I was able to see which methods he is already using in his artwork and too be tickled to recognize those that he'll be intrigued with that he may not have already tried. Some chapters are discipline-oriented (people, creatures, architecture, history and archæology, etc.) and some deal with limerick, procedures, and working habits. All of the chapters are largely structured to demonstrate under-the-hood methods and techniques to achieve detail ends, and we tin can meet how the works unfolded in Gurney's studio through various stages. Gurney fifty-fifty shares timeframes for completion (increasing my appreciation for what goes into works like these) that I think most aspiring artists will notice helpful.
The material and techniques are presented succinctly, in engaging two-page spreads, designed to give the gist then that intermediate-level and professional artists tin can depict immediate conceptual do good without bewildering beginners and not-artists with a lot of technical information. Gurney stresses that his arroyo is suitable for both digital and hands-on analogy. Fantabulous Recommended Reading and Glossary sections appear in the back to entice and inform all levels of readers, and the Index is well-organized and complete.
At the beginning of the volume, a Studio section takes us into Gurney's studio and gives some great ideas for making tools at depression cost also equally how best to conserve the more expensive ones. I saw at least one thing I can give my son as a graduation present: a Gallery Flambeau! (ROFLMAO!) The book ends with a Careers department that I found especially reassuring. Here I was worrying about my son's ability to find a task with an art degree, just now I feel a lot better most his prospects.
Finally, the blueprint of the book itself is both classic and appealingly edgy; a high-quality glossy paperback with lots of air and colour, it would make a fine java table volume/conversation slice, even for non-artists. I liked the typeface on the back cover so much, this seventies-era typographer went on a hunt for it: Claxton, I presume. Engaging with this book really brought back for me my own artistic exploits when I was a young adult about my son'southward historic period, and "that's really nice."
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I highly recommend this book to anybody who has learned the basics of painting and wants to begin incorporating some advanced ideas and principles into t
Gurney's guide to painting the imaginary is thoroughly detailed, carefully put together and covers an exhaustive listing of topics. The methods and materials he documents, the techniques, disciplines and theories he covers and the examples he provide are not merely educational the showtime time, they're also excellent sources to reference after reading.I highly recommend this book to anybody who has learned the basics of painting and wants to begin incorporating some advanced ideas and principles into their piece of work. It has changed the manner I pigment every mean solar day at work - I tin can hardly give it college praise than this.
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Information technology is a fun and If y'all are a national geographic magazine reader you lot would have already come across hundreds of this authors illustrations, recreating history, capturing those deportment in time that time itself forgot. The book covers architecture, people, dinosaur, background composition, and his step by stride process of approach into converting a vague thought into a refined art piece of work( of form lots of background research, reference study involved). Fourth dimension tested methods similar the "windmill principal".
It is a fun and informative read, one can read it every bit a book or browse like a magazine, exercise for preparation eye and hand for observational cartoon, and to stimulate that imagination part in the encephalon. Recommended for both professional and beginner artists ...more
PS: on the criteria higher up I liked his "Colour and Lite" book better, though even that suffers a bit from that... or at least I would hunger more to not just know the man just learn the arts and crafts of the human! The artwork is dandy, and the stories are very interesting, but as per the subtitle I was honestly expecting a bit more on the techniques and education rather than showing off his great works. Still, much food for thought and a lot of inspiring piece of work ethic. Style cool!
PS: on the criteria above I liked his "Color and Low-cal" volume better, though even that suffers a bit from that... or at least I would hunger more than to not but know the man simply larn the craft of the man! ...more
James Gurney is most famous for creating the Dinotopia books, but he's a painter who has also washed a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy volume covers besides as a ton of work for National Geographic.
Imaginative Realism is aimed primarily at artists, just if you have an interest in art and the nuts and bolts of creating it, yous'll probably like this book as it is akin to the behind-the-scenes features on a DVD. Past the equivalent of Coppola or Kubrick. It's astonishing to
My first five-star book of the year.James Gurney is most famous for creating the Dinotopia books, but he's a painter who has also done a lot of Scientific discipline Fiction and Fantasy book covers as well as a ton of work for National Geographic.
