Dracopedia Field Guilde (William O'Connor)

Dracopedia Field Guide: Dragons of the World from Amphipteridae to Wyverne
The Dracopedia series
William O'Connor
Impact
Fiction, Art/Fantasy
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: The world is full of dragons, from the legless wyrms and multiheaded hydras of ancient legends to the hovering garden feydraons and domestic dragonette breeds. This field guide compiles numerous species of dragons and relatives, with notes on behavior and conservation status.

REVIEW: This field guide was intended to be part of author/artist William O'Connor's series of Dracopedia art books, blending art instruction and technique with invented field notes on "living" dragon species studied in the wild. Unfortunately, shortly after this project was started in 2018, O'Connor unexpectedly passed away, leaving this book to be finished by a collection of friends and collaborators for one last outing of his remarkable beasts. The "guide" rehashes some dragons from previous books (such as the Great Dragons, the largest species of "living" dragons) along with newer inventions of his artistic muse. Unlike previous volumes, there is nothing about how to draw or compose art in this volume; the art must speak for itself as inpsiration, along with the text, which frankly invites skimming (and seems like it could've used some stronger editing, as some passages felt clunky or repetitious). I almost clipped it the extra half-star for this, but O'Connor's dragons are so detailed and memorable that they ultimately earned it back, even if relies a bit much on recycled material. I sadly couldn't help wondering what the original plans for this field guide were, especially if they were to contain as much in the way of art notes as previous Dracopedia installments...

You Might Also Enjoy:
An Illustrated Guide to Welsh Monsters and Mythical Beasts (C C J Ellis) - My Review
Dracopedia (William O'Connor) - My Review
DragonArt (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer) - My Review

The Art of The Dragon Prince (Wonderstorm)

The Art of The Dragon Prince
Wonderstorm, with Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond (creators)
Dark Horse Books
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
***** (Great)

DESCRIPTION: In Netflix's animated series The Dragon Prince, a world of magic - long ago sundered when humans turned to dark powers and horrified the magical beings of the land - stands once more on the brink of war. The king of dragons was slain and his egg destroyed by humans... and, even now, a team of Moonshadow elven assassins makes their way to the human realms to exact revenge. But young Prince Ezran and his half-brother Callum make an incredible discovery: the egg wasn't destroyed, but stolen by their court mage Viren. If they, along with young elven assassin Rayla, can return the egg to the dragon queen, perhaps they can avert a conflict that could burn the whole world and everyone on it. Explore the designs and creative processes behind the series in this full-color book.

REVIEW: This book is everything a supplemental series art book should be, offering numerous concept sketches, trivia on story and character development, and some fun and interesting asides along the way. Every page is a visual treat, much like the animated series itself, bursting with color and imagination. It's fascinating how the story developed from its initial form to what appeared on screen, and how cultures and characters and creatures took shape. Naturally, there are some spoilers if one hasn't watched all three currently-available seasons. I'm looking forward to future installments of The Dragon Prince (which were reportedly greenlit, but of course anything can happen between then and actual release)... not to mention some decent merchandising. (Seriously, Netflix or Wonderstorm or whoever is in charge of these things, let's make with the dragons! And I don't mean that Funko Pop Azymondias; I mean actual collectible dragon figures. DreamWorks showed you how it was done with their How to Train Your Dragon franchise, and my Toothless collection could use friends. Or at least give me a Blu-Ray release.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Art of Kubo and the Two Strings (Emily Haynes) - My Review
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon (Tracy Miller-Zarneke) - My Review
Fantasy World-Building (Mark A. Nelson) - My Review

An Illustrated Guide to Welsh Monsters and Mythical Beasts (C C J Ellis)

An Illustrated Guide to Welsh Monsters and Mythical Beasts
C C J Ellis
C C J Ellis, publisher
Nonfiction, Art/Folklore
****+ (Good/Great)
Author Book Page
DESCRIPTION: Drawing the deep mythic roots of Welsh culture, artist C C J Ellis describes numerous beasts and beings, from dragons to Fair Folk and everything in, around, and between.