Imaginative Realism is aimed primarily at artists, but if you have an interest in fine art and the basics and bolts of creating it, you'll probably similar this book as it is alike to the behind-the-scenes features on a DVD. By the equivalent of Coppola or Kubrick. It'southward astonishing to run into the lengths Gurney goes to create a painting. Beyond just using photo references and life drawings, he builds models and maquettes in lodge to exam shadows and foreshortening, among other things. Some of his dioramas are quite elaborate. The research he does is impeccable and thorough. He really thinks this stuff out. I have a whole new appreciation of his craft.
You'll also learn things as Gurney talks about the specifics of how to reach a certain result, or the history behind a manner of painting. I even learned a couple new words, such equally pareidolia, which is the natural homo tendency to see faces in objects. It really is jam-packed with information.
This book is superbly laid out as well, something other book designers could learn from. Likewise on display are a variety of terrific paintings, with very few suffering from "gutter loss" by being splashed across two pages.
This book is a smashing tool for artists but also extremely informative for those interested in fine art in general or Gurney's in particular.
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This book isn't really a tutorial book on drawing, only much can be learnt from information technology. You will proceeds endless tips from it'south written report and it will fill y'all with ideas and inspiration.
I remember substantially Gurney breaks down the fright of stepping away from the'copying' of life and photography, supplying the reader with techniques which complimentary them to put downwardly their imagination with conviction.
Some of the suggestions such as making marquees ma
An interesting insight into how an artist creates fantastical worlds.This book isn't really a tutorial book on drawing, but much can be learnt from it. You will gain endless tips from it's study and it will fill yous with ideas and inspiration.
I think essentially Gurney breaks down the fear of stepping away from the'copying' of life and photography, supplying the reader with techniques which free them to put down their imagination with confidence.
Some of the suggestions such as making marquees may be a little too far for the average reader, but this was notwithstanding of import to know how a professional goes nearly his practiced work - professional person and skilful both descriptions gained through such meticulous methods.
I particularly institute the sections covering light and dark useful, also the discussion of composition was extremely interesting, stepping away from long held behavior.
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is a book which teaches artists techniques involved in rendering our ideas into reality through the use of techniques and methods accrued over the years. He teaches usa about composition, idea generation and finalization, different sub-genres of imaginative art, and how to tackle drawings. He even goes back in time and analyzes paintings and the methods used back and so to accomplish their vision.
It shows that good art is well thought
Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Be by James Gurneyis a book which teaches artists techniques involved in rendering our ideas into reality through the use of techniques and methods accrued over the years. He teaches us about composition, idea generation and finalization, dissimilar sub-genres of imaginative art, and how to tackle drawings. He even goes back in time and analyzes paintings and the methods used back so to achieve their vision.
It shows that good art is well thought out and effort must be made to produce stellar art pieces. It also shows fine art is methodical and pedantic and is not just almost talent but hard work and attention.
The book, while dated in some sections, teaches us some invaluable things. He goes into great detail by instruction us methods of making preliminary drawings and also experimenting with our composition and lighting. He teaches u.s.a. how to decompose our drawings into various components and and even farther deconstructing those deconstructions and using a combination of references, imagination, and experimentation to build up the final prototype.
While his art is stellar, his methods are a bit dated I feel. He recommends constructing models in real life and tearing things apart. He likewise talks nearly how hard references are to find. Merely in the age we are in, one of 3D models and endless resources on the internet, it would be quite a waste of time to become these routes unless they are more easily achievable or absolutely essential (which in virtually cases they are not).
Some other parts of the book were besides not entirely useful to me as he kept going on about maquettes. Even though I'one thousand still a beginner and not at the level of creating such realisms that would require perfection, I empathize the drive to model things in the real world to go the slightest details right such as fossil shadows in the Sahara desert. Still, I don't see myself using them anytime before long.
Some important lessons I learned are:
1. Learn to deconstruct scenes into components ( even recursively).
two.Experimentation is very important. Don't give in to tunnel vision.
3.Research, even literary forms are of import when drawing, be it understanding the history
behind a civilization we are trying to recreate or understanding how burn down engines work to
make a Dinotopian one.
iv.Most designs are derivatives.
five.Cartoon scenes is a way to truly appreciate, understand and digest the earth while edifice
our observation skills.
Towards the finish, he kept veering into unlike topics which while related under the general umbrella of composition, felt out of place and like fillers. I felt like I was out of the general menses and narrative of this book which had now turned into reference material.
Overall I give this book a 3/v. The concepts at the beginning were actually eye-opening for me as a beginner. The concepts explored but subsequently were heavily focused on things not easily doable for amateurs like making maquettes, hiring models or fierce apart things but I was withal able to excerpt some useful information.
I'll definitely be coming back to this book to relearn the composition tools he shared.
SOME POWERFUL QUOTES FROM THE FOREWORD
"Study more than art. Learn about history, drama, astronomy, archaeology, and music, and let it all feed your fine art. Fine art grows better in rich soil."
"Without untiring diligence, single-mindedness, and a combative spirit, there tin can't be any expert result. All this talk nigh 'inspiration' is nonsense.
Anything that we imagine tin can exist transformed, through love and effort, into a visually disarming truth. But even as we strive for verisimilitude, it really is the invisible quality of believability that we are ultimately striving for. The only affair that'due south true about anything is the spirit of it."
Some background before I brought this book: I followed James Gurney'south weblog for a year or two and found it to be (and withal find it to be) an excellent place to acquire nigh art. When I learnt that he released a book, I felt like I owed him to buy the book as a return for
This book is such a multi-faceted i; it'south something that is instructional, motivational, exciting, playful and always thought-provoking. I constitute myself getting ideas bounce around in my head as I kept reading and I enjoyed that.Some background earlier I brought this volume: I followed James Gurney's blog for a twelvemonth or two and plant it to be (and still discover it to be) an fantabulous place to learn most art. When I learnt that he released a book, I felt like I owed him to buy the book equally a return for the excellent content in his blog posts. And boy, did this book deliver. I don't consider myself going into the illustration/fine art field but I found this book to be then useful because you can translate information technology to whatever kind of creative work that you create.
One of the most of import lessons I learnt from this book and most imaginative analogy in general is that you've got to observe life as best you tin can (and in a artistic fashion). Seeing all the maquettes, the lighting set ups, the material used past Gurney so he could produce such brilliant paintings reminded me that y'all need to do this in whatever art your producing if you want to create something imaginative (but was realistic). I kept thinking most films and about Christopher Nolan's adamant approach of using practical effects and giving his actors the setting/backdrop they can work with rather than using a light-green screen. And that's then important, information technology'south so of import to enrich your art and give it the feeling of authenticity to the viewer/reader.
I also plant the act of building upward the scene naturally with models, careful lighting, maquettes, etc. to resonate with my own thoughts about the artistic process. Basically, the fine art does get meliorate if y'all exercise information technology from observation. The art does get better the closer you lot are to the discipline whether by experience or past observation.
And finally, the paintings Gurney shows off in this book are just driblet expressionless gorgeous. Found myself enjoying studying them, and the painting examples he uses to showcase what he's talking about are really effective in demonstrating the written content.
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I am left kinda with a feeling of shame for not having referenced stuff in my xy years of creative endeavor. And I take never always done master studies, another apparent MUST as a training technique. While it does give me expert insight into which means to better, I experience regretful of non knowing this before.
Having liked this, I accept to say that I don't precisely concord with the author'due south endnotes in the afterword. "Forget about way", he says. "Those stylistic mannerisms will brand your pictures look dated in the future, and the more you tin can avoid them, the more than timeless your work will be." Patently, he is a proponent of realism and I practise in a way hold with not sacrificing learning realism and the proper techniques in favour of merely developing your way but I actually don't think it is an end goal for me personally. Ridding my art of my personal features in guild to closely follow nature. In example he meant "don't skip learning the proper techniques just considering y'all're lazy to reference and telephone call these shortcuts your 'style'" then yeah, I concord.