REVIEW: In the interest of full disclosure, I follow the artist on Patreon and contributed to the Kickstarter campaign for this book. This review was not specifically requested.
This is, as promised, a beautifully illustrated guide to creatures of Welsh folklore, the traditions that gave rise to King Arthur and which are currently threatened, as so many traditions are threatened, by a world that seems content to blur, twist, and forget its mythic roots. She offers pronunciation guides with the non-phonetic Welsh names and brief descriptions, with a few examples of lore and legend.
Where it lost a half-star (and nearly a full star) was in the editing. Some of the descriptions read awkwardly at the sentence level, and there are some probably unintentional incomplete sentences where a period was used instead of a comma. (There was also at least one homophone error.) In one instance at least the write-up seemed to contradict itself. It was just enough of an issue to distract me, and therefore just enough to merit mention. Overall, though, I'm quite pleased with my purchase. It is slated for wider release and publication come October (as of this review), and is worth investigating for anyone interested in a starter book on uniquely Welsh mythic beasts... or who just enjoys good fantasy art.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Fabulous Beasts (Malcolm Ashman) - My Review
Myth and Magic: The Art of John Howe (John Howe) - My Review
Dracopedia: The Bestiary (William O'Connor) - My Review

Fantasy World-Building (Mark. A. Nelson)

Fantasy World-Building: A Guide to Developing Mythic Worlds and Legendary Creatures 
Mark A. Nelson
Dover
Nonfiction, Art/Fantasy
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: Hunters of giant jellyfish, riders of flying bats, a city built on the towering backbones of long-dead behemoths... Artist Mark A. Nelson discusses the process of brainstorming and creating imaginary beasts, beings, and settings, from reference gathering to final rendering.

REVIEW: I've been feeling a creative itch again lately, and this looked like a good book for inspiration. On some levels, it is: Nelson packs the pages with imaginative artwork and sketches. On others, it feels a little lacking in actual instruction, the text being largely questions or rough suggestions of where and how to find inspiration, plus notes on the use of different media and the use of line weight, contrast, composition, and color to further the storytelling of a particular piece or series of panels (in the case of graphic novel illustrations.) I almost got the impression I was already supposed to be familiar with his work from elsewhere, and was missing something. I enjoyed Nelson's imaginative and intricately detailed art, though I have to confess I'd hoped for a little more actual discussion on creating worlds, such as thinking through designs and ecosystems, formulating internally consistent cultures, and so forth. Being an artist, Nelson thinks in sketches and pencils, not so much in words, I suppose. Still, it makes for a visual feast, every image hinting at a greater story to be told, and that is indeed at least part of what I was hoping for when I purchased it.

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures (Emily Fiegenschuh) - My Review
The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book (Gary A. Lippincott) - My Review
Animals Real and Imagined (Terryl Whitlatch) - My Review

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Linda Sunshine)

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Linda Sunshine
Dark Horse
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
***** (Great)

DESCRIPTION: The third and final film installment of the How to Train Your Dragon series follows former-misfit Viking Hiccup and his Night Fury dragon companion, Toothless, as they struggle to achieve their dream of a world where dragons and humans can live together. They've successfully convinced the Berkians that dragons are friends, and turned the village into a sanctuary for hunted dragons... but they're running out of room and resources, and making themselves more of a target for dragon hunters. The solution may lie in old legends of a "hidden world" beyond the horizon, from which the dragons originally came. But even as Hiccup determines to find this paradise, Toothless becomes distracted by a female Light Fury... and Berk becomes targeted by a ruthless hunter determined to finish exterminating the Night Furies once and for all - and, with them, Hiccup's dream of peace.
This exploration of the art of the movie includes forewords and notes from voice actors and production staff.

REVIEW: The movie was a spectacular animated experience, both visually and emotionally, and this book is a perfect homage as it explores the creative process that translated it from pencil sketch and story notes to the finished product. Unlike many animated movies, this franchise successfully aged up the heroes, physically and emotionally, and this book gives insight into that process. Even the dragons do some growing up, particularly Toothless (who remains perhaps my favorite movie dragon of all time.) The ending was sweet and sad and satisfying, and reading this book brought it all back. (Though, in the interest of full disclosure, I was listening to the soundtrack from the first film as I wrote this review; about the only area I could fault the second and third films on was somewhat less absorbing scores, but that was probably just me.) From concept sketches to finished screenshots, this book is a must-have for fans of the movie and of modern animation in general.

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon (Tracy Miller-Zarneke) - My Review
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Linda Sunshine) - My Review
How To Train Your Dragon: 3-Movie Collection - Amazon DVD link

The Art and Making of The Expanse (Titan Books)

The Art and Making of The Expanse
Titan Books
Alcon Publishing
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: The Expanse, the epic space opera chronicling humanity's leap to the stars and first contact with alien technology and the ragtag crew caught up in the middle of it all, has been through numerous incarnations: first a collaborative multiplayer game, then a best-selling novel series written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck as "James S. A. Corey", and finally a top-rated television series debuting on SyFy and now continuing on Amazon Prime. Bringing the story to life required massive investments of time and talent from a wide cast of contributors. In this hardcover celebration of the show, explore concept art and behind-the-scenes photos of the first three seasons, plus a glimpse of the upcoming fourth year.

REVIEW: Nobody can accuse Amazon Prime of stinting on promotion. This hardcover art book, released mere weeks before the debut of Season Four (in mid-December 2019), offers fans of the series plenty of eye candy and the smallest taste of things to come. Yes, it's a blatant marketing tactic, but it's also a beautiful and well-made book, featuring many great art pieces sure to please any Screaming Firehawk. If I can fault it for anything, it's that I'd hoped for a few more articles or interviews to add a little meat to the "making" end of the book's titular concept. But, then, I usually want a little more text in these "art of..." books, because I've always found the thought process behind concept art and creativity interesting. (One of those "in another life, wouldn't that have been awesome to do" things... one of many, I'm afraid, but I digress.) The art covers pretty much everything from the first three seasons, from the ships to the worlds to the costumes and the protomolecule; there are some omissions, but a truly comprehensive concept art and making-of book would likely be an encyclopedia by this point, given the intensive designing a show like The Expanse requires. (I do have to say that I noticed a minor mistake in the caption on page 12: it's Holden, not Amos, erasing the Rocinante's logo at the start of Season Three... and, yes, I did double-check the scene just before writing this review. Amos put the art on in Season One, but he and Alex were already inside the ship while Holden lingered on the hull, which is when news went out about Earth and Mars declaring war. And I'm aware that this is probably the most minor of possible nitpicks, but I'm about as oblivious an entity as one is likely to meet, as my reviews can readily attest; the fact that I noticed this makes me wonder what an actually alert fan might find if they went over this with a fine-toothed comb... and if there's one thing fans do, in my experience, it's carry the finest of fine-toothed combs.) Ultimately, I consider myself well satisfied with my purchase.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Leviathan Wakes (James S. A. Corey) - My Review
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques (John Grant and Ron Tiner) - My Review
The Expanse: Season 1-3 [DVD]- Amazon DVD link

Beyond Science Fiction (Michael Whelan)

Beyond Science Fiction: The Alternative Realism of Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan
Baby Tattoo Books
Nonfiction, Art
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: One of the great names of science fiction and fantasy illustration, Michael Whelan has left an indelible mark on genre art... but there is more to his body of work than his iconic book covers. This collection, from an art exhibition, shares his older, familiar pieces and newer works, as he explores his personal brand of peculiar imagery. Presented with a foreword by Robert Williams.

REVIEW: In the off chance I ever manage to write a book worth selling, I still dream of having a Micheal Whelan cover for it. Though he is technically retired, that dream remains a dim possibility: he still does the occasional cover commission, as for Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series and Tad Williams's new Osten Ard books (the latter not included in this compilation.) Mostly, though, Whelan has moved on to visions from his own mind, visions that utilize his ability to realistically render impossible worlds to create some mind-twisting scenes: a child climbing a tubular ladder to nowhere, figures ascending a staircase of impossible scale toward enlightenment, a girl climbing the crumbling ruins of a world not unlike our own, bubble-encased flames adrift through peculiar landscapes, and more. His work remains astounding - if anything, he's only growing more impressive beyond the world of illustration, improvement dramatically illustrated as older works from the 1970's and 1980's are shown with his most recent output. My only real objection is that this book should've been larger, to better do justice to Whelan's details and the textures that tempt one to run one's finger over the page, checking if it's just paper or something deeper. If you're a fan of his art, or just love imaginative realism, this is a must-have book for your collection.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Myth and Magic: The Art of John Howe (John Howe) - My Review
Fantasy Art Masters (Dick Jude) - My Review
The Art of Michael Whelan (Michael Whelan) - My Review

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Linda Sunshine)

The Art of How to Train Your Dragon 2
Linda Sunshine
Dey Street Books
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: The 2014 animated sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2 brought viewers back to the Viking village of Berk, where former misfit boy Hiccup and his dragon friend Toothless have ended the generations-long conflict between their people... but trouble is on the horizon, as a new threat to dragon and human alike arises. In this book, explore the Viking world and its dragons with behind-the-scenes concept art and production notes.