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Gurney is the king of preparedness, and it shows in his stunningly realistic worlds. Get ready to be diddled away the effort that goes into it, only also the incredible payoff. Goose egg is by accident.
This volume doesn't just show you how to make up creatures from your imagination, it gives you instructions on creating his level of lifelike creatures with shape, dimensions, flesh tones, and habitats tha
This is one of those books that y'all tin can read and then revisit once again and again just to flip through.Gurney is the king of preparedness, and it shows in his stunningly realistic worlds. Get ready to be blown away the effort that goes into it, but also the incredible payoff. Nothing is by accident.
This book doesn't simply show yous how to brand upwards creatures from your imagination, it gives you instructions on creating his level of lifelike creatures with shape, dimensions, mankind tones, and habitats that make sense. Yous'll larn about making physical models and dioramas, staging them and lighting them, keeping files of reference materials, expanding your range by limiting your palette, where to notice real-world inspiration for fantasy art, plus an absolute barrel-load of Gurney's piece of work throughout his career.
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I agree with his argument that goes confronting the modern concept that an artist should develop a unique personal style, "The artist … should try to written report nature equally faithfully equally possible and portray information technology with equally few mannerisms and conventions as possible. Those stylistic mannerisms will make your pictures look dated in the time to come, and the more than you can avoid them, the more timeless your work will exist." (I'll personally add that " Learned many artistic techniques in this fascinating and beautiful volume.
I concur with his argument that goes against the modern concept that an artist should develop a unique personal style, "The artist … should attempt to written report nature every bit faithfully every bit possible and portray it with as few mannerisms and conventions equally possible. Those stylistic mannerisms will make your pictures wait dated in the future, and the more you lot tin can avert them, the more timeless your work volition be." (I'll personally add that "style" will come with experience) ...more than
If not, this and the other book are astonishing to continue equally a collection, considering This book completes the other (Color and Calorie-free). Information technology has a lot of fine art, examples and information technology explains well the process of creating an object/sculpture in club to create a painting after ( the effigy that is represented on the volume comprehend). He explains that we tin paint the imagination by creating information technology get-go, then information technology'due south a affair of setting the light correctly on the studio and paint what you just sculpted or composed on your table.
If not, this and the other volume are amazing to keep as a collection, because of the amount of full folio fine art.
Information technology might exist a little overwhelming for beginners.
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This isn't a "How to Draw" beginner'south book, simply is a "How to Be a Better Artist" guide. I remember you would need some basic drawing foundations (self taught or otherwise) before delving in to become the almost out of information technology, although at that place are excellent principles for beginning artists to apply to their drawing habits, too. Now I know why Gurney's paintings are so amazing; the amount of research and preparation he does for a painting is stunning.
This isn't a "How to Draw" beginner'southward book, just is a "How to Be a Improve Artist" guide. I recall yous would need some basic drawing foundations (cocky taught or otherwise) before delving in to become the nearly out of it, although there are excellent principles for beginning artists to apply to their drawing habits, as well. ...more than
To exist a creative, thinking about fanasty become especially mutual, simply rendering it out on newspaper allow alone in pigment can seem to exist a daunting endevor.
There is no other peice of literature as comprehensive on the topic of painting what does not exist - whatsoever the toll, this is a staple, chicken soup for the technical.
James Gurney has a talent for teaching art. I used to sentinel his plein-air painting videos and I wanted to read a volume of his also. 'Imaginative Realism' explains some traditional techniques for the visual development of stories which take stood the exam of time. Helpful examples from great illustrators of the past are given side by side to Gurney's own work. Some thoughts:
James Gurney has a talent for didactics art. I used to watch his plein-air painting videos and I wanted to read a book of his as well. 'Imaginative Realism' explains some traditional techniques for the visual development of stories which take stood the examination of fourth dimension. Helpful examples from great illustrators of the past are given next to Gurney's own piece of work. ...more than
I learned quite a bit from it.
"Capture the epic, not the incident" (Page 55).
*Some nude figures
Information technology's a good reference book. I Highly recommend this book to who wants to be an artist in any levels.
It's a good reference book. ...more
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