REVIEW: This movie managed the remarkable feat of taking the high bar set by 2010's How to Train Your Dragon and raising it in most every way, from storyline to animation. (I will concede that I preferred the first film's soundtrack.) With new software and an ambitious vision, the Dreamworks team created a bigger, bolder, more detailed world with even wilder dragons. The text offers notes on story and design decisions that shaped the final movie, including some major last-minute shifts and reworkings that ultimately made for a better film. If you enjoyed the movie, you'll enjoy this collection of art and design images and the smattering of trivia and production insight.

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Art of Kubo and the Two Strings (Emily Haynes) - My Review
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon (Tracy Miller-Zarneke) - My Review
How to Train Your Dragon / How to Train Your Dragon 2- Amazon DVD link

Art and Fear (David Bayles and Ted Orlando)

Art and Fear
David Bayles and Ted Orlando
Image Continuum Press
Nonfiction, Art
***+ (Okay/Good)

DESCRIPTION: Art is easy. Being an artist is hard. And making a living out of art... well, that's basically impossible, isn't it? To be an artist of any stripe - actor, painter, musician, writer - is to face many fears: the fears that everything worth doing has already been done, that the next piece will never come, that nobody will value what one brings to the medium, that art will never be worth the cost and will never pay the rent. Those who persevere in the face of those fears create; those who give up never do. But it's not as easy as just deciding not to give in. The authors discuss the process of nurturing ideas, surviving the competition-driven art world, and remaining true to one's vision - even the matter of figuring out one's vision in the first place.

REVIEW: I've seen this title recommended more than once, so when I finally found a half-price copy I figured I'd give it a try. Like many who endeavor to create, fears and uncertainties have been constant companions, enough that I sometimes (too often) let them get the better of me; there's far too much actual dust in my workshed and figurative dust on my story files at the moment. The authors present the seemingly-paradoxical idea that many fears faced by artists are universal, yet each person must find their own path forward if they mean to move forward at all. They also acknowledge that it's not simply psychological, or a matter of shrugging off fears in the name of a Higher Calling; some of those fears are valid and need addressing in the real world, and conquering one does little to conquer another... nor does it ensure that the same problem won't return again. At some points, the writing gets a bit circular and meandering, losing its own thread as it wanders through ideas and anecdotes, enough to cost it a half-mark in the ratings. In the end, it's a decent examination of the forces without and within that can thwart creative endeavors, and an assurance that answers can be found, even if they can't simply be given.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Supplies: A Troubleshooting Guide for Creative Difficulties (Julia Cameron) - My Review
Writing With Power (Peter Elbow) - My Review
Drawing from Your Imagination (Ron Tiner) - My Review

Illuminated Manuscripts (Janice Anderson)

Illuminated Manuscripts
Janice Anderson
Todtri
Nonfiction, Art/History
***+ (Okay/Good)

DESCRIPTION: Since the earliest days of civilization, writing has been prized as a treasure. Even as far back as Egypt, illustrations and embellishments often accompanied the written word, evolving into the great illuminated manuscripts of Europe... a tradition that survives to this day. Explore the history of the illuminated manuscript from its ancient roots to its heyday in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

REVIEW: Yes, this was yet another bargain bin grab. For what I paid, it's not bad. Anderson reproduces many images from various books and manuscripts, often quite large enough to appreciate the incredible details... and also, unfortunately, large enough to break through whatever train of thought the text had established. She doesn't do a great job matching the images to the text, a problem that seems to grow more persistent as the book goes on. But part of that may be my problem; the book assumes a deep knowledge of Christian writings and iconography that this secular agnostic lacks, so connections that may have seemed obvious to a student and believer were lost on me. (On a similar note, Anderson persistently - and somewhat dismissively - classifies all non-Christians as "barbarians", while generally ignoring the fact that many other cultures had their own illumination and artistic traditions... but, I digress.) I also had hoped for a little more on the fascinating, in-depth process of creating such fine works of art on such a small scale. After tracking the history of European illumination and its rise and fall, she concludes by mentioning that illuminated manuscripts are still being produced today, if in far more limited contexts... without offering a single modern example of illumination to compare with the old masters. In any event, while the illustrations would've merited four stars easily, I trimmed it for the dry and sometimes uninformative text.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Paint Your Own Illuminated Letters (Stephan Oliver) - My Review
The Secret of Kells- Amazon DVD link

How to Draw a Dragon (Douglas Florian)

How to Draw a Dragon
Douglas Florian
Beach Lane Books
Fiction, CH Art/Poetry/Fantasy/Picture Book
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: Dragons are big, but drawing them's easy when you take it in small steps - and when you have a cooperative model. In this rhyming picture book, learn the best way to draw a dragon.

REVIEW: With simple, childlike drawings, this book caters to the young dragon-loving artist who wants to have fun while creating art, without all that bogging down in anatomy or perspective. Each page focuses on a particular part of dragons or their personalities, incorporating both European "Western" and Asian "Eastern" traditions. At the end is a cheat sheet summary. You won't end up with a Picasso or a Whelan, but you will have fun doodling the various dragons for your "art gallery." It's a nice place to start, even if the art was a little simplistic.

You Might Also Enjoy:
How to Draw Your Own Story: The Dragon, The Knight, and the Princess (Don Bolognese) - My Review
Ed Emberley's Big Green Drawing Book (Ed Emberley) - My Review
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight (Jack Prelutsky) - My Review

Perspective Made Easy (Robbie Lee)

Perspective Made Easy
Robbie Lee
Impact Books
Nonfiction, YA Art
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: Learning perspective is one of the most important keys to creating good art... but also one of the biggest obstacles. Horizon lines, vanishing points, distortion, proportion - who can make sense of it all, and who wants to when there are robots and monsters and more to be drawn? Author and artist Robbie Lee uses numerous diagrams and exercises to break the complex topic of perspective into bite-sized portions, so your next robot-versus-monster battle will be that much better.

REVIEW: I found this title on clearance at a craft store; since perspective is a perennial weakness in my own artistic efforts, and since half price is almost always the right price, I picked it up. Lee's comic book approach appeals to kids as well as us grown-ups who don't always have the patience we should with long blocks of text and complex angle formulas. Via his robotic avatar and many fun drawings, Lee offers clear demonstrations of one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective, including how to properly draw a square and circle in perspective, how to create a "cone of vision" that eliminates unrealistic distortions, and other useful information. He also includes some shorthand tricks and cheats, because not every doodle needs an elaborate set-up and drafting tools. Once in a while, it gets a bit complicated, but such is the nature of perspective, and the many drawings help clarify just what Lee is doing, and why, in each step. For beginner artists (or intermediate artists who still struggle with perspective), especially those inspired by comic books, this has plenty to offer. The rest is down to practice, and with this book at hand there are many useful exercises to try out.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Perspective Drawing Handbook (Joseph D'Amelio) - My Review
How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way (Stan Lee and John Buscema) - My Review
Fantastic Realms (V Shane) - My Review

The Art of Kubo and the Two Strings (Emily Haynes)

The Art of Kubo and the Two Strings
Emily Haynes
Chronicle Books
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: LAIKA's 2016 animated masterpiece Kubo and the Two Strings, the story of a boy in mythical ancient Japan who must find a lost set of armor to save himself and avenge his family, featured cutting-edge stop-motion and CGI blended seamlessly with traditional influences and techniques. This book explores the artwork and designs used in the film, with some notes on the production and storytelling process.

REVIEW: I saw this movie twice on the big screen (so far), and - like all great animated movies - found it fascinating on both a technical and a storytelling level. This book, as promised, offers a closer look at the characters, settings, and other elements of the film. Some "art of" books delve further into the storytelling process, script alterations during production, and character development - features this title mostly lacked, save some mention of the tale's roots in the foreword by director/producer/animator/studio founder Travis Knight and a note on how Kubo was aged up as the story became darker and more complex - but overall it's an interesting look at how LAIKA put the pieces together. This stuff fascinates me, making me wish (once again) I had the money, time, ambition, and talent to do stuff like this, creating impossible wonders and breathing them to life.

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Art of Anastasia (Henry Deneroff) - My Review
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon (Tracy Miller-Zarneke) - My Review
The Lord of the Rings: The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring (Gary Russell) - My Review

Mastering Fantasy Art (John Stanko)

Mastering Fantasy Art
John Stanko
Impact
Nonfiction, Art
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: Wizards, warriors, elves, dwarves, unicorns, dragons... the best fantasy art makes us believe in the impossible. To do this, an artist has to render the unreal as realistically as possible - a task that requires a marriage of imagination and real-life reference. Artist John Stanko demonstrates how to effectively use reference material to render a variety of subjects.

REVIEW: This book is mostly a guide to taking and using reference photos of models (and some props, including costumes and clay sculptures) for fantasy art. Stanko discusses lighting and equipment for photo shoots, also touching on copyright issues, (very briefly) digital programs, and related topics. Oddly enough, after finishing a lengthy explanation for why the memory can't be trusted and reference is absolutely essential even for the most seasoned artist, he then, at several points, encourages improvisation and elaboration, exhorting artists not to be a slave to reality... then not offering much help in deviating from reality. I know both are essential to art, especially speculative art, but it still seems like a paradox, and may well confuse some. But, I digress...
Stanko demonstrates the use of reference photos in art creation with several step-by-step projects; artists trying to follow along may want to scan and reprint his reference photos, which may not be easy with the book's stiff spine. though the pictures themselves tend to be on the outer edges of the pages. Perspective, anatomy, and so forth are not covered in any depth here, this being geared more for intermediate artists than raw beginners. The cover mentions "creatures," but only two (a unicorn and dragon) are actually included, and those restricted to mere portraits. As for scenery, only one demonstration covers that, a wizard's tower based on a clay sculpture. To be honest, I think Stanko should've devoted this one fully to humans and humanoids, maybe using the extra space for costuming and other considerations, and reserved creatures and scenery for another book. Overall, it's a decent exploration of the subject, even if some of what was promised on the cover was not well discussed inside.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures (Finlay Cowan) - My Review
Anatomy for Fantasy Artists (Glenn Fabry) - My Review
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner) - My Review

The Fantasy Art Techniques of Tim Hildebrandt (Jack E. Norton)

The Fantasy Art Techniques of Tim Hildebrandt
Jack E. Norton
Paper Tiger
Nonfiction, Art
**** (Good)

DESCRIPTION: The Brothers Hildebrandt became icons in the fantasy and science fiction world with their Lord of the Rings illustrations in the late 1970's. Separately and together, they created countless book covers, calendars, and other art that dominated the genre. This book examines the work and methods of Tim Hildebrandt.

REVIEW: I grew up seeing the Hildebrandts' creations on almost every cover in the bookstore, so this one has a touch of nostalgia on top of the usual draws of fantasy and art. Today, the images may look a little dated (particularly the very white characters, not to mention more than a tinge of sexism), but they're still very successful and imaginative works of art that grab attention and communicate ideas. Most of the pages are devoted to the pictures, which range from full-color panoramas to pen and ink spot illustrations, demonstrating mastery of a wide variety of media. The text isn't always particularly informative, often leaving half a sentence dangling for a few pages while more art is showcased. It's only toward the end that the promised "fantasy art techniques" get real attention, and even then it feels a little rushed without step-by-step demonstrations breaking down the process. But this doesn't claim to be a tutorial guide; one can see the concepts discussed by examining the images, many of which are large enough to allow detailed viewing. The last section, discussing how to become a working illustrator by building a portfolio and creating 35mm transparencies, can't help but feel outdated; in 1991, when this book was published, few could've foreseen the digital revolution that changed the face of the industry and the job-seeking process, even for those working in traditional media. Still, it has much to offer. Indeed, whoever owned this used copy before me spent a lot of time carefully, neatly underlining useful passages and making notes of Hildebrandt's favorite color palettes. (I can't help wondering if they moved on to more advanced work or if they gave up on art altogether when this made its way to Half Price Books.) Whether you're looking for a nostalgic gallery of Tim Hildebrandt's work or some tips and techniques from an undisputed master of the speculative fiction illustration genre, this is a good choice for any fantasy art lover's library.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Fantasy Art Workshop (James Howe) - My Review
Drawing from your Imagination (Ron Tiner) - My Review
The Art of Michael Whelan (Michael Whelan) - My Review

How to Draw Dragons Made Easy (Beren Neale, editor)

How to Draw Dragons Made Easy
(The Made Easy art series)
Beren Neale, editor
Flame Tree
Nonfiction, Art
*** (Okay)

DESCRIPTION: One of the most ancient and ubiquitous beasts ever conjured by the human imagination, the dragon has made itself quite at home in modern art media. This collection of step-by-step tutorials explores a wide variety of dragons by different artists, using everything from pencils and oils to digital tablets and Photoshop.

REVIEW: I'm feeling a bit of an art itch lately, and this one was discounted at the used book store, so it looked like a good bet. The back cover claims that these tutorials cover "basic drawing skills to in-depth advanced projects," but in truth they skip the early stages and skills; most of the projects provide one or two brief glimpses of reference sketches and thumbnail explorations before cutting to the main working drawing. Artists thinking to follow along from a blank page, in other words, will have to do some heavy-duty catching up, and had better hope their own skills on anatomy, proportion, composition, textures, shading, color theory, and so forth are up to par. They would also do well to develop a solid working familiarity with digital art terms, Photoshop tools, and their usage. The progressive pictures don't always make it clear what was changed, or why a certain tool was used over others, or what each step was supposed to accomplish, a problem not helped by the relatively small size of the images.
While it's not the greatest as a step-by-step art instruction tool (especially for beginners), this book does present a very wide array of dragons and styles, along with some intriguing glimpses of the creative process and the minds of working artists. Beasts range from realistic to stylized and brutish to benevolent, inhabiting all manner of stories and environments. It also includes websites and further contact information for each artist.
Ultimately, despite what it claims in the title and on the back cover, it's more of a book by professional artists for professional (or serious hobbyist) artists, not intended for newcomers to the field or those still learning the basics. While I found the cover misleading and its promises less than fulfilled, I did enjoy the different approaches to dragon creation and the wide variety of beasts presented.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon (Daniel Falconer) - My Review
Forging Dragons (John Howe) - My Review
Dracopedia: A Guide to Drawing the Dragons of the World (William O'Connor) - My Review

Winged Fantasy (Brenda Lyons)

Winged Fantasy
Brenda Lyons
Impact
Nonfiction, Art
*** (Okay)

DESCRIPTION: Dragons, gryphons, phoenixes, pegasi... since antiquity, fabulous creatures have flown across the skies of our imagination. Here, artist Brenda Lyons offers tips on creating your own magical winged beasts and bringing them to life with watercolor paints.

REVIEW: I've seen Lyons's work online for some time, and have long been a fan of her gryphons, so I was thrilled to finally find her work in an art book. She excels at describing different wing structures, particularly the lay of feathers (always tricky), and her examples offer detailed painting instructions. It is, however, more of a painting book than a drawing book; her exercises start with detailed line drawings already on the paper, often with little hint as to how to replicate them for the artist trying to follow along. Lyons also skimps on anatomy, particularly bone structure (save the wings) and musculature (vaguely mentioned, but never discussed in detail or diagrammed.) These are pretty big gaps for a book trying to teach the art of constructing convincing fabulous beasts. Indeed, some of her critters looked a bit cartoonish, particularly around the faces, due to iffy underlying anatomy. What dropped this one to a flat Okay rating, though, was the "extras" - at several points, Lyons instructs me to go to a page on the Impact Books website for "additional information." This information, however, is only available if you enter your e-mail address. Do I really need more spam just for a little elaboration on her lessons? It's disappointing to see art books going the way of computer games and so much else in the world, where paying for content mostly only buys you the opportunity to pay for more content, even if the "payment" is just in more advertising being slung at you. Overall, this isn't a bad introduction to the subject, but I've seen more detailed books on fantasy creatures - including ones with more thorough instructions - on the shelves. (I still love her gryphons, though...)

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Explorer's Guide to Drawing Fantasy Creatures (Emily Fiegenschuh) - My Review
The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book (Gary A. Lippincott) - My Review
DragonArt (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer) - My Review

Animals Real and Imagined (Terryl Whitlatch)

Animals Real and Imagined
Terryl Whitlatch
Designstudio Press
Nonfiction, Art
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: Lemurs, housecats, dinosaurs, unicorns... these and more creatures appear in this collection of art and sketches by noted artist Terryl Whitlatch.

REVIEW: Demonstrating a remarkable eye for reality and a vivid imagination, Terryl Whitlatch showcases a wide variety of beasts in many styles. Unlike some artists, who lock in on one "look" for their creations, she proves highly versatile, creating whimsical cartoons and surreal monsters on the same page. She talks a little about her process of creation, and several of her sketches - from her workshops and courses on creature design - have notes, but this isn't really a how-to-draw book so much as it is a gallery of her work. (Her more famous creations, though, fail to appear... likely due to copyright issues, as she's worked with Disney, George Lucas, and other prominent entertainment entities with uncompromising legal departments.) I only clipped it a half-point for feeling a little random, and many of the sketch notes were difficult to read for being too small and faint. Despite those very minor issues, it's a beautiful collection from a talented artist.

You Might Also Enjoy:
The Explorer's Guide to Drawing and Painting Fantasy Creatures (Emily Fiegenschuh) - My Review
Imaginative Realism (James Gurney) - My Review
DragonArt Ultimate Gallery (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer) - My Review

DragonArt Ultimate Gallery (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer)

DragonArt Ultimate Gallery
J. "NeonDragon" Peffer
Impact Books
Nonfiction, YA? Art
****+ (Good/Great)

DESCRIPTION: Dragons and fairies and monsters - oh, my! Noted fantasy artist J. "NeonDragon" Peffer gathers more than 70 works in this volume.

REVIEW: With a few reprints from her previous DragonArt instruction books, most of this is new material, from personal works to commissions. She talks briefly about some of the the subjects, and adds a few quick notes on the work process, but mostly it is just what it says at the outset: a gallery showcasing her manga-influenced fantasy art. This honesty in advertising earned it back a half-star that it nearly lost for its sparse commentary. If you like her stuff, or just like fantasy art, it's worth a look... especially if you find it, as I did, at half price.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Myth and Magic: The Art of John Howe (John Howe) - My Review
Dracopedia (William O'Connor) - My Review
DragonArt (J. "NeonDragon" Peffer) - My Review

Drawing from your Imagination (Ron Tiner)

Drawing from your Imagination
Ron Tiner
David and Charles
Nonfiction, Art
***+ (Okay/Good)

DESCRIPTION: Robin Hood and his band of thieves, the streets of Victorian London, a mystical soothsayer, a distant planetscape... working artists often have to depict people and places that no longer exist - or never existed outside of the human imagination. Their images must set a mood and tell a story, in addition to matching a specific description. Successful illustrator Ron Tiner discusses how to develop the important artistic skill of imaginative drawing, creating an extensive mental catalog of images and ideas for use in professional and personal artwork, with numerous examples from his own sketchbooks and portfolio.

REVIEW: This isn't so much a how-to-draw book as it is a guidebook for aspiring professional artists and illustrators. You won't find the usual breakdowns of anatomy, shading, perspective, or other basic topics here. Instead, Tiner discusses methods for honing the artistic eye and mind, based largely on life drawing and observation, balanced with playful forays into imagination. It reads more like a lecture series than an art instruction book, discussing several topics while suggesting self-study options. A fair chunk of it reads like a rehash of information Tiner delivered in his previous book, Figure Drawing Without a Model, only here it seems less succinct for some reason. More useful are the sections where Tiner breaks down actual projects, paid and personal, showing the process of development. Sometimes Tiner seems to be rushing his explanations, relying too heavily on the idea that his readers have received (or are receiving) instruction elsewhere. The points of his included sketches, consequently, aren't always as clear as I think he believed. Still, there's plenty of worthwhile information here. While not a standalone book by any means, this should be useful for any artist who wants to grow beyond the fundamentals.

You Might Also Enjoy:
Drawing and Painting Fantasy Figures (Finlay Cowan) - My Review
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy and Science Fiction Art Techniques (John Grant and Ron Tiner) - My Review
Figure Drawing Without a Model (Ron Tiner) - My Review